A milestone!

We are still entirely focused on Dylan's feedings.  We have tried so many different things to figure out what works for him, but nothing has clearly helped.

Finally, on Friday, we decided to pull Dylan's feeding tube and just see how he did.  They call it "sink or swim."

Dylan treaded water for the first 12 hours or so.  We got to hear a new "hungry" cry.  He may very well have never felt the sensation of hunger before this experiment.

But by the next morning, Dylan started to sink.  And the tube was back in by Saturday evening.

I'm really happy that we tried this out.  I think it helped Dylan to associate waking up with hunger and eating. I just think he had enough calories stored up to sustain him the first day, but since he was taking in less than he required, he just pooped out after awhile.

But that's not the milestone.

Today, for the first time ever, DYLAN FINISHED HIS WHOLE BOTTLE!!!!!!

He ate 57 mls.

I had visions of running down the hallways of the NICU screaming about his success, but I held back.

I was so excited that Mike and I got to experience this moment together.

He did great all day today taking 40, then 42, then 57.  I expect that he might be a little tired after all of this effort, but I really feel like we are getting close.  And I've never really felt that with confidence before.

We hit 4 months in a few days, so I think it's about time.