6 Pounds & 39 Weeks

Day 108

Emma has continued her slow and steady progress over the last week!  She is still getting the bottle every third feeding, but is now up to 50 cc's per feeding.  On most occasions, she takes the whole bottle and does great.  Every once in awhile, she gets tired and doesn't take the whole thing.  But she is still not bradying or desaturating, which means she has her coordination under control!  The nurses have said she has a great suck and really wants the bottle, she just needs to continue to get stronger.  She is still getting formula with rice cereal when she bottle feeds, which is harder for her to pull through since it is thicker and therefore tires her out more.  Once she can switch back to milk, it will likely be easier for her to feed and she'll take the bottle much better.  She was also started on Prilosec once per day to help with her reflux. 

Emma is still on the nasal cannula, but they have continued to wean down on the flow of oxygen.  We are hoping and praying that she will be off the cannula by the time she comes home!!  While coming home on oxygen is not that big of a deal (especially considering all she's been through), it would just be easier for all of us to not have the oxygen tanks to worry about.  But Emma will get whatever it is she needs! 

Emma has continued to gain weight steadily and is now 2740 grams, which is six pounds and about half an ounce!!!!  She is just looking great and getting big and strong.   

Today Emma is 39 weeks adjusted age, which means her original due date is only one week away.  We have been asked many times lately when she'll be coming home, and it is still up to Emma.  Once the doctors feel she is ready, they will have her take the bottle every other feeding (instead of every third feeding), and then every feeding, and then she'll feed "on demand".  That means they will feed her whenever she is hungry, but won't let her go more than four hours without a feeding.  So that is really all that needs to happen before she comes home.  As I said, if she still needs the oxygen at that point, we will have tanks at our house for her, but she doesn't need to be off the oxygen in order to come home. 

On Saturday, Memere and Aunt Lindsay hosted the most beautiful shower for us, and we got to see our wonderful family and friends.  We were so overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and love.  There are just no words to describe how grateful we are to everyone for all that you've done for us, especially our parents and sisters.  Thank you!!!!