good news!

Brennan is doing great. He went to the doctor on Monday and had gained weight - he's 15 pounds now. Because he was doing so well the doctor decreased his tube feedings down to only 10 hours at night and increased his oral feeds to 4 oz every 4 hours. The doctor told us that if he did well this week his feeding tube could come out at his appointment next Monday! His central line will come out shortly after the feeding tube is removed. By the way, he is doing great with the bottle now. Except when we remove it and try to slow him down while eating - then you would think we were torturing him by his little screams. it's so great to see him act like a normal baby! But he did have a setback with this increase. He began vomiting after every feeding, so on Tuesday the doctor decreased his oral feeds. He was able to tolerate that and so on Wednesday he was back up again. we're learning to take things slowly with him, step by step. He is continuing to do well with this level, so I'm hoping that the doctor will decrease his tube feedings or even eliminate them over the weekend to see if he can handle just doing oral feeds. We are so excited that his feeding tube might come out on Monday, but of course we don't want to rush him if he's not ready.

Another GREAT piece of news is that our insurance is covering the formula, and it was delivered yesterday from our home health care company. This is a HUGE answer to prayer. My income stops this month, so it is very timely. As some of you know, I am not returning to full-time teaching. I had made this decision before Brennan even arrived, but this experience has certainly confirmed and strengthened my desire to be with my boys as much as possible.

Brennan continues to be a somewhat atrocious sleeper. we are overwhelmingly thankful for him and so grateful he is home and getting healthier every day. but if he could sleep without me physically holding him that would be great too. that's really why I haven't updated the blog more often (or cooked or cleaned...) - because he has such a hard time sleeping sometimes. And though I am not opposed to letting babies "cry it out" at a certain age, I am unable to let my sick little baby do this too much - especially when we think the reason he needs to be held at night is because he seems to be in pain. but still...sleep for us would be lovely. jeff does have to go to work, so he wouldn't mind getting a bit more sleep as well.

but on a normal baby note, last night Brennan laughed for the first time - like the real ha ha laugh instead of the fun new baby squeal-like laugh. I had forgotten how amazing that sound is, especially when hearing it for the first time. the greatest thing was that he did it while we were all together eating dinner - so Jeff, Tommy and I all heard him laugh for the first time. Tommy was so excited and just kept standing over Brennan mimicking all the things I was saying and doing, trying to get Brennan to laugh again. He didn't last night, but tonight Tommy got Brennan to laugh again all by himself - by hugging him! It was precious. Afterward, Tommy said, "He laughed! He liked it! He likes me!" which, of course, had Jeff and I in sentimental tears - so thankful for our precious boys.

thank you again for all your love and support. I will do my best to keep you updated, and thanks for caring about our family so much!!!