Another post reposted . . .

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 4:24 PM, MST

Cassidy is now on a nasal cannula and a low amount of oxygen. We started tube feeds this afternoon with little 5ml bits of colostrum that I have been pumping since that first night. She digested her first little feed and has kept down her second feed. I am hoping to do some kangaroo care with her this evening. I put her to the breast as well, not to suckle, but just to smell and taste. It was so nice to just imagine the coming days of nursing instead of pump pump pumping.

Her nurse is saying that Cassidy will probably stay in the NICU until close to her due date of March 9th. I would love to have her home by my birthday, which is the 3rd of march! Maybe even sooner depending on how soon we can get her nursing round the clock and gaining weight! So, we are definitely in the NICU for the long haul, but I feel like she is progressing so quickly, that we may end up out of here even sooner.

It cracks me up that many things I sewed and knitted for Cassidy that I thought might be too tiny are going to be HUGE on her. Even the preemie outfits we bought are ginormous compared to our tiny little babe. Even more amazing is that she is 2 lbs heavier than my husband was when he was born, and I cannot imagine just how minuscule he must have been and what his mom must have felt.

If you would like to pray for us, we would appreciate prayers, specifically that she wll take to the nipple quickly and begin to gain weight very soon. Also pray that my body will recuperate from the c-section quickly and that I will get the rest I need to be an effective milk machine. And please remember our older girls in your prayers as well, they are all feeling quite a bit of stress and concern, and they are acting out just a bit. We are thankful for the Ronald McDonald House family room in our hospital, where they can play, visit, and get yummy snacks.

And now I am heading back to the NICU to feed my baby again!