Today Nico got moved from his isolet to a "big boy" crib. He has stayed off any breathing support. Today his platelets were almost 20,000 higher than yesterday, so they are turning in the right direction. He is scheduled for a repeat MRI on his brain at 8am tomorrow, because the scans that Clear Lake Hospital took were not done with the settings needed to see what the doctors needed to see. Today he got double the feeding volume of yesterday and they will continue to increase it daily as long as he is digesting well ( a feeding for him today was a little less than 2 & 1/2 teaspoons). Tomorrow they are going to take out his UVC, which is an IV into his umbilical stump that gives the doctors quick access if he were to need medication. He will be given a peripheral IV to continue to give him nutritional support. A chunk of the blood testing that they started yesterday will have results hopefully by the middle of next week.
So today I held him again, just laying on my chest for an hour and a half. It was so nice. I could have stayed there hours more. He was a happy guy to be kept cozy and listen to me hum. Tomorrow when his line comes out we get to put clothes on him for the first time. I am excited to see him all dressed up. There will definitely be more photos posted tomorrow. He smiled at me again today! I think he is going to be a charmer. Given my husband's genes, I am not at all surprised.
I have to say this too, Ronald McDonald houses are really great! The next time you are next to one of those boxes to drop your change in there, know that it is a good charity. Mom and I had lunch there and to have free pizza and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, while sitting at a dining room table (not a cafeteria table) was a nice break. They even have rooms to take a nap in, which is nice for someone who's just had a c-section. The "house" is right in the middle of the hospital. Also if you're looking for something to do with your free time, volunteers are here who come in to bake the cookies and wash the dishes.
Thank you again to everyone who is continuing to encourage us!