NICU Day 12: back to your birth weight

Dear Colton,

You make us so proud! Today you started to feed much more on our own from both the bottle and Mommy's breast. When Mommy and Daddy walked in to see you for your 9 a.m. feeding you were off the jaundice light. Your bilirubin levels went down to 8.8 from 11.5 yesterday. Of course we are super happy…but, as Dr. Mike says, the light could go right back on tomorrow. And yes, it's totally normal!

I am cute!

Mommy thinks my yawns are the cutest.

You breastfed for 15 minutes this morning for Mommy and then later on today Daddy fed you almost an entire bottle. You ate 27 ccs from Daddy which only left 3 ccs left to be fed through your feeding tube. You're starting to get used to being awake and 'working' for your food, rather than sleeping through it while you are being fed through the feeding tube. We know you will continue to progress with this and are already doing such a great job!

Holding your bottle on your own…Daddy was so happy!

Holding that bottle on your own made you both sleepy!

Later on Mommy and Daddy were changing your diaper and you had a poopy diaper so we were happy and were changing it and then to our surprise when we weren't looking managed to squirt a rocket of poop out all over your blanket in your bassinet. Mommy and Daddy jumped back in amazement and surprise and then started laughing. We're such rookies! It was quite the experience…you got poppy all over everything. We'll always remember that moment.

Then we got to our favorite part of the day…time to check your weight. The nice nurse placed you on the scale…and YOU DID IT! You are now above your birth weight! Today you weighed 3 lbs. 11.7 ounces! YEAH!!!! At birth you weighed 3 lbs. 11.2 ounces so you have officially reached a milestone! Great job buddy!!!

At your 6p feeding, you breastfed the best you every have. You were awake and breastfed for 30 minutes! Mommy and Daddy were so happy and you still seemed hungry after that was done. Since it was time for a shift change for the nurses, the nice nurse fed you the rest through the feeding tube and then you fell asleep.

Today was a great day…but I do have to write about the not-so-good stuff too. You had another scary brady episode where your color started to change and a nurse had to sit you up slightly to remind you to breathe again. These episodes scare Mommy and Daddy so, so bad…but again, the nurses and doctors say this all normal and very common for preemies. They even said if you weren't having these brady episodes that they'd be wondering why you weren't having them. The head nurse and Mommy were talking about the brady episodes and she decided to increase your caffeine to try to help with the bra dies while you continue to grow. Although all preemies differ in when they stop getting bradies, many outgrow them around 36 weeks. We know that you won't be able to go home while you are still having brady episodes so we will continue to pray that you outgrow these episodes sooner rather than later.

You're such a cute sleeper…you love to be swaddled!

All-in-all you are doing so great and are ahead of where the doctors and nurses ever expected you to be. Every day you progress and surprise Mommy and Daddy, which makes us so happy. We keep telling Youk about you and he seems to really be looking forward to you coming home soon buddy.

Whenever you're ready your home is waiting for you. We love you so, so much buddy. Sweet dreams…the angels are watching over you tonight and every night.

Love,
Mommy, Daddy & Youkilis