On the upswing

{Oakes tonight}

Just a quick update to let everyone know that Oakes is doing better. Much better. He has thankfully had a few really good days. Dialysis has been working and since Friday he has lost 4 lbs in fluid, and for his little 20 lb body, that is pretty significant. He came out of the paralytic on Sunday morning and has been awake ever since. They started feeding him again and he should be back to full feed by tomorrow night. They are also slowly weaning his vent.

I spent several hours with him today, and got to hold him for some time. I saw huge smiles, lots of laughing, thumb sucking, everything that I could have hoped for. In fact Oakes was so active kicking and moving around that he rotated 45 degrees in his crib, which is a first.

Since isolation was lifted for our family, I have absolutely LOVED walking right into Oakes room when I visit. I love knowing that he can see my entire face, he can see me smiling and see all of my facial features. But the best part of losing isolation, which I didn't anticipate is that I don't have to wear gloves. I have cheated with the mask for some time now, when I was smiling I couldn't always help myself and would pull my mask down, but the times that my skin has touched Oakes over the last 5 months have been few. It brought tears to my eyes to put my hand on his back and feel his perfect baby soft skin, to run my fingertips over his head and feel his hair, and let him hold my bare finger as he drifted off to sleep.

SO much to be thankful for .

XOXO, Becky