Grower and Feeder

Ethan is doing so well! He is considered a grower and feeder now...he is doing well with the weight and is in the process of learning to eat from the bottle. He is up to 3 (out of 8) feedings a day trying from the bottle. He has taken his full feed from the bottle a couple times but usually its about 35cc's out of 51. In a previous post I mentioned that a baby has to learn how to suck, swallow and breathe while feeding and he has the concept down okay...he just needs to pace himself better so he doesn't get to tired. Its all a learning process for him and were hoping he just continues to do better...FAST :) Its actually a learning process for Jon and I too. Feeding Ethan with a bottle is no where near the same like it was feeding Brayden. We are learning the best way to hold a preemie during a feed (especially since he has acid reflux) and how to help pace him better. Once he can take all 8 feeds from the bottle he can come home. He makes progress every single day...they are thinking right after his due date which was Sept 2nd but in the end its all up to the little one. All babies are different when it comes to learning this skill and we just have to wait till he tells us he is ready. His occupational therapist said that when it finally clicks in their little brain they become little pros fast.

He is now at 6lbs 2oz! He has come a long way from 3 1/2lbs. He is wearing NB size clothes and diapers. Ethan has the cutest cheeks ever and has big eyes just like his big bro. His eye brows are blonde...like you cant even see them. I think he is going to be a Blondie YAY!!!!   He is not fussy at all and all the nurses rave about how happy of a baby he is and he loves his pacifier.

His neurosurgeon came in to see him two days ago and told the nurse that Ethan is doing so well and he is extremely happy with his progress and has signed off that he is good to go home on his end! Since this surgery he has been so alert and stays up alot longer during the day. There is no doubt that it was the best thing for him.

I think that is all the updates for right now. I know I have mentioned it before but we are so blessed that Ethan is doing well! He was born at 28 weeks 5 days (he practically missed a whole trimester) and has faced more in his two months then people do in a lifetime but he fought so hard and he has so many people who love him and praying for him that he was able to overcome so much! We are SO in LOVE with this little man!