Almost there (a.k.a. one very long weekend)

It has been a couple of big days for Elyse.  I arrived to the nursery on Thursday morning to find a very happy baby with no more IV line who had just been tucked back into bed after a bottle.  I was a little confused because she wasn't due to be fed for another hour or so, until I found out that they decided to let her try feeding on demand.  Instead of the 40ish millilitres that she had been getting every 3 hours, she is now able to drink as much as she would like, as often as she wants (without going more than 4 hours between feedings), just like she will be doing at home.  Now she takes about 65-70mL each feeding and then settles back into an almost 4 hour sleep -- and is so much happier for it!

 

happy baby

The doctors are being cautiously optimistic and will observe her over the weekend to make sure she continues to tolerate her feedings and gain weight.  If all continues to go well, it looks like she could be home early next week.  Her weight gain had started to slow over the last few days (while still on restricted feedings), but last night she was up almost 50 grams!  Amazing!  She is obviously a fan of the all-you-can-eat buffet, and is now weighing in at 5 pounds 5 ounces.

room with a view

 

She was moved into the front room last night, which tends to be the older babies who are on their way out.  Having been down this road once already, it is hard not to react with guarded excitement, but it feels like she is so ready this time -- we all are.  Even so, I don't think I'm really going to believe it until we are driving away with her strapped in the back seat.  And even then I'm still going to have to pinch myself.  I think this may be one of the only times I'm going to be wishing that the weekend would go by quicker!

 

big blue eyes