Update on Jack

I was discharged from the hospital yesterday and it was probably one of the saddest days that I have ever had.  Throughout my entire pregnancy I knew that I was at high risk for preterm labor, I knew there was a good chance he would come early.  I also knew there was a good chance that he would end up in the NICU.  Knowing all of this I never, ever, ever considered that there was a good chance we would be discharged from the hospital without our baby.  Yesterday that is exactly what happened.  I have no idea what I was thinking but I was devastated yesterday having to leave him at the hospital.  

Yesterday Jackson decided that he didn't want to finish his bottles anymore so they had to put a feeding tube in.  I started sobbing listening to him scream as they put the tube up his nose and down into his tummy.  Also, he did end up having to be put on oxygen so now our precious little baby has tape and tubes all over his sweet face.  I just kept thinking how he is only five days old and he has already been poked so much.  

On a good note, Jack really is doing great.  His eating is somewhat sporadic depending on how sleepy he is.  Sometimes he'll nurse for about ten minutes and then eat an entire bottle then other times he won't latch and will only eat a tiny bit.  He just gets so sleepy sometimes and eating is hard work for such a little dude.  He is breathing completely on his own but he had a couple apnea episodes (I think only 2) and a few episodes where his breathing slows quite a bit.  The oxygen has helped tremendously with all of these episodes.  We don't know yet when he will get to come home but we are praying that it will be before thanksgiving.  Before he comes home he needs to have no more breathing episodes-he has to go five days without any-and be finishing all of his feedings.  We should know more by tomorrow morning after rounds.  

Like I said, yesterday was an extremely difficult day but today was much, much better.  I'll try to keep posting updates on here but hopefully we'll have out little guy home soon.