Day #11: Making progress!

Another big day for our little boy! This morning the nurse told us that Joel had taken his bottles well during the night....and even took 60 ccs at 3:00am! He was out like a light when we got there, so we let him sleep for a while. At 12:00 noon he took 45 ccs for Rob and then 34 ccs for me at 3:00. He was quite busy today filling his diaper for us! The boy can poop, that's for sure! I talked to the doctor this morning and he is still planning for a discharge either Friday or Saturday. They did Joel's "car seat test" today. He had to sit strapped into his car seat for an hour and a half while they monitored his breathing and oxygen levels to make sure he could ride safely. He wasn't happy about being in the seat at first, but then settled down and passed with flying colors. We also gave him his first bath late this afternoon. Since he is a preemie, they want you to do a "swaddle bath". We did okay with it, but we made it look pretty hard, I'm afraid! I forgot, after his car seat test, they said that he could go into a crib and that they would consider him out of the isolette as of noon when the car seat thing started. That is important, because he has to be in the crib for 48 hours before he can be released, which would be noon on Friday. Hopefully he keeps doing well and can go home on that day. Fingers crossed! Rob and I went to the preemie parenting class at 6:00. There was a lot of information, but I think the thing that stuck with me the most was when the instructor told us that Joel is NOT a small infant, he is a preemie and there is a big difference. We are going to have to be careful about exposing him to too many germs, etc. for his own protection. I hope people understand if we don't take him a lot of places right away. He seems bigger to us now since he has put on some weight, but when I look at the pictures of him in his car seat he looks sooooo tiny! His preemie clothes are getting snug. He is still in them weight-wise, but some of them are getting too short. They should work for a while, though. I'm glad that there are so many people who want to meet him, but we are going to have to be the hypervigilant parents for a while for his own good. Not that people can't see him, but I don't think we will be passing him around much. By the way, today is his two-week birthday! Happy Birthday Baby!! After our class we went back to see him and he was really fussy, which is unusual for him after he eats. Rob was able to get him to calm down eventually, and he stayed asleep when we put him down around 8:15. He should get his circumcision in the morning, so tomorrow is bound to be a rough day for him. The nurse said they would give him Tylenol for the pain....I wonder what they'll give Mom and Dad??? Anyway, thanks agin to everyone for thinking of us while we are away. Hopefully we'll be home soon! Good night...