5 Months

I'm a little late posting this, but Samuel is now 5 months old or about 1.5 months adjusted.  You reached a lot of milestones this month that brought you even closer to us being able to bring you home!  I cannot express how proud I am of your strength, endurance, perseverance, and feistiness.  All of these things are what have brought you so far.  You're my little hero!

~ You are now 4299 kilograms or 9 lbs 5 oz and 53 cm or 21 inches long.  You've grown SO much - it's the first thing people comment on when they see you in person.

~ You are wearing size 1 diapers.  You've pretty much outgrown all of the newborn outfits and fit in 0-3 months or 3 month clothes.  I can't wait to dress you without worrying about all of the wires.

~ You quickly moved from the CPAP to the regular nasal cannula!  You started on 3 Liters and 30% oxygen.  You eventually weaned down to 1/2 a liter and 21%, but you started to have more desaturation episodes.  Because of this they put you at 1/2 a liter and 100% oxygen.  That's okay because that's the typical level for babies that go home on oxygen.

~ You started learning how to take a bottle for the 1st time!  Such a big step for you!!!  You're having to re-learn how to suck, swallow, and breath since it was lost with you not eating for so long.  You've taken to it pretty well.  You had an Upper GI test done in order to figure out why you were having so much residual with each feeding.  Thankfully, everything looked good!

~ You got up to 78 mls every 3 hours with 2 bottles per day.  

~ You had 2 hearing screenings.  The first, which you passed, tested the connection between the brain and your ears.  You passed very quickly and the audiologist was very impressed!  The 2nd screening, which you didn't pass, checked for cochlear movement.  The audiologist said it was okay that you didn't pass this one since you are on oxygen.

~ You continued to have eye exams as Dr. Bradford watched to see if you needed surgery.  Your exam on the 5th is when we found out you would need surgery on both eyes in order to clear away the scar tissue and fix your retina had it detached.

~ You also had another ECHO and head ultrasound.  Both were stable - praise the Lord!

~ You were able to get off several of your meds during this month also!  You're now only on D-vi-sol, Prilosec, and Arginine.  

You have really taught us this month how much you love being held and love your paci.  We may have created a little monster, but you've earned it!  I will hold you as much as you want sweet boy!