4 pounds and growing

Riley officially crossed the 4 pound mark yesterday, and decided she wasn't done there...got up to 1900g (4lb 3oz) at last night's weigh-in! She's averaging over an ounce a day in the past few weeks. Today the doctor gave us encouraging news as well. He said they lowered her PIP again, and if she continues in this direction with no more setbacks, she could be off the ventilator as soon as next weekend. Even though she has gotten to the right point in weight and temperature control, they will probably wait to move her to the open bed, just because the ventilator tubes don't stay still very well in the open bed. We've been told we could hold her just about every day if we wanted, but can only do it when we are there alone. So in between visits from family and friends, we are trying to do that as much as possible. I'll try to keep posting pics when I get some good ones.

The one question I get asked the most is "So when will you be bringing her home?" The best answer up until now has always been "We don't know, hopefully by due date - August 29th." With the encouraging news from the doctor today, we are hopeful that it will be a few weeks earlier than planned - so probably a month from now. It just depends on if she can stay off the ventilator, and take the bottle feedings - which we can't even try until after the ventilator comes out. We're keeping our fingers crossed that she keeps heading in this positive direction.

In other news, congratulations to our friends Brandon and Ashley, who had their first baby early this morning. Welcome Joscelyn! I'm sure Riley, Joscelyn, Sam, Koelton, Sydney, and Jayton are going to have a blast together...and soon to come are Zach and Claire - all within a year of each other! The neighborhood is really filling up with babies quickly, there must be something in the water.