Amazing Maisie

Wowie! Today was GREAT!! Maisie is now weighing in at 1635 grams- steady weight gain is a definite plus in the NICU. When we arrived for the morning rounds, the docs were discussing Maisie's head ultrasound from yesterday (which is officially clean and clear). They wanted to schedule her next ultrasound, which they typically schedule between 4-6 weeks of age. The nurse practitioner wanted to schedule it for 6 weeks from her birth, since her 2 week ultrasound was so good. The neonatologist wanted it at 4 weeks- and this is the GREAT part- because, says he, "She won't be here at 6 weeks! She's probably going home very early."
YAY!!!!!!!!

We still don't know WHEN she's going home, but I can deal with any amount now that I know it will be earlier than her full gestation.

And Maisie hit another milestone tonight- she was able to eat from a bottle!!!! She tried earlier with no success, but tonight we had a FANTASTIC nurse who showed Auntie Laura and Mama a handy trick for feeding preemies, and Amazing Maisie caught on instantly- downing 12cc's of milk! This is great because it's one more step to getting home sooner! She's still mostly on her feeding tube, but it's nice to know she's getting the hang of eating on her own.

She's also growing into life as a full newborn. Maisie had to get a glycerin suppository tonight for 2 days constipation, and made her way through 3 outfits, several blankets, tons of diapers and wipes. She even burped up some of her milk during her bottle feed. It may sound mundane and trivial, but it's really wonderful to experience such baby things with Maisie- sadly, not every baby in the NICU makes it this far, so we are feeling blessed even for this kind of thing.

Lots of big news today. So once again we left too early for me, but early enough that Maisie can rest from all her adventures of the day.