Vaccinations

Sara's otherwise-sensible doctors want to start her on multiple routine vaccinations. While she's in the NICU. While she weighs 3 lbs. Just because she's two months old. I asked myself what the chances were that she'd contract polio, for example, within the next two months, then said, "thanks, but no." Sheesh.

Naked No More

Rocking a flowery onesie from the NICU's collection, Sara whispered sweet nothings in her Auntie M's ear this afternoon. She hit the 3 lb. mark today, hurrah!

Rapid respiration is keeping her from bottle feeds. Investigation turned up a small hole in her heart (in a different place than the other one), which they assume will heal itself, and is NOT the problem. Doctors continue to go 'hmmm.'

Movin' On Up

Sara got a new bed today, which looks exactly like the old one but has fewer features and sensors, and is almost ready for an open crib. Daily caffeine has been stopped, and she's up to full feeding schedule and tolerating everything well. The physical therapist says she's got all the right moves for her age. Bilirubins are mysteriously high, but there are several potential explanations, and no panic. 2 lbs, 14 oz.

Doctors say they're still expecting her to depart around March 9, her original due date. They won't hold her back til she's 4 lbs, which is great, since that will take longer than two weeks!

Almost Wireless

Yesterday saw the last of the latest round of meds, so they've removed her IV! Once she's breathing a little more slowly, they'll remove the feeding tube and start her on a bottle. Last to go will probably be the oxygen: Although it's nearly room-grade air, it's not quite there yet.

Smile

What's so funny, I wonder? Any ideas?

Today's weight: 2 lbs, 13 oz

When's Hug-A-NICU-Nurse Day?

Let's call it.... every day. Whenever you meet a NICU nurse, just give 'em a hug, on principle. The above is the sort of thing they do when the babies are asleep, just to try and brighten the stressful days of their patients' parents. They also leave little personalized gifts and signs.. always anonymously. The loving care they give to the peanuts who are deprived of the 24/7 oohing and aahing other newborns bask in -- and to the parents as well -- is truly wonderful.

Grow, baby

Sleepy... and having long, lazy, uneventful days. Sara's now 2 lb, 8 oz.

Her personal knitting service continues to work on its math in order to arrive at a perfect fit.

No news is good news

Nothing exciting... except that she's almost up to 'full feeding' schedule, is tolerating all her feeds, and is slowly learning how to...uh... close her mouth.

Well, if *you* had had a big plastic yellow thing taped into your mouth for 4 weeks, you'd assume that OPEN is the natural position for your mouth, too!

Note to the knitting community: 'preemie' size is for giant preemies. Please consider specifying smaller sizes for smaller preemies!

Whew.

Infection was e. coli. Is now gone! Spinal tap culture remains negative.