Thursday, July 17, 2008

5 Pounds!

Another milestone today! One of the goals before Julian will be allowed to bust out of the NICU is that he needs to gain weight. While there's no fixed amount of poundage that will guarantee his release, we were told that 5 pounds is a "good goal weight."

What 5 Pounds Looks Like (how can you have a double chin and only weigh 5 pounds?!)

Other milestones met are that he has been moved from his incubator to a regular bassinet and is busily maintaining his own body temperature (I'll have him send you an email on how to do this, Sisiggy, to share with your peri-menopausal women friends ;-). And even more importantly, he is starting to show signs of being able to eat on his own without gagging or spitting out the foreign object being shoved into his mouth (after weeks of being fed with a tube in the nose, some babies get lazy about having to work for a living...Julian is one of those...we'll have to fix that bad habit right away).

First Bottle Feeding

Me, Trying To Burp a Sleeping Baby After the First Feeding (I am NOT choking the baby!)


On My Birthday (his first time in real clothes...swimming in a preemie onesie)

We expect he will be coming home sometime next week. It is still possible he may need a blood transfusion (the vast majority of preemies do...their tiny bodies can't always re-generate enough new blood cells to maintain good oxygen levels), but every day, they're more optimistic that he will not. We would rather skip that if we can, but given the good progress he is making, we are more comfortable with this prospect than we once were. He's a real trooper! And we are very blessed!

Oh yeah, he turned one month old on Tuesday, the 15th. That is hard to believe.

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posted by Gwynne @ 10:53 PM

9 Comments:

At 6:13 AM, July 18, 2008, Blogger Jen said...

Aw, he's a cutie-pie.

And Grandma looks great, too.

 
At 7:18 AM, July 18, 2008, Blogger Sisiggy said...

Wow! How alert he looks and it's great to see his little temperate self out and about!

 
At 9:26 AM, July 18, 2008, Blogger Lynellen said...

He's looking great!

What is the plastic on his knees for? Is he crawling already? :)

 
At 8:47 PM, July 18, 2008, Blogger beth said...

Looking good! The double chin is adorable. :) Hope he's home soon.

 
At 12:53 AM, July 19, 2008, Blogger Gwynne said...

Thanks, Jen. We think he's getting cuter every day (says the beaming Grandma). :-)

Sisiggy, he is and it IS good to see him out in the open!

Lynellen, you're funny. But actually, that is why. Apparently, he likes to sleep on his tummy instead of his back and he tends to scoot around on his knees so the tape protects him from rug burns. :-)

Beth, I'm partial to the double chin also. ;-) Hey, I think we're about due for some Joshua pictures.

 
At 11:55 PM, July 20, 2008, Blogger That Janie Girl said...

Baby Spartacus is beeeeeee-yoooo-tiful!!!

(still praying!)

 
At 10:48 AM, July 21, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, what Jen said. And we'll keep praying he packs on the pounds....

 
At 1:16 AM, July 22, 2008, Blogger Gwynne said...

Thank you, Janie and Beau! Your prayers are always very much appreciated! :-)

 
At 4:22 AM, July 22, 2008, Blogger Rae said...

Glad all is going well. God is good :).

 

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