....4....

Today's weight: 3 lb 14 oz

muuuuah-ha-HAAAAA!

The inventors of Chinese water torture have nothing on these guys.

...5...

Today's weight: 3 lb 12 oz :(

....6....

Today's weight: 3 lb 12 oz :)

....7....

Countdown? 7? Does this mean Sara's going home in 7 days?

Welllll, no. Nobody knows the exact date. Let's review.

Before she can go home, Sara has to be able to.....

1. Keep herself warm outside the incubator. CHECK.
2. Eat on her own. CHECK.
3. Breathe on her own. CHECK.
4. Weigh at least 4 pounds. N/A -- since she's growth-restricted, they've waived this requirement.
Also. Go 5 days without apnea and/or bradys. CHECK.

So why can't she go home tomorrow??

Two words: Scope creep.
Doctors have now decided it's also important that she gain 25-30 grams every day.

*sigh*

Today's weight: 3 lb 11 oz

....8....

Baby Beldar, having overheard doctors this morning announce that she could eat at much as she wanted, sucked down 15 oz this afternoon (her regular daily regimen has been 8 oz), promptly threw up about an ounce, then fell asleep.

Good times.

....9....

Kicking back in the onesie her nana brought her, Sara was nonplussed by the results of today's eye test. It showed the first stage of retinopathy of prematurity, and calls for weekly check-ups. The first two screens showed nothing, so we're hoping this is an anomaly.

Now holding her heat well and nearly making it through feeds without falling asleep, she now has to make it through 5 consecutive days without "a's and b's" -- episodes of apnea (pause in breathing) and/or bradycardia (slowing of heart rate).

Today's weight: 3 lb 8 oz

Beginning countdown in......10....

No more feeding tube!