I Got To Hold Austin!!!!

Thursday morning we met with Dr. G. and he gave us such an amazing report!! Austin has gotten through a very big hurdle and is not in life or death danger. We have our baby!!!! He continued by telling us that he is thrilled and impressed with Austin's progress and has a lot of hope for him to continue to do well. His jaundice levels were doing so well they even turned off his bily light. Then Dr. G. said that this was the morning I would finally be able to hold him!! Oh I was so excited, I had been looking forward to this since he was born Monday morning! He was very fussy as the nurses lifted him out of his isolette, he does not like to be touched much or moved a lot but once he was laid on my chest he settled right in and fell asleep. It was the most precious experience I have ever had!! Every once in a while he would make those little baby sounds that babies make only his were so tiny and muffled they were more like squeaks. This was really special for Ryan as well because he was able to touch more than just Austin's little hand. He was able to lay his whole hand on his back and feel him breathe. It was such a special bonding time for our brand new family, we were able to have some private time with our son and just talk to him. Ryan and I have had such an immediate love for our new baby but this was time for us to be able to feel like parents.

Today Austin's report was just as good as yesterday's but they had to put his bily light back on. This is only minor and not uncommon. We have been warned to expect setbacks and so far this has been his only one. Everything else has been forward steps so we have no reason to be discouraged. He has been receiving real food and has gained an ounce since yesterday. (He's lost 5 ounces since he was born due to being under the light and losing the fluid that made him a little swollen.) I was able to hold him again today and his nurses have said that unless he is having some major setbacks that I should be able to hold him for 1 or 2 hours every day and as he improves I'll be able to hold him 2 or 3 times a day. It appears that Austin loves having me hold him as much as I love to hold him. He falls into such a deep sleep that when the nurse takes him from me to put him into his isolette he doesn't even wake up! He even stays asleep as they get him all positioned and his tubes rearranged.

Ryan and I have been doing very well this week. I was discharged on Tuesday but we were able to stay in a 'family support' room that night. It is set up like a hotel room and is just down the hall from the NICU so it was nice not to have to leave the hospital right away. We did go home Wednesday however and have been surprisingly not stressing like I had thought we would. Part of this is due to the fact that every single one of Austin's nurses are exceptional and treat him so tenderly and carefully that we know he is in excellent care. Another reason I believe we are doing so well is that I know people have been praying for Ryan and I as much as they have been praying for Austin. It has been so nice to be at home and not be overly stressed because we are not at the hospital all the time. Ryan and I sincerely appreciate everyone's support through this and would not be so sane if it were not for the love and prayer from those who love us.