Samuel...not Sam.

It's hard to tell because it's a dark picture...but Samuel is sucking on a pacifier - a little bitty pacifier. He doesn't quite get how it works yet and he can't keep it in his mouth, but he's working on it.

Sleeping on his belly - Samuel's favorite way to sleep.

Samuel's diaper (which is too big for him) and a big-boy diaper.

It's been a good day. Samuel has had a few poopy diapers - the feeding is going well - and there are no signs of bowel perforation. The surgeons are very happy with his abdominal x-rays and have told us that they will begin to fade into the background now that Samuel is better. They feel that he is ready for an increase in his feeds (I'm not sure when that will happen.)

The doctors began the steroids on Friday night. This morning the chest x-ray doesn't show any difference in Samuel's lungs but his blood gases (blood test that's taken every 6 hours) are improving. His vitals are more stable today and for the first time in several weeks, Samuel seems to be resting well. He has even come down on the ventilator settings a little - and his oxygen is down to 31%. I'm very happy about the change and I'm ready to see some of this reflected on his chest x-ray.

Samuel will get another head ultrasound on Tuesday. At this point, the head ultrasounds are routine....but they still make me nervous. Once a baby is past the 15 day mark, the chances of head bleeds decrease drastically. I still get really anxious though. I'm believing for another good result.

Tomorrow Samuel will be a month old! :) I can't believe how quickly and how slowly time has gone by.

To think it was only a month ago that I was happily pregnant - teaching away......
To think I've been a mommy for a month!

To think how my life has changed....

I've never known love like this. :)