GOOD UPDATES...FINALLY!

INFECTION
The antibiotics seem to be working for Maxwell...hooray! Last night he actually slept through most of the night, which meant Mom actually was able to sleep some too...hooray! I am so relieved to see Max feeling good again. It has been a very difficult and trying few weeks.

The echocardiogram, as well as the spinal tap and numerous other tests, all came back negative for infection so we still are not sure what the source of the fever was. But thankfully it appears to be gone!

WEIGHT
Woo hoo! Max has graduated OUT of his preemie diapers into big boy diapers...I am so excited! He now weighs 7 pounds, 6 ounces!!! He is really chunking up! Today I was teasing him that I could finally take a bite out of his thigh!!! Before it was just an appetizer...now his thigh is a main course! :) It's our little joke!

Unfortunately some of that is water weight, but he is probably at least 7 pounds, 3 ounces of solid weight! With his additional IV fluids and increased feeds, he was getting TOO much fluid. I noticed that yesterday when his diaper was soaked every hour...and then with a 3 ounce weight gain in a day, I thought hmmm...something is wrong here! And sure enough, the doctor and dietician had not discussed their different plans and today they got him back on track.

And I met with Max's dietician today (I schedule weekly meetings to chart his progress) and she is pleased with his weight gain AND growth. Despite all the challenges presented to him, he is using his calories wisely! Way to go Max!

SWING
Maxwell's new favorite activity is the swing. He loves it and stays in there for hours! So sweet to watch him enjoy being a baby...and not just a sick little guy in his hospital crib. Now of course it takes some manuevering in and out of there with all his tubes, IVs, etc. but once he is in there, he just relaxes and has fun.

In recent weeks, he has definitely become more alert and attentive to the world around him. I am so excited for the months to come and to have him home...someday! :) I cannot wait for him to be healthy and happy and simply enjoy the wonders of life...taking a nature walk together, playing with the dogs, or spending time with his cousins. What fun moments lie ahead for him! I keep reminding him that life will be a lot better out of the hospital...he just has to be tough and it will be all worth it!

GRATITUDE
Thanks again everyone for your warm thoughts...it is so amazing to come home to a mailbox full of cards with well wishes for Maxwell. Even more incredible is that a lot of the cards are from friends of friends of friends...the support for Maxwell across this country is absolutely heartwarming! I cannot even begin to tell you how much it means to have so much love and prayers directed his way...I am in awe. Thank you!