Daddy's Little Elf

 Joshua is doing really good this week. So good, that the doctors have been hinting he may be discharged before the new year! As of last night, he weighed 4 pounds and 9 ounces and was 17 and 3/4 inches long. The nurses said he is going to be tall like daddy. They stopped his caffeine yesterday, and are waiting to see what he does without it. Remember, the caffeine stimulates his immature brain to keep him breathing. The first time they took him off of it, he started to have lots of episodes of not breathing so they put him back on it. There is really no way to know how he will handle it, until they do it. He has kind of naturally weened himself off the caffeine, because as he has grown, they have not increased the dose correspondingly. Joshua is taking 4 bottles a day. They think in the next couple of days he will be ready for 5. We have to get to 8 before we can be discharged, so Joshua is working really hard. You can tell when he gets really tired because his little bottom lip will start to quiver and he just closes his eyes. It is the sweetest little face.

Daddy's Little Elf

Tummy time!

This outfit used to be big on him!

Fast asleep

 It is really amazing how much he has progressed and how much he is still progressing every day. The doctors say he will go home when he decides he is ready...babies don't read the textbooks! We have a lot of family that has not yet been able to meet Joshua, but Christmas Day they will finally get to! We are going to bring Joshua to the window so everyone can see him. That will be a great Christmas present for us all.

Thank you again everyone for continuing to pray for baby Joshua. The many prayers are a testament to his strong and healthy development. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Much love from Team Altman!