Update 1: NICU life, 10 days old

Tate is 1 week and 3 days old today!

Whew. It's been 10 days since Tate's been born.  Most days he improves from the day before, which is pretty encouraging.  Since he's been in NICU, he's been able to breathe on his own and keep his body temperature regulated.  His blood sugar levels have been stable, and basically everything has been staying stable - every once in a while labs come back a little higher or lower than normal, but it becomes corrected quickly.  He's steadily gaining weight now, which is also great! He's currently 3lbs 9oz (birth weight was 3lbs 7oz).

Daddy holding the rest of
my tube feeding

What's holding Tate back from coming home is eating.  He has been doing great at learning how to eat from a bottle or me, but doesn't quite have enough stamina to finish his feedings.  He's finished two bottle feedings in general so far, but he needs to strictly eat from a bottle, all feedings, for 48 hours or more - no using his feeding tube.  So far, Tate is taking about half his bottles by mouth, but the rest through feeding tube. However, this is still an improvement!  He keeps falling asleep before he finishes eating, which is completely understandable since he's technically still supposed to be in the womb and it takes a lot of work to eat.  The doctor described it as a child learning how to walk.  You take some steps, then fall, then try again and go further, and fall again, etc until you get it. That's definitely what this all feels like.  One step forward, and fall.  

My first outfit!

I'd like to say we're getting into a routine, but we're still trying to figure it out.  It's hard to live this double life.  I think a couple days ago it finally hit me how hard this all is - coming and going from the hospital every day, each time not being able to leave with your child.  Everything is so unknown, but the one thing that keeps us going is knowing that nothing about all of this is a surprise to God.  If I've learned anything about this whole experience, it's that my timing doesn't matter at all.  It's God's timing that matters, and I need to trust and give it all to Him.  

Thank you to everyone praying for us, and bringing us meals.  We are completely humbled and overwhelmingly grateful for you being there for us.  Thank you so much for your support, and we can't wait for everyone to meet baby Tate!

Teeny foot