Graduation Day

Jackson had a BIG day today! His great grandmother dropped by to check on him at 10 only to discover he was gone - crib and all! No need to worry though, our mini-Houdini had not been up to more trickery. Instead, earlier in the morning during the 6 to 8AM shift change our little overachiever graduated from the intensive side of the NICU to the progressive side. The intensive side is usually a baby's first stop and is intended for those needing close supervision. Once a baby has stabilized to a certain point, they get to move over to the progressive side.


As part of his promotion, he also gets a snazzy new house. Well, it's more like a condo really. It's just an enclosed bed, which looks like a step backwards to me versus being out in the open, but everyone tells me this is a step in the right direction.

Jackson's next milestone was going to be taking a bottle. That's one of the big prerequisites before he's allowed to go home with us. Some others include 5 days with no breathing problems of any kind (he's up to 2 days on that count), he has to be gaining weight (he's still losing, down to 4lb 2.5oz) and he has to pass the car seat test which is accomplished by simply being able to breath in a car seat. Seems a bit strange to me, but apparently it can cause problems...

Anyway, before he's even allowed to try taking a bottle, several criteria have to be met. First, he has to be taking at least 20ml each feeding - no problem he's up to that now. Then he also has to demonstrate a strong suck reflex. Getting close on that one. Plus, his breathing rate has to be stable below 60 per minute. Getting close on that one too. He's also got to be alert during his care times. Hmmm... So far, he's only opened his eyes twice. Ever. This one could be a problem. And finally, once he does start a bottle, he has to finish it in less than 30 minutes or else he'll actually burn more calories than he consumes. Obviously, his love of sleep could be a stumbling block.


So imagine our shock, when at the noon care time the nurse said, "let's try him on a bottle!" ... What?!? Well, OK... Many babies, on taking their first bottle, are a little startled to actually find something come out of it. Not our boy! He downed that bottle the way daddy does a milkshake - one long gulp. I half expected him to crush it on his forehead when he was finished. Seriously, he was done in less than 10 minutes and was wide awake too! OK, he may not look *wide* awake, but believe me, he wouldn't look any more awake on five cups of coffee.


At this rate he may be coming home before all my house projects are complete...


Later on in the day he's supposed to come off the biliblanket treatment and he's going to gradually transition from one bottle feeding a day to all feedings by bottle. We're so proud of our little boy!