16 JUNE 2014 -- ONE MONTH
Over
the past month, baby Madeline has gained about two pounds and grown
almost three inches. As of tomorrow, her gestational age will be 37
weeks, officially making her a full term infant (although her due date
is still 3 weeks away).
She no
longer looks much like a preemie, but now has the appearance of a very
petite, term baby. I'm always astonished at how big she looks to me.
However, I saw a full term baby in the hall the other day, and...wow,
those fucking things are huge. He looked like her could eat her. I was tempted
to ask if he was potty trained already. So...I guess she's still
pretty tiny, relatively speaking
In any case, she's still perfect, and beautiful.
Maddie is making excellent progress in the feeding department. She had her first bottle today, and was very successful. I am so proud of how well she's done.
She is completely off oxygen now, and just has her monitors, and her feeding tube. Handling her is not quite like handling your standard-issue newborn; it's a lot to manage -- tubes, and cords, and wires. I wonder how free and easy she will seem when she's rid of all of these instruments.
I'm fighting off a chronic case of "hospital-itis". I've been living here for just over 6 weeks now, which feels like an eternity. Those first few weeks after she was born were marked with significant advancements in rapid succession ("she's extubated!" "She's off the bili lights!" "She's out of the isolette! Hooray!"). But now we're in the "feeding and growing" stage, and I have periods of impatience when I feel like we'll be here forever.
It's a long haul in here. There are countless humbling moments, and I feel as if I'm constantly having to ask for help.
Nevertheless, the end is in sight. I suspect we have one, perhaps two, weeks left before we get to bring her to her new home. I cannot wait!
And of course, I remain extremely grateful for our health, good fortune, and the support we've received.
Happy one month birthday, Baby Madeline!
Maddie is making excellent progress in the feeding department. She had her first bottle today, and was very successful. I am so proud of how well she's done.
She is completely off oxygen now, and just has her monitors, and her feeding tube. Handling her is not quite like handling your standard-issue newborn; it's a lot to manage -- tubes, and cords, and wires. I wonder how free and easy she will seem when she's rid of all of these instruments.
I'm fighting off a chronic case of "hospital-itis". I've been living here for just over 6 weeks now, which feels like an eternity. Those first few weeks after she was born were marked with significant advancements in rapid succession ("she's extubated!" "She's off the bili lights!" "She's out of the isolette! Hooray!"). But now we're in the "feeding and growing" stage, and I have periods of impatience when I feel like we'll be here forever.
It's a long haul in here. There are countless humbling moments, and I feel as if I'm constantly having to ask for help.
Nevertheless, the end is in sight. I suspect we have one, perhaps two, weeks left before we get to bring her to her new home. I cannot wait!
And of course, I remain extremely grateful for our health, good fortune, and the support we've received.
Happy one month birthday, Baby Madeline!
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