A Very Tardy Update

Madeline is now on her fourth day of life outside the womb! She is the most fascinating of all God's creations, at least in my completely unbiased opinion. So far all the news we hear from her doctors is good news or at worst normal news for a baby her age. From the very start, Madeline has been breathing on her own without the need for supplemental oxygen. For the first day her breathing rate was a little too high, but it has since slowed down and now all her vitals are right where they should be. She is eating voraciously every three hours and the breast feeding is going very well. To my dismay it is going so well that she is too full for a bottle after she nurses. I'm sure I'll get my fill of late night bottle feedings in the near future though. LeeAnn was discharged from the Hospital Thursday afternoon so she has to go back every three hours to feed Maddie. Obviously, the trek is getting a bit tiresome but we so enjoy getting to spend time with our little girl. Madeline also has a very minor and normal case of jaundice which is being treated with photo therapy, essentially she has her very own tiny tanning bed. We had a very happy moment yesterday when the nurse finally took her off of the IV ( one less cord to trip over). We're still not sure when she gets to come home, one doctor said they never get to come home before 35 weeks gestational age which will be Monday (tomorrow). What we do know is that she has to be able to simultaneously gain weight and maintain her temperature and vital signs before they will let her come home. It's always hard to leave the hospital without her, but we are very thankful that she is doing so well! Thank for your prayers past, present and future. I'm off to buy paint for Madeline's room.