March 8

Wow, this week had potential to have us go home, but for some reason, God has seen fit to keep us here. Not much progress has been made with Reiley's bottle feeding. Mama does not have enough milk to keep the little piglet fed, so she needs to learn to take a bottle before the hospital will let us go home. The problem is, she totally hates a nipple. When she was learning to eat, she had a few choking episodes while being fed with the bottle, and now she seems to have a nipple phobia. Some feedings she will take most of her feed (usually if it is mostly breastmilk), and the next she doesn't want anything to do with the bottle. She has been gaining weight nicely, but it is hard not to be discouraged. Her doctors are a bit puzzled, but not worried or concerned.
On the positive side, we had some good things happen to us. We met a very friendly family at a restaurant who paid for our meal. What a Godsend. Our nurse this weekend was very nice and ordered Ruthie and I to go on a date and enjoy the great weather. Reiley smiles at us when we sing to her. She has longer waking periods. She no longer has abnormal reflux after each feeding, or needs oxygen during feedings. She now weighs 6 lbs! So, we really do have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks for all of your prayers, and don't forget us yet!