Projected success.

We got to the NICU and saw our little guy curled up and sleeping.  Rafael noticed a big red mark on the little guy's cheek and, upon investigating deduced that the mark was left by the removal of some waxy substance. This substance was used as a barrier between skin and tape. The tape was used to hold in place some breathing tubes. And the tubes were gone! *cue dramatic chord*

Max had been breathing by himself since an hour or so before noon and was keeping it up nicely throughout the day. He even maintained his oxygenated composure when he projected some spit up past dad's arm and into mum's lap.  This happened a few minutes after his parents watched Max down 14ml of milk from a bottle. He's quite cute with the excitement he shows toward drinking from the bottle.  Sometimes, he takes in more than he can swallow, but he's getting quite good at the whole suck-swallow-breathe rhythm.

Today was a day of very visible steps forward.  Max has been doing so well and continues to amaze us that we may have to start inventing words to properly state just how amazingly proud we are as parents. We are positively ebullient with his continuous improvement.