In a crib and started nippleing

Hello all,

As I was hoping, Willow was able to move to an open crib last night. She was maintaining her temperature just fine in the isolette, so they put her in the crib after I held her. As you can see from the pictures it's not really a crib, but more of a bassinet. It's nice because now we can go in and much more easily pick her up and hold her. Today they also moved her spot in the NICU. We've been in the same spot for the last 7 weeks. The new spot is farther away from the nurses station, and closer to the door. I think that is probably a very good sign. The new spot also buts up to a wall, so it'll be easier to block off with portable shades when Lindsay starts breast feeding down here.

Willow also had her first attempt at a bottle today. She actually did very well, and this is coming from her nurse, not just her proud pappa. She only took 8 mls. of her 36 ml. feeding before she tired out. The look on her eyes was priceless when she got that first mouthful of milk. Willow's nurse Jennifer fed her today, because she wanted to make sure Willow was going to do the whole suck, swallow, breath thing.
Jennifer also showed me what I needed to do, as starting tomorrow they are going to let me do it. For now they are only trying the bottle one time per day, and they will gradually increase the frequency as she gets better at it.

Willow gained 14 grams from yesterday, so she's holding at 4 lbs. 2 oz. I was told that the first couple of days she's in the crib she may not gain much weight. Her body is working extra hard right now trying to regulate her temperature, and that is going to burn extra calories. She's also going to burn more calories with eating from the bottle, as she has to do all the sucking and swallowing herself. However, usually within a few days these will level off and she'll start gaining weight again.

Tomorrow I get to give Willow a bath again. Should be a good time. Hope you all got your taxes done, and the gov. is sending you a big refund.

See ya ,

Josh