Shower time

Thank you to everyone for all of the wonderful gifts! I have my work cut out for me with thank yous from both shower nows:) Sorry you all had to trek down in the rain. Apparently rain is a recurring theme for our family celebrations. Despite the lousy weather it was so good to see everyone, and a few friends and family got to visit with Chase before and after the shower.

Day 72

Yesterday Chase did well off of oxygen all together! He still gulps the bottle when he's hungry and gasps to catch his breath, but this would happen to anyone eating fast:) He only gained a few grams which was good, because the two prior days he gained a little too much. As you may remember this issue is of concern because of fluid retention. After discussion during rounds the docs also decreased his calorie supplement back down to 24. We were also told to bring his car seat in by mid week!!

I wish someone besides the nurse could have seen Chase while I gave him his bath yesterday. He was hilarious. When she put him on his belly under the warmer he was squirming around like a frog. He kept kicking his legs around on the pad, rearing up his butt and lifting his head. Unfortunately I had my hands full with him, so I couldn't take any video!

Today is my baby shower at Clementine so we have lots of company visiting from out of town!

Big Boy

Home Stretch

No carpet

Carpet!

Not the permanent layout-but at least the space is usable again

Crib shots!

Although we don't get have a date, we know we are closing in on the end of this 70+ day journey. Chase passed both his hearing and vision exams yesterday, and today they are going to begin weaning him off the oxygen during feedings. They also scheduled his circumcision. Sorry TMI:) Yesterday he weighed 5lbs. 7oz. and as I was rocking with him after he ate I kept thinking that he looked not only giant compared to when he was born, but also that he would have been about this big if he had stayed in for the duration of the pregnancy.

His nursery and the upstairs are pretty much ready for his arrival. We still have to get an area rug and curtains for both rooms, and his nursery will be fully finished by the end of the weekend. Upstairs still needs trim, the projector remounted, a new screen, and closet systems as well, but all of these tasks will come together in due time. Right now we are just trying to get everything organized for Chase to come home. I have to put all the fun stuff away from my first baby shower to make room for the goodies from my home shower tomorrow:)

One Last Hurdle

We finally met with the cardiologist today. Although the PDA is still present it is small, and at this time doesn't require surgery! She said that the flow is in the correct direction, he doesn't have any enlargement on the left side, his lungs aren't as wet as in the past, and he continues to grow. All of these are good things:) We will see her again in two months for a follow-up to see if he may need a less invasive procedure if the PDA is still there.

Our hope was that after we got this news we would have a conversation about a possible discharge date, but no dice. The last goal he has to meet is not needing any oxygen for feedings. He is getting much more coordinated and we're hoping they do another trial off during feedings this weekend. After that it should be only another week or so. Keeping our fingers crossed!

Littlest Fan

Chase has already amassed quite a nice wardrobe, and he has a trifecta of fan gear from our Philadelphia teams. You all have seen his Flyers blanket and bib in his room at the NICU, but he also has Eagles and Phillies onesies, several pacifiers, outfits, socks, and hats representing our beloved teams.

Despite the fact that McNabb was traded, we won't start following a rival team down here, and will proudly display our newest gift during the season. Thanks Angela and Tommy for the great sign! The picture doesn't do it justice, its poster size and once he's big enough for his onesie you better believe we'll be taking pics to send everyone.

Don't worry he also received his first F1 Ferrari outfit as well:) Thank goodness the little one can sleep through anything, because his first Sunday home may be on a race weekend. For anyone that hasn't stayed at our house before...you don't sleep in on race day. You never sleep in on race day. Our small house is rocked with the roar of the engines at the start. He heard it throughout the pregnancy, so he may be unfazed:) We can't wait til Chase fits in his Ferrari outfit, and we already talk about when we can take him to his first race.

Didn't I mention that he's already sure to be a car fanatic just like his daddy? I imagine as soon as he's big enough to grip the steering wheel Jas will have him sitting on his lap in the race simulator he built a few years ago.

Squirmy

Not a lot of info, which is a good thing! He weighed 5 lbs. 1.6oz today and continues to need only minimal oxygen just for feedings. He's not a happy camper taking his medicine from the bottle some days, and this evening he had two bradys while eating. He seems to do better pacing himself while nursing. One last thing-our meeting with the cardiologist is finally on Thursday afternoon. I know we've been waiting to get a date, but I think we've finally made it on her schedule:)

I have house pics on the camera, but its time for bed for us. Will try to post them in the morning. Here's a video of the little one however:)

Chase isn't doing a lot in this video. Just squirming around and looking pretty darn cute!