That's what I call dinner!

Today was a very good day in the NICU.  We have made some progress on a few fronts.  First, his oxygen flow is down to 2 liters and the percent is 21%.  What this means is he is essentially breathing room air with no extra oxygen, but he is having a little air pushed to him to compensate for his little developing lungs.  As we have said for a week or so now, the rest is up to Shiloh and God.  This could be a week venture getting him weaned down to no flow if he all of a sudden just begins to pick it up and do wonderfully.  Of course, if he takes his usual path, we are probably looking at about 12 days to wean him down to nothing.  He has been taking an average of about 3 days to make a 1/2 liter drop in oxygen flow, so we 4 halves left, that would be 12 days.  In the end, we won't know until we get there.

In other news, he is doing well with his nipple feeding once a shift.  He is taking a full bottle (NICU sized) at each feeding, and he has little or no problem feeding.  So, in the next couple of days, the determination will be made as to whether we will begin feeding every other feed on nipple or every feed.  All of our ducks must be in a row to get every feeding by bottle.  Of course, the best news of all was that he got an extra nipple feed today. The day nurse snuck an extra nipple feed in so that Carrie could give him the bottle, and she could walk with us through some of the special circumstances of feeding a preemie.  But, Carrie did get to feed him and was very content in that.

We still have many hurdles to go, but we are constantly seeing progress.  We could very well be out of here by the end of the month.  To get there we have to get off of oxygen completely, get all feedings by either bottle or breast, gain weight without being force fed, maintain his body temperature, and pass the car seat test.  Some of these things he is already doing, but he has to pass their tests.

So here are our prayer requests:

1. His lungs would continue to develop and he would learn to thrive without the assistance of oxygen
2. He would graduate to all his feedings by bottle and breast
3. He would take to breastfeeding
4. He would continue to gain consistent weight now that he is off iv fluids
5. That he would continue to maintain his body temperature
6. Pass the car seat test
7. Move to the 3rd floor NICU
8. Finances
9. Safe Travel
10. Strength and Patience for Carrie and I
11. Shiloh would remain overall healthy and not catch anything that would hinder his progress
12. We could make a decision on him a doctor for when he is out

Again, Thank you all for your prayer and support.

Pics for your viewing pleasure