Sweet Caroline is a unicorn! She literally exceeds all expectations. She has taken this journey in the NICU in her timing and truly shown us all the fierce will she has to want to just live.

For the last few weeks the care team has been weaning her oxygen levels. It has always been a goal of April's to be able to have the chance to breastfeed her daughter. They did not want to be sent home with a g tube and April has been fiercely committed to be able to have that chance to have that once in a lifetime bond with her baby. She has literally been pumping every 3 hours for the last 4+ months, holding onto the hope that she would be able to get the chance to do that. In order for Caroline to safely be able to feed she needed to be on 3L of oxygen or less. She had tubes down her throat for a very long time throughout this journey. If you read the last post, you know that just in February she was finally extubated. So there was a good chance that latching would be a difficult task for her. Well today was an amazing day because she was weaned to 2L of oxygen and was able to breastfeed with mom for the very first time. Usually babies take 1-2 ml the first time, but girlfriend happily took 8ml! She is a unicorn I tell you!!! Praise God for this sweet win! This is such a huge step in getting her home!

It truly feels like the time is coming for her to be able to do that in the coming weeks. During her last eye exam her doctor asked if she was going home soon. Her left eye is completely healed and her right eye just has hopefully one more recheck in 2 weeks. It has been healing beautifully and we are thanking God she has not needed any laser surgeries. Again, this is not the norm for babies that come in like Caroline did..so we are so grateful. She recently had a hearing test as well and passed with flying colors. She doesn't need to be checked again until after her first birthday. And baby girl is gaining weight so nicely. She is now over 11 lbs! Last week one of the NP's told mom & dad to start going on their date nights now because the time is ticking closer. The last hurdle is to have her to be able to feed by mouth and be on .5L 

of oxygen or less. Like I said earlier, she is on 2L as of today and will spend the rest of her time continuing to learn how to feed by mouth. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support. I know this has been a long journey to follow along, but God has been good. Caroline is thriving and will one day know the impact of her story. She will know how loved and wanted she is. Please continue to be praying that feedings go well. Pray for her arrival to go home. And thank God for writing this story in the way he has. We can't thank you enough for following along with us and praying fiercely for baby girl. She truly is our modern day miracle.