Lessons for Grady

Grady is continuing to progress. He has gained more weight. His nurse tells us that he is not quite a kilo (kilogram). He is just under that at 980 miligrams. I still like pounds and ounces, but the grams measure better for this tiny little boy. Daddy tells me that Grady gains, then looses a little. The nurse has kept him at 20 mililiters at his feedings, for now. Suzanna talks with the doctor about once a day. He keeps her updated on what has changed or what is going to be changed for Grady's day to day care.

While we were there, the nurse opened his incubator and we were blessed to spend time with him without plastic between us. It seems like such a small thing, but to get to see how much Grady's color has improved and all of his little features without a shield between us, was a huge blessing. His hair is a shiny golden blonde color. Go figure! I could see the tiny hairs on his back, again blonde, well white really. Grady has the longest fingers! When he stretches, he likes to spread his toes out. When Momma talks, Grady peaks out through one eye to try and find her. It just warms my heart to know that he is looking for Momma when he hears her.

While we were visiting, Grady's Occupational Therapist (OT) came by. She explained to Suzanna and I that her job is to teach Grady that touch is a positive thing. Right now, when he is touched, he is getting his temp taken or blood drawn. The nurses get a bad rap, because they have to move him, feed him, change him, etc. All of this disturbs him. So, the OT comes in a couple of times a week to touch and hold him, to teach him that touch is good. Grady is still on the respirator. His nurses will start weening him off this week. He needs to breath without the machine. Once he is off the respirator, he will have the assistance of the CPAP again. Looks like he has a few lessons to learn this week.

Thank you all for your prayers. It means so much to all of us, to know what a great extended family we have. Tim and Suzanna are doing fine. Both are holding in there. They seem to have a routine started and that helps. Please keep them in your prayers as well.

Talk soon,

JoJo