Today was a great visit with Adin. He was moved from a Pod to the Special Care Nursery. The Special Care Nursery is the last stop, so to speak, for NICU babies. It's where babies go when they need less staffing and less support. It was frustrating because this is the second day that he's been moved. Today, however, I walked into the Pod he was in yesterday and one of the nurses said she didn't know where he was - not something I like hearing! Adin did two breast feedings, one took forever because he and I had a battle of the wits. I attempted to feed sans shield. Well, for the first time (of many I'm sure) he won and I had to pop on a shield. Then, even after over 30 minutes of a struggle he was able to get a good 15 minutes of feeding in. The lactation consultant came in to check on me and said I had good instincts and reinforced my choice to add the shield by agreeing with me that he's still really little and needs to grow and get strong before I really tackle the battle of removing it. I did two feedings without it yesterday and he dropped 2 ounces...so I'm pretty sure letting him "win" is just fine.
Then he slept for a bit, allowing Jesse and I time to get some thank you cards done. Coincidentally, Jesse was writing a card for the giver of the below card when Adin began waking up so we thought it appropriate to snap this picture. Even though he's fussy he's still our bundle of joy!
During his second feeding I didn't even bother to challenge the shield vs. no shield battle. I just popped in on and he went to town! After a good 25 minutes, he fell asleep. His hand looks like he's whispering a secret to my breast :) They dressed him today in a super cute outfit - one that belongs to the hospital - so I made sure to point out to his new nurse where his bag of clothing is. We may have this outfit in a larger size...I can't remember.
I wake up each night at 2:00 and then again at 6:00 to pump and Jake has gotten in the habit of coming out and joining me. He started sitting in the chair across the room, but has now graduated to joining me on the couch. I time my pumping to an episode of The Office. Jake is our original fur baby and he will not be ignored...however his air time on my blog will significantly decrease because Adin is just so incredibly cute!
Each day when we come home from the hospital with dirty clothes we drop them on the floor and let Jake smell them up. Most parents bring one blanket home, we are bringing home a small wardrobe bit by bit :)
Man, does he have alot of hair!! So good to hear how he is liking to eat. I think you have a very strong willed child already. A grandparent's dream. :) But, he's little. Let him have his way for now. He needs to grow and come home. :)
ReplyDeleteErin he just keeps getting cuter and cuter. Keep posting pictured to encourage my frantic knitting. I am so happy that he is doing well and can not wait until the two of you are up for me driving down for a visit.
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying hearing all about Adin! He is such a cutie!!!! Glad he is doing well! I can't wait until I read that he has come home!!!! Reading about Adin brings back the memories of when my kids were babies.
ReplyDeleteErin and Jesse, he's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteErin, don't fret over "the shield." I had the same will and emotions as you with Stella...at the time, I felt awful not being able to do it "naturally." Then I realized, however she could eat was what was "natural." Here's the bx analyst in me...it's a modification to success...do I go so far as to suggest errorless learning? :) hugs!