Success!

In what is becoming typical McKay fashion, little man worked his way through his first bottles today like a champ. The nurses said we should consider this a major victory and we do. It was amazing to watch him tackle this new challenge and figure it out quickly. It took a considerable amount of energy for him to accomplish as well. Apparently heart babies can actually burn more calories eating than they consume during the feeding. That's why he not only has to demonstrate an ability to consume all of his feeds for 48 hours before coming home, but also the ability to gain weight during that time frame. He was up one ounce at his weigh in tonight, so he's headed in the right direction!

We also got the all clear on McKay over sat-ing on room air. The cardiology team said that if he's oxygenating on his own at higher than expected levels, then they can live with that. I'm glad for that. Although I understand that 100 percent saturation can cause his heart to work too hard, skimming away oxygen didn't make a lot of sense to me.

The final, less medical milestone reached today was dressing McKay in clothes for the first time. He now has few enough lines and IVs that clothes are okay. I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, but it felt like an important step for me in making McKay feel and look like a normal baby.


I must say that seeing McKay feed and get cozy in his soft, new sleeper made me want to pack him up and take him home right then and there. For some reason that victory turned a reason to celebrate into a weepy day at the hospital for me. I don't know how families do this for weeks, even months on end. It's not only exhausting, but there is an empty feeling in our home without him here. I guess although I've always been devoted to our new addition, I have now officially fallen in love. And as love goes, the world doesn't look the same when you're separated. We pray the progress will continue to be great and the wait to be together when and where we want will be short.