...Not Yet Begun to Fight!

Day 14:

Today was one of those days, Conor. A cold and rainy day, banging around in traffic and commuting to the office while you sit warm and snug, swaddled in your isolette. I missed you, buddy. Still, the news was all pretty good! It seems you're eating far better from the bottle to supplement your twice daily routine of nursing with Mommy, and the Doctors and Nurses in the Virginia Hospital Center NICU haven't had to *Gavage feed you since yesterday morning! This is great news because feeding on your own puts you one step closer to home! And we're told, if you can eat from bottle or breast eight times a day, but do it consistently day after day, you'll satisfy the Doctor's feeding requirement. Which means only one step to go- Temperature!

It seems the Nurses got just a smidge aggressive with the whole "Managing Body Temperature" thing though, because when I finally did get to see you they had you in an open crib!! Mommy and I were pretty surprised... We thought you'd be in your isolette at least another couple days! But no matter. After a hearty feeding with Mommy (25 minutes, besting yesterday's effort!) and being topped off with another 15 milliliters of a vitamin packed bottle feeding, your temperature fell below 98 degrees fahrenheit... The result being, they brought back the isolette where they can keep you warm without your having to work for it. It seems keeping warm can burn a lot of energy in a guy your size, so keeping you warm will not only help you to build energy stores, but also works to conserve your energy for when it's time to eat; a result Mommy and I are most interested in! The more you eat, the fatter you get! (Trust me, Son, this isn't always something to be proud of so pack it on now...)

Regardless, you were THAT CLOSE Conor! The Doctors and Nurses thought enough of your progress to at least try!! And I know in a few days, my little Lion-Heart, Conor An Chroí Lion, will be ready to face down the final NICU challenge and come home. You keep fighting, Buddy. I'll be there with you all the way. Always...

G'night, Son. I love you.
-Dad


*Gavage feeding in the NICU is where a small, narrow tube is inserted through the infant's nostril and is placed down the throat, esophagus, and into the baby's stomach. This allows for the baby to be fed if it cannot get the nutrition it needs from breastmilk or formula alone (via breastfeeding or bottle feeding).