Four Pounds

Well, Emma reached the four pound mark on her 10 week birthday. She is currently at 1822 grams (only 8 shy of tripling her birth weight). Although she is putting on the weight pretty quickly, she is growing taller and the weight is not attributable to bloating or water retention. I talked with Emma last night, and I told her that she should shoot for five pounds by the end of the month. Its a lofty goal, but I think she can do it.

Emma continues to do well. She is eating a lot (up to 32 ml / three hours) and her ventilator rates continue to be weened (currently a rate of 20 breaths / minute and pressure of 20/6). She is creeping closer and closer to being ready for nasal CPAP... which would allow Emma to eat using her mouth (a novel concept, I know). I was thinking of it this morning, and I reallyl haven't been able to see Emma's entire face yet. Ok, I saw her entire face when she was first born (for a couple seconds), and about eight weeks ago she was on nasal CPAP, but I was only able to see her as such for about 30 minutes. So, I am getting very excited for the day when I can really appreciate my child's face... Strange I know, and I love her regardless, but I am ready to see her w/out the breathing tube. And it's difficult to tell who exactly she looks like w/ the breathing tube!

All of the effects of Emma's shots appear to be subsided... she definitely took them in stride. As a reward we gave her a bath last night (which she truly enjoyed). However, tonight she has another eye exam, so her eyes will be dialated for a couple hours tonight. (note... I've just learned her eye exam may not be tonight...).

On a side note, my picture taking has fallen off a bit lately. I expect that it will pick up significantly when Emma either (1) gets out of her isollete and into a crib and / or (2) gets rid of her breathing tube and gets nasal CPAP instead. (note... the previous link is not a picture of Emma... just the best picture of a baby on nasal CPAP I could find).