Day 39 and itching to get out of the incubator

Charlotte weighed in at 1,700 grams or 3 pounds 12 ounces tonight. Only 114 grams away from 4 pounds. We are hoping that some time in the next week she will move from the incubator into an open crib. I am also telling anyone that will listen she is ready for a bottle. She is really working on that pacifier and she consistently roots for a nipple before every feeding and anytime I am holding her. I figure, if I tell enough nurses, it will make it into the chart notes enough times to prompt the order. I also plan to meet the new Attending on Monday and will see what she has to say about bottle feeding.

In other news, we are starting to get a more complete picture of what hurdles Charlotte has to overcome before coming home. She must:

• maintain her own temperature (closing in on this one).
  
• have no bradys for seven days (heart rate dropping below 80 beats per minute).
• be weaned from the nasal cannula.
• be weaned from her daily dose of caffeine.
• be able to take all eight feeds from a bottle.
• pass the car seat test. They basically feed her and then promptly place her in a car seat and monitor her for bradys or desats (desaturation of oxygen in her blood stream).

Unless they spring another one on us, we think that is it. Quite a lot for our little girl, but I know she is just around the corner from all of it. Also, most of these things will happen simultaneously.

That's all for now.