Oh Happy Day...or Night...or whatever!!

Ok, tonight rocked! Luke is doing SO good! It just makes me incredibly happy to see his sweet face and touch his soft body! I did not get a chance to see him this afternoon because the hubby and I had an appt. to get life insurance. I know, probably should have already done that by this time in our lives, but now everything's changed! I mean, we have a little person to think of! So, anyway, what should have taken 45 minutes turned into 3 HOURS because the guy was REALLY chatty! So, Tom and I visited Monkey tonight. And.....I got to do Kangaroo Care with him!! What in the heck is that, you ask?? Well, it is where you get a mostly naked baby (with only a diaper on) and open your shirt and lay his/her body directly onto your body. Like skin-to-skin contact. Luke's belly was on my belly and his head was snuggled in between my chest (you know, kinda in between "the girls"). He had a blanket over him and we just chilled together like that for over 40 minutes!! It was the longest I have ever held him!!! Kangaroo Care originated in Columbia out of neccessity. There are not many NICU's there and the infant mortality rate was at an all time high in the 1970's. So, a doctor recommeded that mothers of preemie babies have continuous skin to skin contact with there babies (like 24 hours a day). So, the moms wrapped up there babes in cloth and had them attached to their chests. Kinda like a kangaroo with her pouch. There are many benefits they have found from this kind of care. Research has shown that it helps preterm babies stabalize their heartbeat, temperature, and breathing. Further, researchers have found that preterm infants who experience kangaroo care have longer periods of sleep, gain more weight, decrease their crying, have longer periods of alertness, and earlier hospital discharge. They say that up to 2 hours a day is recommended for these benefits. So, consider yourself offically schooled on "kangaroo care". Bring it up at cocktail parties and your friends will think you are oh so smart (you know, keeping up with research and all!). Seriously, if you know someone who has had a preemie, tell them to google it and check it out! It definitely created more bonding between me and Monkey tonight and I LOVED it! Sorry for the long post!! Oh, I have a picture of our kangaroo care time, but my camera is in my car and I am too lazy and tired to go get it! I will post tomorrow! Love you all!