2 Months Later...

...Cohen got his first bath!!! I was sure he would scream the whole time, but he didn't, he just looked around the whole time. It was a little scary because they unhook him from ALL of his monitors, but he did just fine and even seemed to enjoy it a little bit. He gets cold really easily so he got his hair washed first while he was in a warm blanket and then made the jump into the tub for the rest of his wash. They also put up big heat lights so he doesn't get chilled. Afterwards he got all bundled up in his nice warm blankets and he even got a new (clean) isolette so he was really clean. {Caution: Picture Overload!}

We get asked quite a bit whether Cohen is "stable" and "whats next?" Cohen is considered stable, but stable is a relative term in the life of a NICU baby. We are amazed at the progress he has made and so thankful for all that God has brought him through. However, all it could take is one bug or one sickness that could make him really sick again. Before he comes home he will get an RSV vaccine because he is at really high risk for getting sick, which can be very serious for a preemie, especially one with chronic lung disease. So, yes he is stable, but not necessarily "out of the woods", if that makes sense.

As far as what's next for Cohen, I mentioned before he is on high flow oxygen. This oxygen gives him a little more pressure and he can get a higher amount. Right now he is on 3L (volume) O2 at about 30% (concentration). When he gets down to about 1 L O2 he can switch to a regular nasal cannula which, if he needs to, he can go home on. We are still hoping that maybe he won't need to! He's surprised us before :) He is up to about 1640 grams, which is 3 lbs 10 oz. When he is able to gain weight steadily, they will take the lid off of his isolette to make sure he can maintain his temperature on his own and continue to gain weight. If he does, he will get to move to a crib. So, before he goes home he will have to be able to wean quite a bit on his oxygen, take all of his feeds either by bottle or breastfeeding without having to have any of it down his feeding tube. That's kind of the "what's next" for him. He is 35 weeks today and the boys' due date was Sept 15. We are still hoping that he will home around then, we can't wait!!!