Day 6

I left the hospital for 3 hours today to attend the baby shower TIG hosted for me and Brad. When I came back there was a big surprise! They had removed both the umbilical cord line and the heating lamp! He still has to have the Bili blanket underneath him, but it just makes him look like a cute little glowworm. The Bili blanket has a UV light that's used for minimal jaundice treatment. He even gets to wear real clothes now because they've lowered the temperature in his incubator, so he'll have to start maintaining his temperature on his own.

Grandma Cheryl came by to visit him and give him her first feeding. He was a good boy for her and drank the whole bottle. He's up to 32 ml per feeding, which is close to an ounce. He even gave her a couple of smiles, but this is the best he'd let us catch on camera.

Day 5

Luke got much stronger today. By his 9AM feeding they had already increased the amount he was eating twice! He's been a good little eater, though he falls asleep all the time. He's on the weight gain path and now weighs 4 1/2 lbs. If he continues on like he is now they may remove the nutrient IV in his umbilical cord and his tanning lights in 2 days. The goal is for him to eat 40 ml per feeding and he's now at 26. With feedings every 3 hours (3, 6, 9, 12) he should get there in no time!

He seems to be pretty laid back compared to some of the other babies in there. I've only heard him cry when they prick his foot for blood work or when you touch him with cold hands. Here he is strapped in so he doesn't squirm all over the place.

The arrival

Luke Ryan Simpson
12:07 AM, June 24, 2009 , 4 lbs, 8 oz and 18 inches long

Luke's 7 week early arrival was our first lesson that we're no longer in control of what happens for the next 18 years or so. We barely made it back to Austin before he decided it was time to show up. At least he waited long enough to be a real Texan! We were so not ready but we are so happy he's here now!

The hospital has a great option that allows you to stay in a courtesy room while your baby's in the hospital (this hospital rocks btw). I get to stay here until they need my room - hooray! It's been wonderful to be able to stay down the hall from him for a few days longer. He will be in the NICU for at least another week and a half, but it could be as long as 6 weeks, which is close to when he was due on August 12. It's day by day and they can't tell us exactly when. Even though the NICU is not where you want your baby to be, Brad and I are glad to have the professionals take care of him a little longer. He seems so tiny we're afraid to have him on our own!

He's made great progress since he's been here and each time we see him he seems to be doing something better on his own. He's quite the squirmer so they have to keep bundling him up in the incubator so he doesn't move all over the place. He still has a catheter in his umbilical cord to give him some extra nutrients, but he's been breastfeeding and drinking from a bottle like a little champ!

He has a bit of jaundice, which is very common among preemies, so they have him under this UV light that looks like a heat lamp at a fast food place. Check out his cool "sunglasses".

The Ferro grandparents were here this weekend to help Brad paint his room and put the nursery furniture together (thank you!). I'm sure he's going to love it!