Joseph is
36 gestational weeks today and turned 5 weeks old yesterday.
Joseph has been doing really well over all. Last week was a big and successful week for him. He got off of the oxygen and started doing nutritive breastfeeding which is where twice a day we will weigh Joseph and then try and get him to breast feed and then weigh him after to see if he got anything. The most he got last week in a sitting was 10ml. SCORE. Then there were 5's 2's, 1's, 3's, 0's. Then after, we sit skin to skin and they hook up his feeding tube.
On Saturday he was officially EXHAUSTED. He wouldn't really latch, and would breathe rapidly. He's worked his little body SO hard that week that finally he was shutting down. It's been challenging. He was still too tired today to get a feeding. The nurses say around 37 weeks is when it should just click for him.
Last week when he was doing so well, I couldn't help but feel anxious for him to be home even that much more. It felt like it was just around the corner, but now with his exhaustion things are set back a little and that's ok. We will get through this.
He is gaining a great amount of weight. He is now (as of last night) 4 lbs. 15 oz :) ALMOST 5 pounds. He may hit 5 pounds by the end of today or tomorrow.
As a family, we are hanging in there with the juggles of going back and forth to the hospital. We do what we need to do. We SO look forward to our sweet boy to come home. We hope by Christmas.
What a blessing he is.
We love you little Joseph boy!
4 comments:
I wish I could tell you it gets easier. The NICU truly is an emotional roller coaster. Just when you think they are doing good, their little bodies need a break. That is going to happen clear up until the time he can come home. Hang in there. It's hard!
OH yeah, i forgot to tell you that you can call me ANY time. When our Joseph was in NICU, I had days where I just needed to unload all the emotions that get stored up. Often times that would be in the middle of the night as I was up pumping and wondering if it was all worth it. If you are feeling that, know that I'm up anyway all night long :) My number hasn't changed: 801-787-5046
Love ya Mandy!
He is so sweet Mandy. Glad he is gaining some weight. Hope you can have him home for Christmas too. We are praying for him! love, Emily
He is so sweet Mandy. Glad he is gaining some weight. Hope you can have him home for Christmas too. We are praying for him! love, Emily
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