Back On The Ventilator.

Jack is back on the ventilator. He had two prolonged periods of apnea that lead to his heart rate slowing down quite a bit. After the second time they re-intubated him and put him back on the ventilator. He is doing a lot better on the vent and they said his color got a lot better.

They said I should not get too upset about it because it is pretty common for preemies as early as Jack. They also said they are going to try to get him off the vent again soon. They had moved him into the step down unit when they took him off the vent. They are going to keep him there even though he is back on it.

They did tell me this would be a series of ups and downs. Uggghh.

Off The Ventilator!!!

Great news!! Jack is off the ventilator!!! He is on nasal O2 at 25% and he has had no periods of apnea. He is doing great! He is also up to 20cc per feed.

Thanks for all the prayers. They are working!

Beefing up!

Jack has gained some weight. He is currently 2 pounds, 9 ounces. So he is up 3 ounces from his birth weight. He did lose weight at first so this is not too bad.

He is eating 18.5cc at each feed. He is eating so well that they removed his PICC line. He is now getting all nutrition through the oral gastric tube.

They had to raise his oxygen concentration on the ventilator to 25%. That is still pretty good. They did tell me to expect that it will go up and down.They have his breaths per minute at 28. He does over ride the vent sometimes and breathe on his own.

He is doing pretty good. He still has a long way to go. Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers and good thoughts!

Pictures

Jack is doing better all the time. He still has issues, but I am hoping he turned a corner. His ventilator setting is at 22% for oxygen. He is now up to 15cc per feed. He is doing so much better than he was last week. I am hoping he stays on his current path. Yayyy Jack!!

 

Julianna and I went to see the Radio City Christmas show today. We also went to Rockefeller Center to see the big tree and then to Macy's to see Santa. On the train on the way home we saw a huge rainbow. I think that is a sign of good things to come!

 

 

 

 

 

Jack in his Christmas outfit. I bought the Santa hat at Petco. It is for a Chiuaua.

                                                             Jack holding my finger.

                                                                Jack snoozing.

                                                       Julianna and me at the big tree!!

                                                                   Julianna, big tree.

                                                          Julianna with Santa at Macy's.

Jack is Doing Great!

Jack is doing great! It was really nice to see him. He was taken off his oscillator this morning and put back on a regular vent. His blood gases were really good so they thought he could handle it. He is only on 25% oxygen. That is great because regular room air is only 21% oxygen. He is off the photo therapy lights but he does have bronze baby syndrome. That should resolve on its own over time.

He is eating 11cc over an hour and a half through the gastric tube. He makes sucking motions all the time and sucks on his endotracheal tube. They are still keeping him sedated. When his morphine and ativan wear off he moves around quite a bit. He can push his whole body up on his feet. That is pretty good especially since he has a PICC line on one foot.

Tierney is still pumping for him and he loves that milk. I got to have lunch with Tierney and that was very nice.

I have to leave very early tomorrow. My plane takes off at 6am. I can go see him anytime so I will see him just before I have to leave.

I took a bunch of pictures and I will post them when I get home.

What Is Happening in this World?

I am going to see baby Jack today. I dropped Julianna off at daycare. I won't see her until Monday afternoon. That makes me sad, but now with the news of this horrible elementary school shooting in Connecticut I just want to run over to her school and hug the stuffing out of her.

A person who lost a spouse is called a widow. A child who lost a parent is called an orphan. There is no word for a parent who lost a child, because there are no words.

Eating Like A Champion

Jack's feeds are up to 5cc every three hours and he is tolerating them! I am so proud of him.

The nurse said they had to raise his oxygen settings but he is still only at 35% oxygen, via the oscillator, so that is pretty good.

He is jaundiced again so he is back under the photo therapy lights. They said that is pretty routine and most small premature babies will go under them a number of times before they are discharged.

He is somewhat swollen. He is on lasix ( a diuretic) to try to reduce that swelling. He is also on steroids to try to keep his lungs from swelling.

All in all he is having a good day. I will get to see him late tomorrow night. I can't wait!

Thanks everyone for all the prayers, good wishes, assistance with child care and everything else. And thanks Tierney for visiting Jack and giving him love!!!!