Mom and baby, together at last!

Well finally after 36 days, Mommy got to hold her baby. Today over Pam's lunch break, they let her do "skin-to-skin" holding with Riley for well over an hour. It was long-awaited, and I know Pam thoroughly enjoyed it. We were hoping I would get to hold her tonight, but they don't want to do it more than once a day. So I'll have to wait until tomorrow....

Riley has been doing very well with her oxygen lately, remaining stable and consistently low with her O2 needs. They are keeping the chloro-hydrate (sedative) treatments regular at about 6-8 hours apart, which is likely a major part in keeping her O2 stable. Very few incidents of steep oxygen de-saturation, and they haven't had to bag her in a few days now. In addition, she has gained a bit more weight and is up to 3lb 9oz. She's looking cute in her new clothes too. Feedings are at 30mL (1 oz), and will keep increasing as she gains weight. Hoping to get that ventilator out in a few weeks, and might be able to start bottle feeding at that point! It seems like she has really hit her stride and is making huge improvements every day.

Here's the picture the nurse took a few days ago, when Riley was very alert. Sorry for the grainy quality, it was scanned in.

Our nurse took this one last night, with Riley showing off her new clothes.
I took this one last night too, she looks so much more like a full-term baby than she did a month ago!

And here's the proud Mommy holding her daughter for the first time.

Check back soon, I'll post pictures after I get to hold her.