Sweet Joy of Cuddling!!!

Hello to all from Matt!! For the first time in my life I think I like cuddling as much as my lovely wife. As you all know we have been waiting over a week to hold our precious baby boy for the first time. Well that time has arrived. We arrived at his room bright and early yesterday eager to scoop up our little guy. The nurse informed us, much to our dismay, she would like for us to wait until 1:30. We obliged, but were extremely disappointed. We stayed for several hours with him and left briefly for lunch. When returned the nurse was waiting to place him in Keli's eagerly open arms. It was special. Something taken for granted so many times before, was truly a moment frozen in time for us. We both held him for about 30 minutes and quietly put him back in his bed.

To make yesterday even more exciting Mathew has been moved. He had been in the ECMO room since his arrival last Monday. This room is VERY well lit, and very sterile feeling. It can actually be converted to an operating room if needed. Well during dinner break last night, he was moved to another room with the same level of care, but much more homey. The floors are carpeted, he was placed by the window, and we are able to pull curtains for total privacy. We are also able to dim the lights. It is here where the holding really became addicting. Late last night after all our family and visitors had left we spent nearly two hours just cuddling with our son. He loves laying chest to chest with us with his hairy little head just below our chin. You can see him in this pose in the picture above. All I can say is WOW! All the stress and worries of the last week, the pregnancy, our journey to conception finally all felt worth it. He was very mellow and just napped on both of our chest. Keli and I stayed until midnight or so, and I am pretty sure we floated all the way back to RMH.

As for his progress, it has been substantial. We have learned he has been medically cleared to move to a room with a lower level of care. It is really a room where he will just be monitored and prepared to go home. We are not exactly sure when the move will happen, but soon. Mathew has been put on a four dose regiment of steroids. Any of you with Asthma know that steroids can help you breathe. We are expecting his oxygen and IV to be removed in the next 24 hours or so. So hopefully 24 hours from now he will only have a feeding tube and be in the room we will take him home from.

At this point Mathew really only has one concern. He needs to slow down on his breathing. Normal babies breathe at a rate of 40-60 breaths per minute. Mathew has creeped below 100, but still needs to improve. When his rate reaches normal we will start feeding him with a bottle or even better with the breast. That will be his last step. Once he proves to the doctors he can breathe at a normal rate while he eats, we will be taking him HOOOMMMMEEE!!! We have even reached a point where the doctor is putting a time frame on him. He told us yesterday he expects about one more week from Mathew.

As always we greatly appreciate everyones love, prayers and support. Here is a link to many more pictures of us holding our precious baby boy! Enjoy.

http://keyeswindingroad.shutterfly.com/51