The Chronicles of Reid: "Baby Steps"...

seems to be the motto of this journey and quite fittingly the title of the NICU's discharge checklist. About a month ago, Bryan asked the attending neonatologist, "Hypothetically speaking, if you were to give a date for discharge, what would it be?" Not expecting a straight answer, the doctor pondered the question, did some quick math, and replied, "February 21st." In asking how she came up with the date, she said, "Very subjectively." We took the answer with a grain of salt; however, it has put some fire under our *** to get things organized at home for the transition. It seems like the surgical team is doing everything in their power to make the February 21st goal a reality. In doing so, we've had the pleasure of checking things off our "Baby Steps" discharge checklist...doesn't it always feel so great to check things off a list, no matter what kind of list it is?! We've taken baby CPR (back in September thanks to a very hopeful and ambitious nurse:)), taken our feeding tube class, both Bryan and I have placed the feeding tube, and we've selected our pediatrician and scheduled our first appointment. Last few things to check off include being trained in drawing up Reid's meds, mixing his fortified formula, and completing the car seat test (basically, Reid will have to sit in his car seat for the length of time of our car ride home from CHOP, and they will monitor his vitals and oxygen saturation levels throughout).

Mom's tube placement- nice tape job, Dad!

No feeding tube and you can see my serious scar:)

Let's see...changes since the last post. In the last week and a half, we've been tying up loose ends, and I feel like Reid has seen every specialist there is to see. He had an MRI of his brain to gather baseline data, as well as monitor any brain bleeds which are very common with premature babies. To complete the MRI, the team first talked about putting Reid in an immobilizer to contain his movement...it sounded like an inflatable blanket. However, they quickly decided against it because of how active Reid has become. Therefore, they had to sedate him, which meant placing an IV and giving him rescue doses of the sedation medication...thankfully, they were one time doses, and we didn't have to worry about weaning him from the meds again. While he was sedated, the team capitalized on the moment and was able to finish his hearing test (which required him to be sleeping)...he passed with flying colors, but they will continue to monitor him because hearing loss is common with CDH babies. Once he woke up from his sedation, he tried so hard to be his active, curious self again; however, he seemed a bit groggy- like he had one too many stiff drinks.

Reid pre-MRI in his cap getting him nice and toasty

Reid post-MRI coming out of his sedation

In the area of feeding, Reid continues to gain well...he is definitely filling out and finally starting to show some baby fat (it only took 6 months)! They successfully switched him from fortified donor breast milk to fortified Gerber Good Start for the transition home. He seems to be tolerating the formula in his stomach, but he has yet to take it in a bottle...I'm assuming that his sticking his tongue out and yelling at the bottle means he doesn't like the taste! Unfortunately, I think eating is always going to be a battle....hopefully, it will get easier when we can transition to baby food. They have been able to condense his feeds during the day to over an hour with a two hour break in between. At night, he receives continuous feeds to try and help beef him up and make up for some of the calories that he burns off during the day.

I'd rather eat my toy than your stupid bottle, Mom!

In preparation for Reid's homecoming, the team made an exception to the stroller policy to allow Reid daily walks in the stroller around the NICU. Reid's world is ever-expanding, and he remained a serious baby throughout his first stroller ride, taking in all of the new sights, sounds, and smells. Although I must say, the walk was more like a stroll- I think we stopped about every 5 feet to greet a nurse, nurse practitioner, or neonatologist that has worked with Reid at one point or another. If all goes well, we should be able to take Reid to CHOP's atrium by the end of the week...not sure what he's going to think of the windows, music, and larger than life mobile hanging from the atrium ceiling. Unfortunately, nothing can prepare him for the playful, lick-happy dog waiting for him at home:)