A New "Normal"

Well, needless to say things have been pretty chaotic the last week! Cohen's newborn appointment went great (last Monday) and at that appointment he weighed 8 lb. Dr. Gilmer did hear the murmur but said she strongly believes it will close out. But just to be safe we have an appointment with a cardiologist in six weeks to get it checked again. Due to his weight loss in the NICU, she wanted to see him again in one week to make sure he was gaining weight. I am SOOOO happy to report that he gained TEN ounces in seven days! He now weighs 8 lb. 10 oz. What an answer to prayer! We go back next Tuesday for his 1 month appointment. (The nurse at the doctor this morning said, "Do you feel like you live here?", my response, "you have no idea!")....

Meanwhile, Brad took Nora to her allergist/immunologist appointment this morning. They did a skin test of 16 of the most common allergies, and all of them came back negative. So that is very good news! Dr. Robinson then sent them over to the Children's Hospital for blood work which will check out her immune system. He said we should know something from the blood test in two weeks. The doctor told Brad that most children in daycare (up to age 2) experience about 10-12 illnesses per year. For Nora that has been 24 illnesses. He said it could just be bad luck on her part, but that the blood work should tell us more. We are crossing our fingers that she is just unlucky and the blood work will come back normal.

Brad is off for another week (thank goodness) as we continue to settle in to our new "normal". Cohen is eating about every 2-3 hours so, "no" we are not getting much sleep. But I know that soon enough he will start sleeping more, and I know these sleepless nights will end...eventually :)  He is doing a wonderful job nursing, but is not so good with a bottle. That is completely okay at this point, as long as he is eating I am thankful!

Uncle Chris, Aunt Angie, and Nonna came in this past weekend! Chris and Angie got to meet Cohen for the first time!! He of course just slept and made old man noises. He really does grunt and moan like a little old man. My mom, Chris, and Angie then took Nora to the safari located a few miles from our house....Nora loved it! Brad's truck now has huge tongue marks from the water buffalo. If you live in the Knoxville/Sevierville area and have not been to Circle G Ranch, you really need to check it out. Its a drive-thru zoo, and the animals literally come right up to the window!! Zebras, camels, llamas, reindeer, etc. There is also a petting zoo!

On Sunday, we got to visit with friends from Cookeville (the Noonkester family) and Kingsport (the Coates family! Nora and Adele were so much fun to watch and provided quite a bit of entertainment to us all. Cohen pretty much slept the entire time...surprise, surprise!

We continue to be amazed at the outpouring of support from friends and family! Our church family and friends have provided a meal every night for us for the past TWO weeks!! We have become so spoiled :) That along with the prayers and encouraging words have kept us so uplifted! Again, a huge thank you to everyone! We love you all!!!!