He's 4 pounds, 4 ounces and gaining almost daily.
The docs adjusted his feeds for his new weight this morning so he's getting 40 cc of 27 calorie breast milk every 3 hours and tolerating it amazingly well. They had to adjust his feeds to go in over two hours (up from one hour) because his glucose was getting low between feeds. That did the trick though and he certainly doesn't seem to mind.
The gang of neurologists that stalk the halls around here made another surprise visit this afternoon. Actually they just left. Dr. George wants to hold off on making any concrete plans until after the weekly head ultrasound they do every Monday. He said he can tell that the pocket of fluid is a litter stiffer but it seems to be holding up really well.
All in all it also seems from my perspective that Bryce's head must be okay right now. Usually his oxygen needs go up and he becomes less tolerant of even the most minimal stimulation when its shunt time again. But he's hanging out at 32 - 36% oxygen and wide awake for at least a couple of hours in the morning and evening. He looks around all bright eyed, following voices, movement or his new mobile.
He's also got several nurses and respiratory therapists so wrapped around his cute little finger that they will gladly stand at his bedside for prolonged periods of time holding his paci for him. You see he absolutely loves it but he sucks so passionately on it that he pushes it out of his mouth. It's pretty much the cutest thing. It starts with his nose moving up and down with the sucking, then pretty soon his whole head is working on the movement, his jaw smacking up and down dramatically, even his ears get in on the labor.
Caleb's big, persistent request finally became a reality yesterday. He's been asking and asking to hold Bryce like a "real" baby (his words, not mine). And yesterday he did. I keep reminding him that Bryce is a "real" baby - trying to persuade him of this so he's ready for the day they let us take him home. Of course, Caleb knows he's real but he wanted so badly to be able to hold him facing up so he could stare at him the whole time. And, indeed, he did stare at him for a solid hour yesterday as they both got to enjoy some special time together.
Well, we're heading home again for the evening tonight. I'm excited to be picking up a Pottery Barn changing table I found on craig's list for Bryce tomorrow morning and putting the first piece of furniture in his nursery. It's finally starting to come together and I know it's going to be great. Abuelita has been working hard on it and so far the blue walls are done, the green Seuss hills have been added and the Lorax begun. Caleb installed the rope lighting last weekend and we put up his big red B I found him too.
Here are some pictures of where we are now. I'll continue to post updates as progress is made.
Thanks to everyone who has sent or brought gifts recently. I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to formally thank you for the cutest preemie clothes (he wears them all the time and is oh sooooo cute in them), homemade cookies (Bryce got a little taste from my milk and said they were the yummiest - Daddy and I agree whole heartedly) and blankets (he regularly goes through several a day).
And of course, thanks for continuing to stick by us with your calls, comments, prayers and love. We can't even imagine how other families get through this without all of the love and support we have - we are so blessed, in so many ways.
