Feeding Frenzy

Today was a special day. Today, four months of pumping was completely worth it. Today, I was able to bond with my son as I've wanted to since he was born. Today, Alexander nursed for 10 minutes. He then had the rest of his food through his feeding tube and fell soundly asleep on my chest. 

We got the word Thursday that we would be able to start nursing on Friday. His ventilator pressure was reduced to 6 so the amount of pressure is conducive to allow baby to suck and swallow. He latched right away and the nurses and oral therapists were thrilled. He only would suck for a few minutes on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday he acted as if he always ate through his mouth. It's exhausting for him and he will pull away to rest and breath but it will get easier with practice of the suck, swallow, breath pattern. We will continue practicing with nursing and then introduce a bottle after a week. Bottles are easier because they are less work and he will need to take them to have his supplements of protein and higher calories. 

This is a big step - there was cheers from the hallway when our nurse let everyone know how well he did. So this is where we stand on things Alexander has to achieve before being released:

1) Control his body temperature - CHECK

2) Get off the ventilator and only be on oxygen - we are at 6 so 5 more to go! We have been doing 2 settings a week so if he keeps up this pace he could be done in 3 weeks. He will come home on oxygen. 

3) Eat all meals orally and ditch the feeding tube. We are only in Phase 1 so it's up to him how fast we can go. 

4) Surgery - Alexander has a hernia that needs to be fixed (pretty common in micro premies because of all the air pushed into their bodies) and still needs to be circumcised. This will happen right before he's ready to go home. 

Our doctor said this weekend 4-6 weeks, so we could have our baby home between Easter and Mothers Day! And we will have a home ready for Alex - another 12 days of construction and we move April 4! So excited to be in our new space!

So happy and thankful for today! Live in the moment for it's all you have!

9 lbs 10 oz as of 3-20-14. And we can see that beautiful mouth now that the feeding tube goes in his nose!