Well...I've been meaning to write this for a while now but I think I had to soak the information in a little bit. Good thing I did because things have changed since.

Last Monday Dave and I found out that we would for sure be bringing Miles home in 2 to 3 weeks which would have put us at this weekend (the 17th-18th) or the weekend after (24th-25th). This was overwhelming news for me...I think Dave too...for a couple reasons. At that time he was only taking 5 out of 8 bottles which he was still struggling with. That would mean we would have to learn how to change his feeding tube and learn how to do the feedings through the machine if he wasn't able to take a bottle. He wouldn't be completely off O2 so we would have to learn how to use the large tank as well as the small travel tank. Also, they would probably send us home with a monitor, like the one at the hospital to check his breathing, heart rate, oxygen level, etc. so we would have to learn how to us that. Having to do all those things together all by myself overwhelmed me and I immediately broke down after the doctor left the room but I quickly recovered. I will do anything for this little guy but I will definitely need a lot of strength and courage. One thing that was encouraging was the Dr. saying that Miles was 'rock solid stable'! I'm glad you think so Dr. Chentow!

Since then, he's eating 7 out of 8 bottles and doing really well with each one. Every once in a while he struggles with a feeding but he's getting better at pacing himself. By the time he comes home we may not even need to do gavage feedings. One less thing to worry about. O2 I'm not worried about. It would be nice if he were off it but if not that's okay. Monitors, they make me nervous but I'd rather have that then nothing I guess. At least for the first few weeks. But they might say we won't need them. The only thing that's stopping him from coming home are his apnea episodes where his heart rate slows, his breathing slows, his oxygen levels drop. That can't happen for 5 days straight and they are still happening every couple days.

His due date was supposed to be January 18th so I guess he's right on schedule. Maybe a little behind. He weighs...well last Saturday he weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. so he's getting pretty close to 8! I could have delivered another 9 lb. baby!!! Crazy! Also he's getting an MRI tomorrow. Nothing serious, just getting a closer look at that bleed in his brain to make sure things are still looking good. Another step for him to come home!