Lucas Camilo

We had to pull some strings but we finally got Burke’s parents into the NICU yesterday to visit Lucas. Actually, part of the deal around lifting the flu season restrictions on visitors was that Michael and Mary Jo had to do a training on tracheostomy care, which the nurse helped us give. They seemed to pay attention well and ask the right questions, and therefore will be well prepared to help look after Lucas the next time they come to town. They were also overwhelmed to see how far along Lucas has come since they last saw him over a month ago. He was wide awake an hour before they arrived – following an eye exam – and we were worried that he’d be conked by the time they got to the hospital. But he stayed awake and showed off a little, kicking his legs, opening his eyes wide, and letting us move him into all of his favorite positions. Burke’s mom got to hold Lucas, sing him “rock-a-bye baby” and tell him about his snazzy new home set-up. In addition to the crib the granparents helped install, Lucas now also has a fancy changing table (passed on by our friends Catherine and Basav) and a vibrating bassinet (a hand-me-down from friends Rami and Chrystal).

The other good news is that we finally have an actual date for Lucas to return home. It’s next Monday, which isn’t nearly as soon as we had hoped, but the equipment he needs probably won’t arrive until this Friday. Nothing is for sure, of course, but the doctor has signed off on the discharge so its just a matter of waiting a few more days and making sure we’re all ready (which, as we’ve noted over and over, we are).

The final piece of good news: Lucas is growing again! He gained 60 grams last night, the second day in a row that he’s gained weight, and he’s inching his way back up towards the elusive 8 pound mark (he’s at around 7 pounds 4 ounces right now). We’ve heard that preemies really thrive in the weight gain category once they get home, which is just one more reason to be excited.

And finally, Lucas is spending a lot of time sucking on his fingers and fist lately, not to mention exploring all around his face. Here’s a latest video…