Oliver is 32 weeks gestation now (45 days old). He weighs 1500 grams, which is equivalent to about 3 pounds 6 ounces. Just another half pound and he will have doubled his birth weight. Several developments have occurred over the last week that have led us to believe that Oliver is progress is steady and positive.
First of all, the oxygen expectations of young Oliver have changed. While it was acceptable for his saturation levels to be as low as 85% just yesterday, the nurses now attempt to keep his levels above 90%. Even with this quite drastic change in demand, Oliver has managed to make the move to the lowest possible CPAP level (level 3). We are proud of his hard work.
Secondly, he has adjusted quite nicely to his new schedule of feedings every three hours. What this inherently means is that he gets larger amounts of food at one feeding, which forces him to be able to hold more in his tummy. With this change of a greater interval of time between feedings, he is also allotted extra time for digestion. He appreciates this and most often digests all that he is given.
Finally, with his newly found maturity, Oliver's tolerance of human touch has heightened. Mom and Dad are now allowed to massage his arms and legs for 15-30 minutes once each day. During this activity, he usually falls into a deep and pleasurable sleep.
Oliver is growing each day in both body and spirit. He is showing us his personality through little actions each day. This child is a lover of calm, and a seeker of peace, just as his name implies. Oliver, derived from the olive branch, serving as a symbol of peace in many cultures. We love you son.
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