Six Weeks Old!

We spent another afternoon at the NICU with Gus. He is really getting quite a personality - crying and making little sounds. Gus surprised the nurses with his vocal chords today - they all ran in to hear him when he let out some loud cries. That is a good sign that his lungs are healthy and his throat is healing from his time with the respirator. He is also really good now with us changing him and doing his regular care with diaper changes and cleanup.

Jill was able to do skin-to-skin/kangaroo care with Gus today. She held him for almost two hours before he gave us the signals that he wanted to go back into the isolette. It was such a neat time - he made cooing and humming sounds as he slept on Jill's chest.

While doing the skin-to-skin care Gus likes to change positions. One of his favorite today was "The Thinker." He propped his chin up with one hand and ran his other across Jill's chest - he likes to feel us while being held.

Gus gained another ounce today - up to 2 lb 11 oz. Just one more to go before he is a pound heavier than his birth weight. It is so hard to believe that just a pound could make such a difference. We notice it in the size of his legs and the number of chins he is showing. Gus' face is fuller with nice round cheeks too. Gus received an increase in his feeds - up to 22 ml every three hours and has had his caffeine increased to help regulate his breathing.

Sweet Dreams,
Gregg, Jill and Gus