8 weeks old

I can't believe Hazel and Jude are 8 weeks old! In some ways it feels like it's been much longer. It's hard not to think about the fact that they were supposed to be delivered tomorrow (at 36 weeks) and would probably be coming straight home with us if that were the case. Also, my maternity leave is done today and they aren't even close to coming home. Anyway...

The eye exam reports today were good again. Eyes are still immature, but no signs of ROP (retinopathy of prematurity). Also, instead of having another exam next week, they don't have to have one for 2 weeks. Praise God! This is definitely an answer to prayer.

Jude's respiratory function is "better", but he has not been able to be weaned at all on his settings. His CO2 was high again this morning, which means more medicine and no weaning. Poor guy, he's on a lot of medications right now. :(

His ultrasound report was good as well. The report said "no change", which to us sounded only okay, but the doctor explained (I can't remember all the details) what that meant and that that's a good thing. They are basically only checking to make sure the ventricles aren't any bigger and that there's no additional bleeding. He'll have another ultrasound sometime in the next few weeks to check again for cysts (PVL), but for now the news is "good" as far as brain bleeds go.

The doctor says that right now everything is about optimizing nutrition for both Hazel and Jude. When their nutrition is good, everything else improves (Jude's breathing, Hazel's edema, their billirubin levels, etc.). Over the past week, Jude gained 180 grams. Ideally, he would've gained 210, but the doctor is happy that he seems to be heading in the right direction. Hazel's weight gain can't really be looked at as accurate due to her edema (for example, she gained 170 grams in one day a couple days ago, but obviously most of that is fluid retention).

We'll get there one of these days, but the end isn't really in sight yet. We were hopeful they'd be home by the end of the month, but with the way things are looking we're guessing that Jude will still be in the NICU well into February.