Yo - Check out my CRIB!

As you will see below, Gus moved out of the isolette and into a crib today. He is big enough and able to regulate his body temperature well enough that the move is right. Gus also turned 5 lb today! What a great milestone - it sure put a smile on our face when Susie told us this morning.

Speaking of smiles... Every so often Gus will just break out into a smile. Some think it is just gas but there are times that he seems to be responding to something. He is going to have to smile A LOT being the son of a construction insurance specialist and a pastor. Of course our hearts completely melt when he responds this way - knowing he is at least relaxed and content being in our arms.

Here is the big boy crib! Gus' "compare bear" is next to his head. The last picture with the bear is here when he was just two weeks old. No doubt he has gotten HUGE since then. Nurse Susie made Gus a special poster for inside his crib with pictures of his special day and notes saying "Gus is 5 pounds AND in a crib today - 74 days old." What wonderful care we continue to receive - Nurse Susie even sent Jill a Mother's Day card congratulating her on her first mother's day and encouraging her in the journey. It doesn't get better than that!

So Gus is 5 lbs now and getting stronger. He still has some stutter starts with bottle feeding. In the beginning he is so eager that he often gags. But once he is into it he seems to get his suck-swallow-breathe rhythm down and takes the better part of the bottle. If he gets tired however - the bottle feeding is done and he has to receive the rest of his milk down the tube that goes into his nose and down to his tummy. Today I fed him and he only needed to get 6ml this way - the other 34 was sucked down on his own. Gus' oxygen cannula remains at 1 liter per minute and is usually set to 21-25% oxygen. This is a good improvement so we are hoping that some of the central and obstructive apnea is clearing. Yet, when he forgets to breathe it is usually a pretty big event. Not too bad today - just a few including two during bottle feeding as he tried to establish his rhythm. Grow Gus grow - we are so proud of your effort.

Please continue to keep the other NICU babies in your prayers - especially MH. She is recovering slowly from a surgery and according to her parents is having a difficult time. Kenyon continues to do well and is sure a cutie - he is on a very similar path to the one Gus has been on. We spent some time with his parents tonight and they are great people filled with faith in their little guy.

With Hope-Filled Patience,
Gregg, Jill and Gus