IT'S BOTTLE TIME

Today is a great day for Ava! She hasn't had any spells since yesterday and rarely de-sats. I am so glad the meds are working for her. She obviously still needed them. It's always trial and error with preemies because they all need things at different times. She gained 20 grams and is almost 3 lbs 15 ounces. I am sure by her next weight check she will be. They always check her weight at 2am so we never know until the morning. Also, the NP put in orders to try one bottle per day. She said she went to do her daily rounds on Ava and she was wide awake and looked like she was ready to eat! I am heading down for her 5pm feeding and if she is awake and ready, we will try a bottle. In my experience (with Justin) this will be a slow process getting started...and, it might not even work yet. She might not be ready. I would guess that if she can do it, she will get down some of the milk, and then we will have to put the rest in her feeding tube. It's a lot of work to eat for the first time!

We are expecting that Ava will come home in the next two to three weeks. We don't have a for sure discharge date yet. That will come much closer to when she actually goes home. There is no weight limit for going home. All she has to do is learn how to eat ALL of her feedings on her own and have the stamina to do it. Also, she will need to be able to maintain her temperature outside the isollette. We can't wait to get her home though!!! She'll be 34 weeks tomorrow!!!