9th day

* i edited this post a bit due to comments - i want to be sure that everyone knows that we are very appreciative of the nurses here and I don't worry that he isn't well taken care of - just as his mother - it's hard for it not to be me that is always taking care of him

It just never ceases to amaze me - every morning around 3 or 4 am we call to check in on Cohen - his report is usually good and we peacefully go back to sleep -so different from where we could have been 9 days after he was born. I prayed so much for healing and braced myself for just a few hours if God chose not to. We still have so many unknowns and Cohen is still not home with us - we know no prognosis or diagnosis but Cohen is here today - 9 days later!!!!!!!!! Praise God.
He had a good night and has been on just room air since last night. That means he is getting any more oxygen then what you and I breath in on our own but he is getting it pushed through a little stronger through his nose. It mainly means that he just doesn't have to work as hard.
Yesterday was hard for us. We know by NICU standards that Cohen's care is minimal but it is difficult to watch it increase even just a little. We know that oxygen is minimal care and that so many babies need it for a while but it's hard because we have no promise that his lungs just need a little more time to develop and get stronger. Without a diagnosis, they don't know what to expect his lungs to do. Will they get stronger and stronger as he grows or as he grows will they stop being able to support his body? Pray - pray hard that Cohen's lungs just need some time to get stronger - pray that as he grows his ribcage will grow at a rate that allows his lungs to grow and support him.
On the flip side, he seemed to eat his bottle a little better overall yesterday. Continue to pray that he will take his bottles well because once he does then they will let us take him home, even if we have to go home with a little oxygen. This is all a little strange to me because Cort never took a full meal so it seems like a lot to expect of Cohen. I have shared with the doctors Cort's history now and so far Cohen doesn't seem to have reflux but only time will tell. However, he tends to have a pattern of leaving about 10CC's in his bottle. To me, this seems normal because of Cort, but he has to take in enough to keep is weight moving up. He had a little dip last night which may not even be accurate so pray that tonight his weight check will show improvement and not a dipping trend.
We appreciate the nurses and doctors here so much as we would not be able to provide the care that Cohen needs on our own but with each passing day it gets more and more difficult for me leave him in someone else's care. Not because I don't trust them - just because they aren't his parents. It gets harder and harder to know that when we aren't here he hardly gets held. There are so many different nurses that he has that it's hard leaving him with someone that has never taken care of him before- I like it when he has repeat nurses - again not because I don't trust them just because it's weird to leave your child with a "stranger."
Also, it looks like we won't get the genetic results until at least the end of next week - more waiting. Waiting is easier with Cohen here!! :)
Okay, that's my morning update - sorry it's so rambling. I'll list the prayer requests a little more easy to read:
*increase successful bottle feedings
*less need for oxygen or flow
*that his lungs will develop and strengthen enough for his growing body
*for Chris and I to be able to have peace about others taking care of him
* that we will be able to bring him home soon
* that we will continue to trust God with each day and with Cohen's test results and medical care
* that the test results will come in next week