Making progress

Elyse is 35 weeks corrected age today, meaning she has now met the first criteria for coming home!  She is well on her way for meeting several others too.  Last night she was moved into a "Kanmed" bed -- basically a bassinet with a heated waterbed-type mattress and an open top, which acts as a nice intermediate step between the isolette and a cot.  She has done quite well in it so far, keeping her temperature in a good range.  This also means she gets to start wearing onesies on a regular basis now.  She will start wearing full sleepers once she moves into a traditional cot, but for now they want a little more skin to be in contact with the heated mattress.

showing off her new bed and new wardrobe

 

The nurses have started offering her a bottle at the beginning of her feeds, if she is alert and interested in it.  So far she has drank a few millilitres each time, and then gets the rest through her NG tube as usual.  She is also continuing to try and breastfeed for 5-10 minutes a day, while she receives a tube feed so she starts to associate the action with a full belly.  The nurses describe her as being a bit "unorganized" with the oral feeds so far, but it's a lot to put together when you've only just got the whole suck-swallow-breathe thing sorted out!  I'm sure she'll get it figured out in no time.

 

bath time with Mommy

 

Matt and I had a nice visit tonight, and got to give her a bath for the first time.  I was a little hesitant, but she was a very patient girl -- and it certainly helped to have a nurse there to coach us through it all again.  Afterwards she was so calm and alert, and got all bundled up for a nice hour-long snuggle with her Daddy.

 

E.T. phone home?

 

Elyse is weighing in at 1535g or 3lbs 6oz today.  Her feeds have increased to 31ml of fortified milk every 3 hours, and she has also started her vitamin D and iron supplements once a day.  She also finished her last dose of Fluconazole this afternoon.  The last week really seemed to be a turning point for her.  I'm still being cautiously optimistic, but hoping the trend continues.  Just for fun, Matt and I are trying to predict when she might come home -- I'm saying May 1st, he says the 7th.  Any guesses?