2 Months

Our sweet Charlotte is two months old. 61 days to be exact. That is how long we have been in the NICU, counting grams, centimeters, milk intake, digestion residuals, temperature readings, caffeine dosages, air flow levels, etc, etc, etc. Don't even get me started on the monitor. The evil, evil, monitor. I wouldn't wish that much information on any new parent, it can be paralyzing. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the science.

Outside of the science, I have learned (or have been reminded of) a thing or two during our time in NICU.

• Babies are incredibly resilient, much more so than parents.
• A baby's contented sigh or half smile can melt your heart and get you through the next day.
• Things can always be better and things can always be worse, one day at a time is the only way to get through both.
  
• Nurses make the world go 'round.
• I would rather have great nurses and average doctors over the reverse any day (side note: we have a great doctor).
  
• Family can hold you together, even when there is no glue in sight.
• True friends are hard to come by and Aaron and I are so lucky to be blessed with several.
  
• A great partner is worth more than a thousand helping hands, especially in stressful times.

Charlotte is nearing 6 pounds now and is still working on her three bottles. She is making good progress and I am sure she will be bumped to 4 bottles tomorrow. Occupational therapy will be by to feed her once tomorrow to see if there are any tricks to make things easier for her. These therapists are neonatal specialists, so they are the experts when it comes to teaching a preemie to take a bottle.

Things are moving right along, but keep the prayers coming anyway.