When we arrived at 8 this morning, we found an open-eyed and wiggly little girl waiting for us in her isolette.  Clare was definitely hungry and interested in eating, although she fell asleep before her bottle was finished and we had to wake her up.  These little bursts of energy, followed by intense sleep, remind us that she is a preemie and that even the smallest tasks take a lot of energy for her.

Dr. Mulligan is increasing her feeds twice a day now.  Given how easily she tires out, we are anticipating having her gavage tube return today so that she can be sure to get her full feeding amounts without sapping all her energy.  At the same time she's working on eating and digesting, she's also working on regulating her body temperature so she can move out of the isolette and into a cradle or crib.  That's a lot to do at once.

Clare appeared to be looking at both Tim and me this morning when we took her out of her terrarium.  This is particularly encouraging because we've been worried that she hasn't been progressing in this area.  

Tim and I are both exhausted today.  Yesterday we were so tired we took brief naps in the reclining chairs in the ICN.  Despite our fatigue, we made it to five of Clare's eight care times yesterday.  I don't know if we're going to make it to that many today.  Tim's now on his way to get a third cup of coffee.