Mini Baby?

Mommy and Daddy had to take a class today so that they are ready when it is time for us to come home.  They learned that we have to sleep on our backs once we get home even though we are allowed to sleep on our bellies in the NICU.  Sleeping on our bellies makes it easier for our lungs to work while they are still developing, but it isn't safe once we aren't on continuous monitoring anymore.  When we get a little older, we will have to practice sitting in our car seats for 90 minutes to make sure we keep breathing and our hearts keep beating before we can go home.  And Mommy and Daddy and anyone who wants to visit us will have to have a flu shot this fall.  Since we were born so small, we are more susceptible to viruses so Mommy and Daddy will have to stock up on lots of antibacterial gel because we have heard there are lots of people who are anxious to meet us when we get home!  They also learned how to do CPR on a blow up doll.  They thought this was funny because the doll was called "mini baby" but it was WAY bigger than us!

We didn't get to pose for many pictures today because every time Mommy and Daddy came in our room, our lights were down low and we were sound asleep.  They learned in their class that preemie brains are smooth, not like adult brains that are wrinkly, and in order for our brains to get more developed and wrinkly (the wrinkles are where all the good stuff happens), we have to sleep a lot.  That's why they cluster our care and try to do all their poking and prodding at the same time, so that we have lots of uninterrupted sleep time.  Mommy and Daddy are getting so smart, their brains must be getting more wrinkly too!

Mommy did manage to capture one shot of me sneaking my thumb into my mouth.  Daddy quickly replaced it with a pacifier.  I gained an ounce since my last weigh in, so I am up to 2lbs 11 oz.  My belly is still very distended, I guess you could say I'm full of hot air :).  They ended up increasing my food at the end of the day anyway, so I am now getting 4ml/hour.

Mommy was really surprised when she arrived today and saw that Riley graduated to the next size of diapers!  Riley is up to 5.2ml of food now.  She's still hanging out just below 3lbs, but maybe tomorrow will be the big day.