Happy 3 Month Birthday Cora

2250grams - 5lbs 
(well, so close to 5lbs, she might be by now!?)

Is it just me, or does it seem like this baby should be smiling for the camera at home?! We had a bit of a rough couple days...

• Cora has been dealing with some pretty significant Acid Reflux. She was finally treated for it on Monday with some Zantac. After a few days, it has not been enough, so she is now on Prilosec.
• The reflux is making her very uncomfortable and she has been vomiting quite a lot.
• The discomfort is associated with swallowing, so it's also a major inhibitor to her PO feeding (by mouth). It is my sincerest hope that once the Prilosec kicks-in, that it will be enough for her to be ready to eat by mouth.
• Her providers are not suggesting that she will be coming home in any less than 3 weeks and likely longer... with her due date next week, this has been a tough pill to swallow.
• Tuesday, her eyes will be examined, again. The exam itself is not fun, but now, I have genuine concern for what her next follow-up exam will find.
• This past Tuesday's exam revealed that she has signs of Pre-Plus disease, a form of ROP. She has between a 30% and 70% chance of developing Plus disease. If she has Plus disease, it is very treatable (laser surgery), but clearly, this is a treatment that we'd like to avoid.

I'm sorry to report that our NICU journey continues. But, I remain grateful for how far we have come and for the positive prognosis, which is extremely positive, regardless of the timeline.

• We have added massage to our daily routine. She really enjoys it. We are focused on the legs and feet, which experiences the most trauma in the NICU. I also learned belly massage to encourage bowel movements and it totally worked!
• Speech and Occupational Therapy are encouraged by her increased "state regulation" - meaning that she is less affected/stressed by her environment and manipulation. This is a really positive step towards bottle feeding.

Big sister note - she has asked the last couple days if Cora is home. She knows Cora's coming, since we have been talking about it. Stella is so sweet and she can recite the book: My Sister is a Preemie. I am really looking forward to watching them grow-up together!