Almost!!!!

Well, Malakai's almost there! He just has to work on his consistancy. The total CC's have been kept at 71 for several days, but I have a feeling it'll be increased by tomorrow. Malakai likes to fall asleep before he finishes his bottles sometimes, so that gets frustrating. For most of his feeding times, he's drinking the whole 71 CC's, but not each & every bottle like the doctors wanna see. Apparently, they'd like to see Malakai "prove" he can eat all 8 bottles in a 24 hour period....as if that's the way it is when a full term baby goes home!! I know it's different for every baby and it's getting frustrating because even full term babies are not kept in the hospital until they eat the way the doctors want them to. Malakai has no problem with gaining weight either, so thank God that's not an issue to meet for going home! Actually, the lactation consultants tested my breastmilk & verified that it's between 25 & 30 calories! It's assumed to be only 20 calories because that's what "formula" has...but not mine!
Anyway, things are getting so hard now especially because I'm home-sick & Leon's sick of being w/out us @ home. We need to be a family already....
I'm losing my strength....but I must remember, "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2Corinthians 12:10.
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Happy Resurrection Day!

It's Easter and we're still here. Malakai had a minor set-back. Last week in rounds, I asked the Dr. if we could extend his feeding by about 1/2 an hour to see if he'll be more hungry to take his whole bottle feeding. They agreed to do a "shift minimum" instead. This is where they take an average total of his daily feedings and give him a whole 12-hour shift to intake that total...whenever he felt hungry. That didn't work, he'd get too tired. So on Friday and Saturday, they gave him a rest by having him feed from the gavage every-other-3-hour feeding & whatever he could drink from 60 CCs in a bottle on the other feeding times. Today, Malakai's feeding amounts went from 60 to 63 CCs...of course 'cause he's gaining weight. So now he's taking a set amount of 40 CCs by bottle & 23 CCs by gavage. So far today, he drank one whole bottle of 40 CCs and the other bottles, he came close. His eyes are staying open for a longer period of time during his feedings...he tends to doze off & not drink anymore for about the last 10 CCs.

So that's what's going on w/ Malakai. As for Leon & I, we're getting.....I guess you could say tired. It's so very hard to say bye to each other on Sunday's still. Going back & forth to the hospital is so very worth it, but it's taking a toll on me. I just can't wait to get home to be a family. I'm homesick....

I have to go back to work on the 21st, but they've allowed me to use up the rest of my sick-pay and vacation-pay while going back to work. So for the rest of April, I'll work Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 9am-1pm...for May, I'll work Mondays Wednesdays & Thursday's from 9am-1pm...and in June, I'll work Mon-Fri from 9am-1pm. July is when I'll go back full-time. My mom will be taking care of Malakai for the most part, but Leon's mom will be helping out too of course.

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Please pray for our endurance and Malakai's feeding stamina.

Also, please pray that finances will be available to pay our way at the Ronald McDonald House by the time I leave.

~God Bless

7 Pounds!

I can't believe it!...7 pounds already. And to think that I'd be so huge if I were still pregnant with Malakai. Woh.

So things have been rolling along. But...as Malakai grows & gains weight with the calories that the nurses fortify his milk with, then they increase his feedings by 2 CC's. He went from 55 to 57 today. So then he has to play catch-up with his bottle feeding goal to eat that total intake at each feeding. He's now at 30 CC's by bottle & 27 by gavage. Although, he's only 36 weeks gestation so he has a few weeks for his eating to kick in at full force. Lately, well for quite a while he's had some gas issues. Yup, instead of burpin' it, Malakai toots it....and BOY can he clear his bed-side. They give him medicine for that though, cause he gets so fussy with his gas. My poor baby!

He's getting so chubby, my beautiful son! We love on him so much! He still likes his hair washed though. Malakai's also beginning to coo...it's so cute.

I was hoping by Easter, we'd have our son home.........but it's looking more like the end of that week. We'll see....

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Please pray for Malakai's progress

Also, please pray for our anxiety that's building up; 'cause we know the bible says "be anxious for nothing", but it's been rough.