Moving Forward

Eli continues to do well. He is still getting one bottle a day and is getting the rest of his seven feeds through his feeding tube. It is interesting that now he realizes when it is time to eat, even if it's through a tube, and he gets really fussy right before it's time. His suck-swallow reflex is developing really well, which we're thankful for. He just has trouble breathing during the whole process. The doctor says that it is around this time that the brain really starts sending strong signals to the lungs to breathe deeply and regularly, so we are praying that Eli learns to do this quickly. It is discouraging sometimes to watch his oxygen saturations fall, and sometimes scarcy.

We tried breast-feeding for the first time yesterday, too, and it went really well. We're going to try again today and are hoping that he does as well today as he did yesterday.

I am feeling really worn down by all of this. Though Eli isn't experiencing any set-backs, he isn't moving forward as quickly as I'd like. I keep reminding myself that this is normal, that he just needs time, but it still takes a toll on both of us emotionally. I feel so tired, emotionally and physically, and I am just longing to bring him home with us.

Please pray for Eli...
1. That his oxygen saturation will increase and stay high all day, and that he won't experience desaturation, particularly when he eats.
2. That he is a quick learner with bottle/breast feeding and that he'll be able to start eating more than one feed a day from the bottle.
3. That he will gain weight. (He's been holding steady at 3 pounds, 10 ounces this week.)
4. That he will be able to regulate his own temperature.

Thank you so much!