HE'S COMING HOME!!!

Maybe.

All of the nurses told us that a little guy like Jacob could be struggling and struggling and struggling, and then all of a sudden just decide, "OK, I'll eat now."

That's what Jacob did. My last update was written in near despair. He was having such a hard time catching his breath. We left that Monday night with heavy hearts. We went back on Tuesday and the little booger had been taken off his oxygen completely, was eating more, and more quickly than he had ever eaten, and was still just as cute as ever.

I can't help but think that his primary nurse, Erin, had something to do with it. She's the one I mentioned in my blog from Sunday, when I said leaving him there was more like leaving him in the care of a dear friend than the hands of a bunch of strangers. I'm going to start calling her "The Baby Whisperer."

He just decided he wanted to come home after all.

So here's the deal, if he does really well overnight tonight, (Thursday, 12/21), then tomorrow night we spend the night in the hospital with him in a special "Care by Parent" room, and we bring home Saturday morning.

Lesley's had some fun with him. He went off like Old Faithful while she was changing his diaper. We didn't get any pictures, though. Thankfully, he's as regular as Old Faithful is, too. But I don't think we'll have the camera ready.

He's so funny, and we can't wait until everyone gets to meet him. There are a few things we need to say up front, though. The nurses have told us that we are bringing him home in the middle of cold and flu season. While a cold or flu can be dangerous to a baby born at term, it can be deadly to a premie. So if you're sick, or if you've been sick, please be patient. He's not going anywhere for at least 18 years, so everyone will be able to meet him.

Also, we've been told that premies shouldn't be overstimulated. They're just not ready for a lot of googling and playing "Pass the Baby." We were told that too much stimulation can actually wear them down so much that they forget to breathe. So for the first couple of months we're going to keep his visitors per day down to a minimum, and of course, family always have first crack at him.

We've learned some interesting things about premies. Jacob was nearly 2 months early. That means that his development will actually seem like he is doing everything 2 months later than it feels like he should be. As far as he is concerned, from his birthday, he still had 2 months to do nothing but sleep and make mommy nauseous. He will crawl, get teeth, pretty much everything, later than it feels like he should, because his developmental age is 2 months younger than his actual age. I thought that was really interesting, but it makes sense.

Anyway, YOUR, OUR prayers have worked. We may have that special Christmas Present under the tree Christmas morning.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

He's not home yet. So keep praying. And even after he is home, you could say a few, too.

Thank you all.