Ezra is two months old

Two months old!

Yesterday was Ezra's two-month "birthday." Here's what's going on with him...

• He weighed 6lb 13oz and as of Monday was 18.75" long.
• This month he grew out of preemie things and started wearing newborn clothes and diapers.
• He passed his due date (11/12) this week. Despite being born two months ago, he is developmentally a newborn. (His adjusted age will matter until he is about 2 years old.)
• Ezra started his second month of life with a heart catheterization to close his patent ductus arteriosus. It was a rough couple of days afterward, but it was a success. He has needed much less respiratory support since he recovered, and an echocardiogram this week looked "perfect" in the words of the cardiologist!
• He developed a clot in his femoral artery as a result of the catheter though, so he has been on heparin to help dissolve it this month. Ross and I have learned to place the subcutaneous port in his leg every few days and inject his doses into it every 12 hours. None of us like this business, as it's painful for him. Hopefully we can stop it soon.

     

 

• In his second month of life, he has become much more alert! We love seeing his little eyes open. He makes the best facial expressions. Most days he seems to be awake for a couple of 2-hour stretches.
• As of the two-month mark, he is still in the NICU, but the end is in sight! To come home, he has to take all 8 of his feedings completely by mouth. He's doing as many as 5 in a row right now. We hope to be able to bring him home in the next week or so. By Thanksgiving would be wonderful. 
• He is still on a little bit of oxygen and will come home on it.

Ezra on his due date

• He loves to snuggle.
• We started breastfeeding this month and Ezra is a pro. His nurses are surprised and pleased that he ate better from breast than bottle from the beginning. Recently he's been taking two ounces at a time. Unfortunately, he also developed reflux.
• He smiles a lot! Not directed at us yet though.
• Cartilege formed in his ears and they are not squishy and weird-looking anymore .
• His head control made massive strides this month. He can hold his head up when he's laying on our chests. He can also pick up his head and face the other direction.
• He was a tiger for his first Halloween!