A Really Good Day

After too many days of worry, we finally had a thoroughly enjoyable "normal" parenting experience in the NICU Sunday night: the first bath. Nurse Ellen (herself the mother of a premie delivered at St. David's; he's the boy gymnast hovering over the "horse" in the portraits that line the hallway leading to the NICU entrance) instructed us in the art of the sponge bath while Samson squirmed on the Chux pad in the warmer. Dad held the head and limbs; Mama scrubbed the boy clean.

Though he fussed a bit after the shampoo and diaper-area wash, Samson was actually quite accommodating. After we'd heard all week that he just didn't like lying on his back, he stayed in that position for a good 2 hours with a completely content demeanor. Has our Surly Samson morphed into Serene Sammy? You be the judge:

After the bath, Mama diapered and Dad read Dr. Seuss' "The Foot Book" while Ellen poured the milk. Happy baby!

When the 10pm shift change signaled it was time to go, we breathed a big sigh of satisfaction knowing that we were leaving our boy in bliss.

Monday morning, the news was even better. Dr. D said that it was time to try removing the nasal cannula to see how Samson will do without respiratory assistance, and the gavage tube can go as well, since air will no longer be forced down his throat. No more tape on the face! Yay!