Getting Closer

Maddie is getting stronger and bigger every day. She's now up to 5 pounds, 14 ounces. She is SO CLOSE to six pounds! She didn't gain any weight yesterday, which isn't a big deal. Usually when she doesn't gain any weight one day, the next day she's gained double what she usually does. I'm really looking forward to when she's 6 pounds 2 ounces so I can say that she's doubled her size since birth.

She's doing really well with her feedings. Yesterday, it was like a little light bulb went off over her head. She's finished every feeding since 11 am yesterday. That is what we need her to do to bring her home! If she keeps it up, well, I don't want to jinx anything, but she is moving in the right direction. I don't think it's a coincidence that yesterday also marked what would have been 38 weeks gestation. Babies born at 38 weeks are considered full term. Maddie really just needed to get older. It normally takes her about 20-30 minutes to finish a bottle, although at 5 am this morning she ate the whole thing in 10 minutes. It's sort of mind blowing, because a whole bottle for her is only an ounce and a half. To keep with our theme here, an ounce and a half fits in a shot glass. Such a tiny amount! But of course, that amount will increase as she gets older and bigger.

The doctors solved one mystery today. For the last five or so days, Maddie has been wheezing a lot. And even though her wheezing is adorable (she sounds like one of Rigby's squeaky toys!), it was causing some concern. Occasionally, her breathing would become labored because of it, and she would actually require a breathing treatment to help open up her lungs. One of the doctors had the idea to remove all the stuffed animals from her bed, as sometimes babies are allergic to the furry material toys are made of. Mike and the nurses and I sort of scoffed at this, since she's had stuffed animals around her since her second week in the NICU. But, lo and behold, it seems to have done the trick. She hasn't had any wheezing issues since the toys were removed. So, for now, all her fun stuffed animals will be up on a shelf, out of the way.

Mike and I, with the help of our family, have been working pretty hard to get her room ready. We've made some big improvements in our place, most notably getting new carpet, so things have been pretty nuts at our house lately. But when Maddie comes home, she's have brand new carpet and furniture and all sorts of new clothes and toys. This past Saturday, there was a shower in honor of Maddie at my aunt's house. My mom and my aunts, and Mike's mom and his aunts and sister, my cousins, neighbors, and family friends all turned out and totally spoiled Madeline. She is going to be one well-dressed baby!