9 lbs. 7 oz.

Connor had a few days last week without any significant problems. His gas problem is no longer a problem, but now he has very bad reflux. He is taking a few medications to help and we've divided his feedings into smaller amounts given more times per day.
Other than that, the past week has been somewhat uneventful. Connor has gained weight well since coming home. He is now up to 8lbs 5 oz. Hopefully that trend will continue even with the reflux problem.

Connor's trouble with being gassy has dramatically improved leading to an increase in sleep for us. The pediatrician changed his formula on his first visit Wednesday and it seems to be helping a lot. At his visit, Connor weighed in at 6 lbs. 13 oz.
We've found that Connor really likes "belly time". During belly time we lay him on his belly (obviously) so he can work on strengthening his muscles. Victoria also reads to him during this time. He is stronger than I would have thought. He can hold his head up looking straight ahead for 2 & 3 minutes at a time. He can also kick and push with his legs pretty well. Wednesday during belly time it appeared as though he was attempting to roll over. This all gives me some hope that he may only have some minor neuromotor effects from the cyst.
This weekend Connor's Nonna is coming to help out while I study for a final exam in one of my courses. Hopefully that will give Victoria a chance to get some rest.

Home at last!

After 103 days in the hospital, Connor was finally discharged. We all stayed in a room together last night at the hospital before we could come home today. Victoria and I were both a little nervous. He had gas and was very uncomfortable last night because of it (so we didn't sleep much). The hospital sent us home with some diapers and disposable bottles which was nice (we/our insurance probably had already paid for that stuff). Connor won't get to go anywhere except to the doctor for his first winter. He has too high of a risk for getting very sick if he comes into contact with others who are sick.

Coming Home?

After three months of calling the NICU home, Connor may be coming home this weekend! Notice I said "may". He has to get through the rest of the week without any bumps. It will be nice not having to drive to the hospital to be able to see him. We'll know for sure Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. We'll stay at the hospital with him overnight in some special room they have and go home the next day.
Victoria and I spent most of yesterday putting together furniture and arranging his room. We still have some decorating to do, but I think all of the necessities are in place.

Update

Connor had another eye exam today. The ROP had advanced to stage 2 sometime b/w the last exam and now, but the ophthalmologist says it looks like it has already started to regress. The Dr. will check his eyes again in 10 days, but doesn't expect any problems.
The neonatologist also said today that the only thing keeping him in the NICU is the jaundice. His bilirubin has come down 50% in the past week, just slightly over half way to where it needs to be. They have switched to feeding him with a bottle only. Sometime after 6p.m. tonight they are going to remove his feeding tube. It will be the first time since the night he was born that he doesn't have some foreign tube, line, etc. going into his body.

Unfortunately not all of today's news is so good. Connor's last 3 head ultrasounds have shown the development of what appears to be a fluid filled cyst just inferior and lateral to the lateral ventricle on the left side. The doctor says it is difficult to see and has scheduled an MRI for next week. The MRI will allow us to see exactly where it is and how big it is. There is no way right now to predict what symptoms this may cause down the road. We just have to wait and see.