Happy One Month Birthday!

Birthday Boy!

Today Benton had his one month birthday and what a milestone!  For a baby that the doctors said had a 5% chance of surviving the birth it's amazing to see him hit his one month birthday.  The past month has had its fair shares of ups and downs and it's safe to say our family definitely understands why the NICU experience is called a roller-coaster.  However, all of these ups and downs are totally worth it if it means our sweet baby is still with us and still fighting to be here and to someday come home.  In the past month, Joe and I have become parents and spent endless hours in the NICU, but that's what parents do, they care for their kids and never stop believing in them.  I guess we just got a crash course early on, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  We believe in our son, Benton, and we keep hoping and praying that he will get stronger each day.

The past two days have been pretty innocuous by NICU standards.  He has continued peeing although at a diminished rate so the doctors have been slightly worried and they are giving him lasix (a dieruetic) again.  He has taken to his feedings like a champ and is now getting 1ml of milk every 4 hours.  My mom was even able to hold the feeding tube during his 4pm feeding.  His respirator settings have stayed pretty consistent although they did need to increase his pressure to 30 since he still has quite a bit of edema.  We just keep praying that the feedings continue to go well and that he starts peeing more so this edema can finally be behind us.

Beautiful sleeping boy

As a one month birthday present we brought cookies for the NICU doctors and nurses for getting him through so much over the course of 30 days.  After visiting with him for awhile I was able to hold him for kangaroo care again and Joe read more stories.  Nothing is more relaxing than holding your baby and feeling his heart beating and little body breathing against your chest.  I almost fell asleep holding Benton, but that would not be a good call with all his tubing and wires.  It is cool to see a window into the future where I will be holding him in a rocking chair at home falling asleep with him on my chest after bedtime story hour.  Gosh I wish those days were here now, but I can be strong and keep waiting.

Having the nurses hook up Benton for kangaroo care.

Sleeping cutie.

Smiling at my son.