Another Day Closer

Day 4 - Tuesday the 8th:

Today Elias continued to make huge improvements. The doctor really didn't want to push it so he left him on C-Pap, but lowered the pressure to a 3. This is basically no pressure. When we got up there, he had pulled his C-Pap out and was breathing just fine on his own so the nurse assured us that we were almost done with the breathing stuff.

It was so nice to see him not on the IV anymore. One less wire hanging from his body. He was also so content to not be under the jaundice lamps anymore so he could enjoy his life swaddled again :) We just enjoyed our time holding him again. He was content to be in our arms for the day! The nurses now are just kind of letting us be. The only thing we can't do is move him on our own because they don't want to mess up the C-Pap. But all they do is say, "it is time for a diaper change" or bring in the syringe for the oral care and hand it to us.

Today He got a new roommate. We were there when they brought in a very premature baby (under 2 lbs) and even with a situation like that, they were all calm and collected and got her stabilized quickly. I know they handle situations like that everyday - it is truly incredible. Eli is definitely one of the big boys in the NICU though!

We didn't stay as long in the NICU today. Malachi was struggling and needed some Mommy and Daddy time so we were planning on bringing him home for the evening. Plus - it was his 6 month Gotcha Day and we wanted to celebrate!

It was a little hard to leave so early in the day, but the nurse assured me not to worry and that Eli would be just fine. She said he would probably be moved to the other, less intensive side of the NICU that evening and that she really thought we would not be seeing that C-Pap machine the next time we came in. He was fussing when we tried to leave, so I just couldn't leave the bedside with him upset. We had somehow lost his binky, so the nurse had to get him another one. With a binky in his mouth, he was one perfectly content little boy and I could leave a little easier.

One final picture of that C-Pap Machine and Eli letting everyone know he wanted his binky

So off to celebrate with Malachi we went. The boy lives for Ice Cream so Peter's parents got him an Ice Cream Cake. He really enjoyed the Ice Cream part, but more than that he discovered Oreo Cookies for the first time and really enjoyed those cookies!

Malachi - You have been such a joy in our lives over these past 6 months. Life would not be the same without you. You put a smile on everyone's faces with your silliness and the joy that you have! Happy half Gotcha Day big boy!!!

The nurse called us in the evening. First thing she did was assure us that Elias was fine :) She wanted to let us know that they had moved him to the other area and also wanted to let us know that they had taken him of the C-Pap machine. This came as a huge surprise to us and we were so very excited and hopeful that he would do well with it off.

We just called and checked on him. He is still off the C-Pap machine and has taken his first bottle! Another few (big steps) closer to getting him home!!!