Mommy and Daddy's Care

--We really enjoyed our visit with Daniel today. We enjoy all our visits but today was special. Daniel was alert and now that he is not critical we are able to do more for him without having to call a nurse over. We have also gotten very comfortable with the NICU and that helps make our visits go better. We have made the NICU our "home away from home".
--Mommy changed Daniel's diapers and spent some time cuddling with him before it was time for him to eat. Daddy fed Daniel for the first time today. (Mommy has been sort of a "baby hog".) Daddy burped Daniel and spent some time cuddling with him before Mommy asked (demanded) to hold Daniel again. Daddy changed Daniel's diaper and clothes, wrapped him up and tucked him in. We felt like "real" parents.
--Dr. Plamer (Neonatalogist) talked to us about what we might expect when Daniel is discharged. There is a great chance (99.9%) that Daniel will come home on oxygen. The doctors prefer not to send a baby home on 02 but if that is the only thing that is keeping them in the hospital they will weigh out the good and the bad. Dr. Plamer explained it this way - Daniel seems "well" medically and he needs to be at home with us so he can get "well" developmentally. The thought of Daniel coming home on 02 scares us. IF Daniel comes home on 02 he will also come home on a Pulse-Ox monitor and an Apnea monitor which is a kind of a relief. We are excited and nervous about Daniel's homecoming and we know it's getting close. We want him at home with us but we want him to be well too.