We achieved another milestone today--Logan ate part of his breakfast (. . . and his lunch. . . and his supper)! He's nursing well enough that he's allowed to try to eat with each feed. Depending on how well he nurses, the rest of his feed is fed through his feeding tube. We've been trying to let him nurse when he's awake and I can get over to feed him. Today he nursed part of three of his feeds and he still gained weight! This is awesome because 1) It means he's learning how to eat like a big boy and 2) He has to work hard to nurse, burning extra calories. Its awesome that he's taking in enough calories to make up for the difference. We are very pleased.

On the flip side, he set off his alarm more frequently today. It's hard to tell why this is happening. Certainly part of it could still be his age. His feeds are run through his feeding tube over only 30 minutes and its possible that he's not tolerating the bigger, faster feed as well. He's still on caffeine to prevent apnea and bradycardia.

So. . before he comes home he needs to eat on his own, and he's making great progress in this department. He also needs to be weaned down on his caffeine, however, and needs to not be setting off his alarm. This will be our next "project" (I'm not calling it a hurdle because its to be expected during his course with his prematurity). Certainly, we celebrate how well he's doing eating (and know that he'll probably regress a bit intermittently. We hope his alarms would become less freaquent, which would place us even closer to his HOMECOMING! Tomorrow marks four weeks in the NICU. Its gone quickly, and Logan has come so far. Its easy to forget, however, that he still has a month of developing, and strengthening before he's a "newborn." We're grateful for God's grace through it all, lifting us in celebration during the high points, and sustaining us during low points. There's more of each to come, for sure. Have a lovely evening.

Love to all,
Dale, Michelle, & Logan