Don't Blink, Or You'll Miss (a Lot)

There's a saying in certain parts of the midwest: "Just wait a few minutes and the weather will change". That's an expression that they try to use in the Carolina's too, but it's coming from folks who've never lived in Tornado Alley! Such naivity on their part! ;-) That's what it feels like, though, being a parent of a child in the ICN. Literally, things can change so fast - for better, or worse. Keeping up is a chore in and of itself.
Just in the last 24 hours, Colin has had numerous (good) changes: he is already back up on his max feedings, he is back to doing room-air trials, he will start breast and/or bottle feeding again tomorrow, the ilius has resolved, they've discontinued the hyperal, they took all the IV lines out - yeah! - and he's picked back up all the weight he lost and then some and is now at 2 pounds 6.3 ounces!
Regarding the room-air trials, he went 2 hours yesterday on his own, but when on the canula, he only requires 1 liter of high flow (a tiny amount) to keep him happy. He's done this for a couple days now, so the prevailing thought is that we're getting really close to him not needing any assistance with breathing. That'll be so nice for him to get those nose prongs out!
Daddy got to Kangaroo his little guy last night too. He's getting so much more active, moving his head side to side and lifting his head up (mini push-ups). I felt very inadequate at one moment when Colin starting sucking on my hairy chest! Poor little guy had just started being fed through his tube and was rooting for a nipple to latch on to - he was hungry. It was cute and pitiful at the same time. A fleeting thought ran through my head that this was the one moment in my life when I actually would be okay if I had milk-laden boobies. ;-) What a special thing that must be for mommies to experience! Then my senses came, and I decided that we'll keep the boobies on mommy. She looks better with them anyway ;-)