Cullen's Over a Week Old !

My Sugar Plum is nine days old, and we've hit so many milestones this past week it's unreal. The predicted stay in the NICU is 4 to 5 weeks (one week down.. yesssss!) but I say little man will come home sooner. He's done so well:

• Was intubated to assist breathing and taken off within 48 hours of birth.
• Double cord line (inserted through his belly button) to feed him lipids, TPN (nutritional electrolytes,) draw his blood, and monitor his blood pressure has been taken out completely.
• 32 weekers aren't typically born with the "suck and swallow" reflex. Cullen drank 30cc of breast milk from a bottle yesterday. (#proudmama)
• He's keeping his body temperature when we hold him outside the isolette. This is one of 3 important requirements before he can go home.

The NICU nurses have him on an every 3 hour feeding/cares schedule. We take his temp, change him (weigh his 'lil dipe' and report about it), and clean his face and mouth. Until yesterday, he was getting every meal through an NG tube that goes from his nose to his belly. This stays in, but he's also getting some food by bottle and recently started nuzzling during our Kangaroo Care time and trying to nurse. This just warms my heart. He's amazing.

Unforgettable Moments 



Tyler starting Cullen's cares

Speaking of amazing: his daddy. Tyler was the most positive, strong, fun, entertaining, caring, and calm person I've ever met during this whole situation. Words cannot describe the love I had and the love that developed when Cullen was born. He's the picture of a perfect husband. How people go through having surgery, babies, and so much emotion in one day without another person to share it with is unknown to me. He is always one step ahead of me, helping with my meds, little things around the house I've always taken for granted (reaching for a glass, starting some laundry, making dinner -- ouch!), reminding me it's time to get Cullen some goodies (this sounds so much better than "go pump" doesn't it ?!) making sure my water glass is full, and verifying one last time before he leaves the room that there's nothing more I need. I enjoy our evenings up at the hospital most. His consistent smile when he sees Cullen is to die for. Just typing about it makes me emotional. We usually go up for the late evening feeding, spend some time talking about our day while Cullen eats, and then head home for some rest before the late night activity begins for me at home. (#goodies)

 

 

I <3 baby feet,
gina