Good News, and 1 Week Old!

We're just back from the NICU tonight, with some encouraging news...

Dylan is ready to move from the highest level of care, NICU3, to the next level, NICU2 as soon as there is a spot available for him. Basically, this means that his doctors belive he is progressing well and is not in need of as intensive a level of care as is provided in the NICU3.

Of course, in NICU2 he is still very closely monitored and will be well cared for. The main difference as it was explained to us, is that the NICU3 is really geared to the management of problems where the NICU2 is much more aimed at getting babies healthy enough to go home.
It really feels like a graduation!

Also, in under 1 hour from the time I am typing this, Dylan will be exactly 1 week old. In some ways, it doesn't feel like it's been that long and in others, I can't belive it's only been a week.

Dylan is also done with all of his IV antibiotics and is now receiving 13 cc of breastmilk with each feeding. He is now down to just two things being delivered via IV: his nutrient package, which is slowly being decreased as he gets more and more breastmilk, and a lipid package, which will help fatten him up to better manage his body temperature.

We asked about him possibly beginning to breastfeed, and what they explained was that they don't have a set time at which they try. Rather, they base the decision to attempt breastfeeding on how well the infant takes to his pacifier and how strongly he sucks on it. Right now, he does use the pacifier, but does not suck very strongly on it. Hopefully, that improves at the same rate as everything else. Being able to feed from either a breast or a bottle is a requirement before he can go home, so the faster he can get that part of things down pat, the faster we can get him home.

And let me leave you with some new pics until next time: