3 & 4 Months

Man, time just keeps getting away from me.  My time has been spent either at the hospital, getting my classroom ready, or at home with Mike and Matthew.  I have very little time to post, but I'm able to finally squeeze in 2 monthly updates for my little Samuel!  

~ You are now weighing 2.99 kilograms or a little over 6 pounds.  You are also about 53 centimeters long or a little over 20 inches.  You have grown SO very much and this is all without breast milk!

~ You are now wearing newborn size diapers and started wearing clothes!  Since you were getting so big, they moved you to an open crib instead of the isolette.  You've grown out of all of your preemie clothes that people bought for you, so we exchanged them for newborn size.  You can also wear a few 0-3 month outfits.

~ Even though you are wearing clothes, we have to keep your right arm out because of the PICC line.  So, only button up outfits will do for now.

~ Your 2nd arterial line was removed - YAY!

~ You had your first surgery - laser eye surgery to help correct the ROP in both eyes.

~ You were moved into POD 2, bed 25 due to other babies being put on Echmo in POD 3.

~ You developed pneumonia and a UTI and were put back on antibiotics.  Thankfully, this did not push back any schedule for your barium enema.

~ You celebrated your 1st Fourth of July.  You were give a red, white, & blue crocheted hat that is so much bigger than your Easter hat.  There were games and ice cream sundaes in the Atrium leading to the NICU.  They even took some of the older kids to the roof to watch the fireworks.

~ You are now 3.585 Kilograms or almost 8 pounds.  Your last height measurement was 54 centimeters or 21 inches.

~ You had the barium enema (finally) and everything was clear!!!  What a little miracle you are!  Mike and I were able to go down to radiology with you and watch as they performed the enema.  It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

~ You began feedings through an OG tube.  They started you out at 7 mls over 30 minutes every 6 hours, then went to 7 mls over an hour every 3 hours.  You are now at full feedings taking 66 mls over 45 minutes every 3 hours.

~ You developed pneumonia again - boo!  Because of this, they had to stop your feedings for a few days.  You also had to get put back on antibiotics and get into a Giraffe warmer bed.  After a few days you were able to get back in your open crib.

~ You celebrated 100 days in the NICU on the 16th of July.  That is just unbelievable!  We also bypassed your original due date, July 24th.

~ You were extubated!!!  We were able to hear your precious cry for the first time since you were born.  You had the breathing tube for 107 days, but you have transitioned to the cannula like a champ!  You even started taking a paci a few hours later!

~ You had your first round of immunizations and handled them very well!

~ You've now been held by not just your daddy and me, but also your Emie, Pops, and Grammie!  They couldn't wait to get a hold of you.  Not to mention a few of the nurses.

~ You're no longer on the TPN fluids, so your PICC line is finally out!  Now we can dress you in anything we want!  You can also have a full on bath!

~ The OT/PT team is starting to work with you on oral stem and range of motion.  So far, they seem very pleased with your progress.

~ Another big milestone - you were transitioned to the CPAP cannula.  Now, you are basically breathing on your own.  

As you can see, there have been many things, amazing things, happening the last 2 months.  Now that Samuel is awake and alert more often, I don't have time to sit and read or write in my journal.  I'm helping with diaper changes, outfit changes, baths, temp checks, etc.  The best part is being able to get you out of your crib all by myself.  I snuggle with you for several hours during the day!  I love you more than you know little Samuel and I truly cannot wait to see what God has planned for your life.  He has already done so much - Samuel Strong!