Happy One Week!

Dominic is one week old today!  It's amazing how time can crawl and fly at the same time.  The days feel like they go slowly, but I also can't believe he has been here a week.  This also means I have been saying goodbye to him every night for 5 nights (since I had 2 nights of staying in the hospital after I had him).  I keep expecting it to get easier and it still hasn't.  We usually leave here around 7:30-7:45.  That means the feeling sick to my stomach begins around 6:30.  Just knowing I have to walk out of this hospital without him makes me physically ill.  After talking to one of the nurses today, who wisely pointed out that the purpose of me going home was to get better, but it clearly was making me sick, I decided I am going to try to room in for a bit.  The NICU has 6 rooms for parents to stay in.  So, if they have one available tomorrow, I'm moving back into the hospital!

Dominic is holding steady at 4lbs 1 oz.  The nurse said they may start fortifying my milk so he is getting more calories.  The more weight he has on him, the easier it is for him to regulate his temperature.  So, I hope they do add the supplement soon.  We are very happy he hasn't really lost weight, but we would love to see him start gaining.  He had several more brady episodes today.  Again, the nurses try to reassure me they are normal, but it doesn't make it any easier.  The occupational therapist came in today and we gave D a massage.  I am quite jealous because bewtween laying in a hospital bed for almost 4 weeks, giving birth and being permanently stressed out, I could sure use one too.  But, I didn't think it was appropriate to ask the therapist to do me next!  Either way, it was great bonding time for D and me and he seemed to really enjoy it.  Besides being calming for him, it apparently sends important messages to his brain.  So, no big steps forward, but no big ones back.  But, regardless, it was a good day because I got to spend it with D!

Life's good when your paci is almost as big as your head!