STATS:
Weight -5 pounds, 12.5 ounces. Yes, really. He'll be 6 pounds by his due date which seemed impossible when he was born!
Food - 52 mls over an hour (by gavage tube)
Bottle - Dylan's new personal best is 23 mls by bottle. That happened this morning. (Then he basically refused to take a bottle the next feeding.) : ) My best with him is 20. But he's still averaging around 10 with a lots of 4s and 5s thrown in.
Eyes - Dylan's eye exam last Thursday did not show any ROP! So we are still free in clear on that one.
Oxygen - He's been off Oxygen for about a week now and I do not see him ever going back! : ) His Oxygen stat pretty much always stays between 95 and 100.
Bradys - The bradys are decreasing in frequency. Most occur during feeding when he chokes or gets startled. He also sometimes has a brady when he refluxes. He's on Prilosec to control the reflux, but it's still an issue.
And the big question. When does he get to come home?
Not until he takes all of his feeds by bottle. That's eating all 52 mls (or more since it increases every day or 2) by bottle, 8 times a day. The nurses still assure me that he'll get all of a sudden one day. But even when he does, it'll take him a bit of time to build up the endurance to keep doing it all day long.
I'm still using his due date as my "hope to be home by" date. But it's 10 days from now. It could easily take longer, but I definitely feel like it will be in January.
Dylan enjoyed some nice time with his Grandma Jody, Auntie Kelly, and Great Uncle Brad this week. Each of them visited him on a different day this week and held him while he napped.
Dylan currently fits perfectly in preemie onesies, but is too long for a lot of the preemie sleepers.
I really cannot wait to bring him home. I just want to hold him all day long.
If there is one thing cool about having a preemie, it's that when I get him home, I'll already "know" him. I know his cues and which positions he's comfortable in. I know the faces he makes - and that he loves to stare at the bear Nurse Amy gave him for Christmas.
We are counting down the days!!
He's getting so big and chunky - look at those cheeks. I am so in love with your updates. xxx
ReplyDeleteOMG adorable!! It sounds like he will be home very shortly. My 31 weeker came home very suddenly. We went from wondering when he could be taken off the oxygen for good, when the Brady's would stop, when they would let me attempt breast feeding, etc to them telling me we better get all our discharge stuff done cause he was going home in 2 days. Within a week. We were shocked. It was very strange how suddenly he just got all of it and they sent us home. And yes, we were already trained, already knew how to calm him during diaper changes, and best if all, knew his schedule. It's like a long hands on parenting class. You will be do thrilled to be able to take care of him in your own and will be much more prepared than other first tune parents. Can't wait to hear about him taking his full feeds!
ReplyDeleteAw! He is just precious, and doing so well! I hope you get him home soon! Such a handsome little boy. His tiny clothes are so cute!
ReplyDeleteYay! Love this wonderful update.
ReplyDeleteAnd seriously love those cheeks!! Num num :)
Oh so happy for you!!!
ReplyDeleteHe is looking fantastic!!! I hope he suddenly "gets" feeding and you can take him home soon. :-) The end is near my dear!
ReplyDeleteHe's so cute and looking so chubby now....he has great cheeks. I so hope he comes home this month. and being off oxygen is huge!!!! Yay for Dylan's 3 month birthday!
ReplyDeleteHe looks so big now! I've been reading and cheering you on but not commenting. He'll go home before you know it! Little M was a 33 weeker and wasn't supposed to come home for another week or so but the next day everything just "clicked" and it was time! You'll never know :)
ReplyDeleteThese last few weeks are so tough aren't they? Nothing to do but be patient and wait for them to "get it". I know he will though! Thinking of you guys so much and hoping you get to go home soon! :)
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