In 7 Days

A lot can happen in 7 days. God created the earth in 7 days (well 6, he rested on the 7th). Daniel has performed some miracles himself in the last 7 days.

Daniel reached the 3 pund mark. His current weight is 3 pounds, 4 ounces. This doesn't place him in the heavy weight division but it does mean that we have a growing boy.

Daniel has started learning to drink from a bottle. Babies who are born full term are born with the ability to suck, swallow and breathe. Preemies have to be "taught" how to suck, swallow and breathe. The "normal" protocol is to start "teaching" when the baby reaches 32/33 weeks gestation. Daniel is 33 weeks gestation, this means that if Daniel was still in the womb, Mommy would be 33 weeks pregnant. Daniel gets one bottle day for "practice", the rest of his feedings are through a tube that is down his throat. When Daniel drinks from a bottle he burns a lot of calories, like when we go to the gym and do an aerobic excercise. Daniel doesn't have any "spare calories" which is why he only gets one bottle a day for now, his "practice times" will increase as his "performance" improves. (Daniel has to be taking all his feedings by mouth before he is released.) We are hoping he is a quick learner.

Daniel has started learning how to control his own body temperature. He is started wearing clothes.

Daniel did receive a blood transfusion this weeks. He received an ounce of blood in the transfusion. It is very common for a preemie to receive a transfusion during their NICU stay, a lot of time they require more then one transfusion. Daniel seems to have "perked up" since his transfusion.

Daniel had an eye test on Thursday. The test was to check for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity). ROP is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eyes, about 7% of premature babies have ROP. We are very happy to say that Daniel is not part of the 7%, his tested negative for ROP. He will have another eye exam done in 3 months (outpatient).