More Weight

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello little sweetie! I can't believe how big you've gotten! You're now 3 lbs 10.5 ozs! Yippie! I spoke to one of the nurses, and you need to be at least 4 lbs before you can stay in an open crib. You need to gain a little more weight so that you can regulate your temperature better.

You're feedings have increased to 34 ml of mommy's milk every 3 hours. You're still adjusting to the increase, so you still had some residual milk in your belly at your 3pm feeding. You didn't have a lot, so the nurse wasn't concerned.

We did another gulp and swallow session today. It was just the two of us, and you did well. The charge nurse came by during the feeding session and wants us to increase to two feedings a day to push you more. They don't want us to do two in a row since you'll need to rest between them. So, we're going to try the 3pm and 9pm feedings and see how you do. You need to learn to take more milk in at each feeding by yourself (without the feeding tube). Tomorrow, the nurse said she was going to weigh you before and after to see how much milk you're taking in at each feeding.

After our session, I held you for a few hours until daddy came to meet us. Mimi and grandpa Mike will be visiting you tonight.

You are so precious!

I love you very much! :-)

~Mommy