In our arms...

Today we were able to hold baby Ezra. We didn't think we would be able to for a few more days but he is just doing so well (better than expected) and so they let us hold him for about an hour and a half. He had been so heavily sedated since surgery yesterday and hadn't been moving much but he peaked his eyes open at us while we held him. He is so sweet and such an angel. Blaine was also able to give him a priesthood/father's blessing today while I held him. It was so special. We also learned that his birthgrandfather gave the birthmom a priesthood blessing before her c-section and blessed the baby through her. How grateful we are that both of our children received priesthood blessings from their birthgrandfathers. We think that is so special.

Prognosis is good although it is so hard to say when he will come home. He should go off of the ventilator tomorrow as he is mostly breathing on his own anyway. He starts TPN feedings intraveniously tonight and in about a week, he will start formula feeding first through a feeding tube and then with a bottle. Basically, he'll be able to come home when he has good "input and output" which is the nice way of saying "eating and pooping". Two weeks from now would be miraculous. We are preparing ourselves for 4-6 weeks though.

Bella is only allowed one visit to the NICU while he is there so we are saving it for a few more days when he is off most of the machines and stuff. Bella is so mad that we won't take her to the hospital! She carried around his picture today and she drew him a picture that we put up in his incubator. We also put up a picture of her in her Big Sister shirt and a picture of us holding him.

Is he cute or what?

"Is that you, Dad?" Heavily sedated, Ez tries to pry his eyes open to check us out... :)

It was so awesome to hold him. Light as a feather and such an angel.