Day #5: Lots of snuggling and Momma-time

Today was another good day for Joel. When I got there this morning (after an hour long detour because I can't follow directions) he had just finished his morning bottle--all of it--and was sleeping. The nurse said he had good diapers all night long and that he was doing well. After a while I took him out of the isolette and just sat and rocked him--definitely a highlight of my day! He was content to sleep in my arms for about an hour, until he had another unfortunate diaper. He wore the little duck shirt from Aunt Lisa and Uncle Jason today. It was too big, but boy was he cute! Since Rob was in Defiance, I got to have full duty for the day. The doctor came in and again said that it would be "about a week" before he could go home. He still needs to be more consistent with his feedings and gain some weight. He is back down to 4 pounds, 8 ounces, but the nurse said that it is normal and not at all unexpected. He had to have some serious coaxing, but he did finish all three of the bottles that I was there for today. He was a sleepy little guy today! Rob got there about 4:00 and got to hold him for a while before he went back into "the box". When I called tonight after dinner to check on him, the nurse told me that he was finishing the last of his 9:00 bottle and that he was doing well. We'll be back to see him in the morning. I'm not sure what is happening with his roommate, but it probably isn't good. He had no wires hooked up to him at all today, and there is a DNR order above his bed. His dad was there about the same time Rob was and he looked very sad. He's an adorable little baby. It is so sad. Speaking of sad, I think that the stress and lack of control over the whole situation is starting to make me a little crazy. I love being with Joel at the hospital, but it is so frustrating knowing that there is really nothing we can do to help him. It is just a matter of time. I know he will get there, but the stress of having no friends or family around is really unpleasant. Plus, there is the fact that I am getting tired of never knowing where I am going or how to get anywhere twice. I swear that I will NEVER move to a city. NEVER, EVER, EVER!!! I hate it and I would spend all of my time trying to figure out where I was at. Even the hospital is confusing! We finally seem to be figuring out the elevator arrangements, but some times it feels like a fluke when we actually get to the NICU!! Tonight was nice because our friends Dave and Melissa and their sons from West Chester came and met us for dinner in Dayton. Before dinner, Rob and I managed to find the Babies R Us at the Dayton Mall. They had amazingly little for preemies. We may try and find time to go to the Babies R Us in Cincinnati over the weekend to register. It is supposedly a bigger store and we hope to find an outfit for his hospital picture there. We aren't buying much, but we can't have the boy being naked! I guess I am not going to be able to post any more pictures for a while. The lady at Ronald McDonald House worked on my computer today and now it won't let me do anything. I basically have an $800 Solitaire game. Poor Rob. I had a crying jag when I was trying to get it to work earlier and he got the brunt of it. I'm going to see if she can fix it tomorrow. Otherwise I'm not sure how to put the pictures online. I can use the computer at the house to e-mail and blog, but not to upload pictures. I'll try my best. Tomorrow Rob and I have an Infant CPR class in the morning and a massage/bath training in the afternoon. Joel should like the massage, but rumor has it he is not a fan of the bath! Plus, Rob has to get some serious Daddy-time in since he basically missed all day today. I told him he is about 4 nasty diapers behind and needs to catch up! More tomorrow (hopefully less whining!). Good night...