We have just had THE most wonderful time with Granny Russell here with us! Thank you SO much to all you generous friends from our church back home who paid for her flights! I REALLY needed my Mummy around this week as Daniel was operated on. Apologies that we have not been keeping the blog up-to-date, let me fill you in on our news!

Daniel recovered well from the ductus surgery and, after a few days of being fairly groggy, he rallied and became even more alert than he was before the surgery. He now opens his eyes for periods of 1/2 hour or more and is obviously looking around and responding to noises around him... he is also becoming a LOT more feisty! He definitely knows what he likes and dislikes and is not afraid to throw his weight around even though he is still SO small!

Daniel got to have a lovely cuddly time with Granny on Tuesday, which seemed to do him good. All the nurses commented that they enjoyed the lullabies sung in harmony by Mum and I... I think Daniel liked it too, although there was one occasion when we started singing and he crumpled his face into a very unimpressed frown! So hilarious!

Daniel was doing so well yesterday that the consultant decided to EXTUBATE!! After our 3 hour trial off the ventilator a few weeks ago, I am thrilled to report that he is STILL breathing on his own, and it has been 29 hours! Things are looking good, although he obviously does not like the oxygen face mask he is having to wear... hopefully they can wean him from that before too long.

One huge disappointment this week has come as we have started discussing the possibility of taking Daniel home to meet all our friends and family back in the UK. Because Daniel will have lung damage from the ventilator for the first 1 -2 years of his life, he will be very vulnerable to infection and so we have been strongly advised not to do an 11 hour flight with him until he is at least 1 year of age. Obviously we are GUTTED at this news, but of course, we are going to do what is best for our boy (if he avoids infection for the first 1-2 years, he is likely to have perfectly normal lung function long term). So, it looks like you guys will have to come out for a trip to SFO if you want to meet our little man!