NICU Day 14: two weeks old

Happy Birthday Colton!

Today you are 2 weeks old…and you are gaining weight like a champ! Today you weighed in at 3 lbs. 14.3 ounces! That's a great weight gain from yesterday of 3 lbs. 12.8 ounces. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!

You were so sleepy tonight we couldn't get you to open your eyes for a picture.
We'll get a better one tomorrow. 

Those eyes...

Today Mommy spent a lot of quality time with you after each of your feedings. After you eat you fall right to sleep on my chest and we rock in the rocking chair for an hour together. Today, Mommy even fell asleep for a short time.

Today was our best snuggling day yet. We spent hours with you just laying on my chest.
These are my most favorite moments of the days with you.

You continue to take half of your daily feedings by bottle or breast and the other half by feeding tube. We are slowly transitioning you to eat fully by breast or bottle…but that probably won't be for at least another week or two.

Grandma Jibby came to the hospital today and sat with us during two of your feedings. She comes daily and is always sooo happy to see you! And Grandma Jibby loves to buy you clothes…we have a lot of cute preemie clothes (and cute socks) waiting for you for when you get home.

Mommy's girlfriends Kristin and Jean Marie also came to see Mommy today. We had lunch together in between your feedings. It was really good to see them!!

Today, Mommy also changed more than a couple poopy diapers. When I went to change one and put a clean one on you, you then pooped in the clean one before I had time to close it up. This happened three more times in a row…Mommy couldn't stop laughing!

Daddy came for your 6p feeding. He was doing a great job feeding you considering you decided to sleep most of the time. You were so, so sleepy this evening. Mommy and Daddy try to get quality time in with you during your 6p feeding, but it's tough since all visitors have to leave between 6:30p and 8:00 p.m. We are starting to feel very rushed so tomorrow night we are going to stay for your 9:00 p.m. feeding so we can stay as late as we'd like with you. We are excited to stay for that extra time!

Tonight you were so sleepy that you barely ate all of your dinner.

You continue to maintain your bilirubin level below 10, which makes Mommy and Daddy very happy…but we understand that tomorrow we could walk in and you could be back on the light blanket to help bring your levels back down. I pray though that you don't ever have to go back on that light.

You had three brady episodes today but you were able to self resolve all of them. This afternoon you had one while you were laying on my chest. Mommy had no idea it was even happening…but you quickly resolved it and took a breath. It's so scary to know that these episodes aren't something that Mommy and Daddy could tell by looking at you. Mommy has a feeling that these brady episodes are going to be what keeps you in the NICU for a longer period of time. We understand it is the safest thing for you to be here on monitors…but we continue to pray that you outgrow these episodes in the next couple of weeks so we can go home 'on time!'

Oh, and Daddy and I have a surprise for you for your first time in a car on our drive home. We already picked out a song to play for you on the way home. It makes Mommy cry just thinking about that moment.

You had a great day today buddy. We are so proud of you, just like we are everyday. You continue to progress daily and the doctors are very happy with your health. We love you so much.

So precious

The angels are watching over you tonight and every night.

We love you so much and can't wait to see you in the morning!

Sweet dreams baby Colt!
Love,
Mommy, Daddy & Youkilis too!