May 31/ June 1 update on RJ

From Holly: "We've been near the hospital all weekend, so I haven't been around a computer, my apologies! We have had a whirlwind of emotions from the weekend. He weighed in at 2lbs and 12 ozs on Saturday. Which was his heaviest yet. His oxygen was going down slowly. The secrections from the tummy continued so the doctors had the surgeons come down to evaluate him. They wanted to run tests on R.J. to rule out certain premature diseases. I was crushed, but knew it was the best for him. He had an enima dye test run Sunday morning which came back negative for anything they were looking for. They said he did great and had a great bowel movement after the test that should have removed any blockage if there was blockage after that. We returned to the hospital Sunday afternoon after crying sad tears at church. We walk into the nurse saying, by the way we are feeding him 3mL now. I said excuse me feeding what? Well, milk, Momma. I cried and cried tears of joy. For three weeks we had heard maybe tomorrow if the tummy is okay, well maybe the next day we'll feed. I stopped asking because I was tired of let down. So, to walk in and hear that our son was receiving milk for the first day of his life, was overwhelming with joy! We prayed and prayed that his little tummy was strong enough to accept the milk. Sunday was a milestone for little R.J. We went up to the hospital on Monday and his little tummy was not only accepting milk, but was doing great with it that they bumped him up to 5mL of milk. He weighed in at 2lbs. and 14 ozs. on Monday. We were standing over our child's incubator just in awe of him sleeping so peacefully. The nurse said you ready to hold him now or when he wakes up. My husband and I look at each other and at him. Smiles beaming off of our faces. No cameras with us whatsoever. You better believe we said we'll let him sleep and come back this afternoon to hold him. That afternoon we were fully loaded with camera phones and bought a disposal camera for the milestone moment. To hold our son for the first time in three weeks and two days, there is no explanation and no words to describe the joy that overfloweth from our hearts! Nothing else compares! We slept peacefully Monday night after holding our son for the first time, absolutely in awe of the weekend that God blessed us with our son. Feeding him milk and getting to hold him in our arms. I've learned to stop asking when can we hold, feed, take home because every baby develops differently, so when that time comes it is a complete surprise and gift wrapped up for us from our Heavenly Father Himself! Today, Tuesday, the nurse said he was maintaining his weight of 2lbs. and 14ozs. They bumped him up to 8mL of milk every three hours today. So, he'll be getting a little over 2 ounces of milk a day. He is getting there. She said he is not in the critical stage anymore and moving toward the growing stage. His oxygen is down to 2 liters and when he gets down to 1 liter. . .out comes the nose tube and his little nose will be free from tubes just like his mouth is. He is working hard on his pacifier now to get going on a sucking motion. He's been doing fabulous! We are so proud of our little fighter. The doctors call our son, Houdini, because no matter how many times they tape down his nose tube to his face, he magically finds a way to rip it out. Oh, Lord, when he gets home we are in trouble! Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We continue to marvel at our Deliverer and special surprises to us this weekend with our child. For Jesus taking care of all three of us, we are simply and greatly blessed!"