Inhale True; Exhale True (Breathing Easier)

Today Hale got the nose hose taken out--the breathing one.

Earlier he had the big clunky CPAP snorkel. For the last few days he's just had the 'nasal cannula', blowing in a little 'room air'--a humidified and filtered version of the stuff we breathe, same oxygen concentration, just a little extra puff to help him absorb the stuff, help his soft little lungs stay inflated.

And today he got that taken off. He's still got a little NG (nasal-gastric) feeding tube in his nose, but that's sposeta be gone tomorrow we hear.
He also got his IV line taken out of his hand. That's nice because (well, of course because it means that he's doing well enough to be taking all his goodies through his guts, which is a great sign of a healthy system)
Looking more and more like Brad Pitt every day. Oh no I did not just type that. (Great. Becoming a dad makes you a dork automatically now? Crap.)

The diet's working--he's lost four and a half ounces in just nine days! Joking. He has lost a bit, but it's pretty usual, particularly as they get his system up to speed for consuming 'outside world' type stuff, like milk and air and stuff.

"We tend to run 'em pretty dry the first few weeks," the neonatologist said today, "to help their lungs dry out enough--imagine how moist it was where he came from, and how that would affect your lungs." Hmm. Makes sense to me. This accounts for most of the weight loss.

Love Diamond Parking. Twice I've gotten tickets slapped on my windshield, right on top of the "Stork Pass" parking permit Group Health issues. I can't tell if they're stupid or ill-willed. But either way it's annoying.

We're starting to realize that the rhythm of hospital trips and breastpumping and trying to make a living is one that's going to take some experimenting, and some serious commitment. It's working, so far, but we're definitely having to work at it. Not a complaint--we knew we were signing up for this. But yeah, the thing about it being a lot of work?
It's true.