Day 7 - "Birthdays" and Bottles

Today Caleb is 2 weeks old! Eric and I are baffled that it has only been 2 weeks that we have known about him. Lotsa life lived in those 2 weeks.

The name Caleb means "whole-hearted." The name Aiden means "little fire." He is a spunky little spark plug for sure.  I have a feeling this little boy will go on to defy the odds. Yesterday he took THREE bottles and ate each of them in the allotted 20 minute goal window. (He has 10-20 minutes to finish 1.5 ounces of formula via bottle before they transfer to feeding tube.) Yesterday morning he ate in 15 minutes. (He was alert and very hungry!) The next feeding I GOT TO FEED HIM with the help of the Neonatal Occupational Therapist (OT). He showed me how to remind Caleb to eat. Essentially, we are training him to do a consistent feed without forgetting what he is doing or going to sleep totally. Caleb ended up eating the whole bottle with coaxing. Then they tube fed him at 2. At 5, Eric was with him. They put him on the tube feed, but Eric noticed that Caleb was making sucking motions with his lips and acting like he WANTED to actually eat the bottle. When Eric pointed this out to the nurse, she was pleasantly surprised and agreed. So, Eric got to feed Caleb...and he ate the whole bottle with a bit of coaxing. I almost cried. Ok, so maybe I did cry. The problem isn't actually just eating, he can do that. The problem is that he needs to gain the skills to suck and breathe and consistently eat without reminding...and to not have his heart rate take dips when he forgets to breathe in between. (Those dips are called "Bradys" and are typical of preemies, but mommy doesn't like them.) Multitasking feeding/breathing skills are usually developed between 36-38 weeks gestation. He would only be 36 weeks today. So, there is time. He will get it. For now, I am thrilled that he is even wanting a bottle instead of the easy route of tube feeding. He sure hates that tube though. I can imagine that it feels like something is stuck in the back of his throat, much like we feel when thick mucus is stuck in our throats. So.not.fun. I have been telling Caleb that the only way he can get that nasty tube out of his nose is to actually take a whole bottle. I tell him that he needs to show the staff that he is smart and has "got skills." lol  Our little firecracker must want to go home. Prayers are working people. =)

I can hardly wait to see him this afternoon. But this morning, I get spend some more time with our bigger boy. =O)