Day 41: Hope matters!

Lily wearing a shirt that Addie picked out

Another good day! Lily has been between 30-35% oxygen today, and is still tolerating her feeds well. They took her off the isolette heat monitor and clothed her- the idea being to see if she can hold body heat without environmental aid. She looks pretty comfy! Hopefully she has an easier time stabilizing this time around. 

So, we're now 41 days into this. It seems like a new normal, though Sara and I do remind ourselves that this is anything but normal. Normal will come back, though, and we can't wait for it!

With the benefit of six weeks behind us, perhaps it makes sense to reflect a bit on a few lessons learned so far:

- Hope matters!
- The human body and mind are incredibly powerful. Their potential is limitless.
- When faced with adversity, weakness is not an option. 
- Don't fret over spilled milk... unless it's your wife's breast milk, you just dropped the container on the kitchen floor, and the cat's lapping it up.

- If Lily can do this, anyone can do anything.
- If you're standing on the edge of an abyss: tie in, and build a bridge.-
 And just when you think you can't... remember that you can, and you will!

So, all said - another good day. Pretty boring... and just as yesterday, boring is good! Hopefully they can wean her down a bit tomorrow. 

Fundraising update: So far, $5,310 has been raised in Lily's honor for NICU parents!! Amazing!! Thank you everyone, your donations directly help TriState NICU parents going through a traumatic time - a few tanks of gas, a stay at the Ronald McDonald house, books about preemie parenting... these are things you just can't put a price tag on. I can't wait to tell Lily all about this one day, and I can't wait for you all to meet her!

Also - an old friend of mine from college, Hillary, is running a half marathon in Lily's honor! She has a fundraising page set up for Hailey's Hope 

(http://www.haileyshopefoundation.org/hillary_run.htm). 

If you have not already donated, please consider helping Hillary reach her goal of $500 for Tristate NICU families - all donations are fully tax deductible! Thank you Hillary, we are truly honored!