Ray’s departure countdown begins

Ray celebrates the good news. Notice the rash on his face where the feeding tube was adhered.

After a few days of steady but not blog-worthy progress on breastfeeding, Ray got some huge news Sunday morning: We’ll be moving from the East Wing (for parents who need to be around to feel ’round the clock) to the West Wing (for parents to spend time in the same room as the little guy as they prep to take him home). But first things first. I need to explain how we got to this point.

Friday night (after Ray took 100 percent of his feedings orally several times) we were told he will be moved from scheduled feedings every three hours to cue-based feedings. That means they’ll call us in our hospital room when he wakes up and gives cues (licking lips, chewing on his sleeper, etc) that he’s ready to feed.

After a day and a half of that, we came in after a call to our room to feed and noticed he had no more tube in his nose. I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted that piece of news. It’s hard to see your son with a tube in his nose — especially when he pulls it out and then has to have it crammed back down.

I also noticed they had him lying flat in his crib, instead of elevated, which he had been to make sure he didn’t spit up after feedings. So I pointed those two things out and the nurse told us he’s moving to active-call feedings, which means we’ll be called when he’s pretty much demanding to be fed. More like a full-term baby would be treated.

That’s when the nurse asked if we’re ready to move to the West Wing. Which is something they tell you when they think he’s close to going home. The West Wing stay, we were told long ago, is to allow parents to stay in the room with the child almost as a trial run for home. So the parents provide the care with a support staff a call away if needed. You know, time to act like real parents.

So Kristi, who is in the nursery feeding Ray as I type this, is glowing. As she washed up for the feeding she told me she might cry. With everything she’s been through, who could blame her? It’s fantastic news.

So 100 percent oral feedings for good now. No more damn machine. And we can pick him up without worrying about pulling a tube or a sensor lead out.

And he’s heavier now: just about 5 pounds!

I’ll be in touch more often during this hime stretch, now that it seems news is coming fast and furious.

Ray celebrates the good news. Notice the rash on his face where the feeding tube was adhered.

A close-up of Ray after we got the news about no more feeding tube.

Ray and dad. Check out the huge monkey feet. A bit of a camera distortion, but he does have big feet for a little guy.

Ray and mom.

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