Day 58

What a surprise we had when we came in today. Parker was off the sipap and on high flow nasal cannula! His blood gases were fine after an hour, so they left him on and he did great all day! It's so nice being able to see his face without all the head gear and mask on. John and I went shopping yesterday and bought him a few outfits he can wear in the NICU and some blankets to wrap him up in. He's such a stud now! John and I each held him for a while today, I didn't want to put him down! I feel like we have come so far! Parker has worked so hard and has shown everyone what he can do!

Day 57

Another wonderful day for Parker. I love that we're having more good days! He is doing well on his sipap. His rate was decreased to 25 breaths/min and he is maintaining his oxygen saturations in the 90's without additional oxygen. His nurse said this morning she had his mask off for about 25 min while she was working with him and he still kept his oxygen levels up! We know his lungs are getting stronger because his cry is getting louder. He usually doesn't cry a lot except for when he got his bath today. He was screaming! He doesn't like to be messed with. So I snuggled with him afterwards and he was out! His feedings are at 12cc/hr to only his stomach tube. Parker has also been downgraded from his isolette to a bassinet. One step closer to home.

Day 56

Parker had a fantastic day today. He was so chill and relaxed pretty much all day. He barely desat, so he didn't need any oxygen support. Still doing well on his sipap, blood gases have been great. He's such a champ! Increased his feedings to 6.cc/hr in the OTPT and 5cc/hr in the OG. Daddy snuggled with Parker today and Parker was all smiles, and then fell right to sleep. Love That little man!

Day 55

Parker had a really good day today. Needed a little oxygen to keep his o2 levels up. Feedings are going well. 5cc/hr to the OTPT and 5cc/hr to the OG tube. So far so good. He had a good hour of snuggle time with mommy and did well. He had a nice restful day, so maybe he'll gain a little weight!

Day 54

Parker had a better day today. Getting used to his mask. Starting him in some vitamins today. Switching up his feeds a little. He gets 8cc/hr to his OTPT (tube to his duodenum) and 2cc/hr to his OG tube (tube to his belly). Need to get this boy used to some milk in his belly and digesting it. Hopefully we can fatten him up more.

Day 53

Another day off the vent is another day closer to home! Parker was a little fussy off and on today. I don't think he likes his SiPAP very much. He was a bit worked up this morning so some labs and tests were done, so far so good. I guess he's allowed to have an off day. Going to keep things the same for now, don't want to rock the boat too much. It's nice having him off the vent because I feel that I can do more for him now. Working my way into motherhood.

Day 52

Parker is doing well on his SiPAP. Still at his 30 breaths per minute rate, and maintaining his oxygen levels on room air with the occasional oxygen boost. He gets a little fussy now and again from the mask and the nasal prongs that go along with the SiPAP. His PICC line came out today, yay! I was able to hold him for an hour today. It's great being able to pick him up without having to worry so much about a breathing tube coming dislodged. His weight has pretty much been the same the past few days 4lbs, 2 oz. Still needs to fatten up a bit more. His feedings were increased to 10cc/hr plus 22 calorie fortifier. Little guy is moving right along.

Day 51

Today Parker made a great improvement. He is off the ventilator!! He is now on SiPAP which is a little mask that goes over his nose and pushes air into his lungs. He is at a set rate at 30 right now so it will give him at least that many breaths a minute. He has been doing well and has been on room air most of the day and maintaining adequate oxygen saturations. I don't think he's a big fan of this new contraption, but it's necessary for his progression. The best part for me today was being able to hear my baby cry for the first time. It's not very often a mother wants to hear her child cry, but for me it was so sweet. His poor little hoarse cry brought a tear to my eye. Feeds remain the same right now. I think extubating him was enough for the day!

Day 50

50 days seems like a long time in the NICU, but it sure goes by fast! Parker had a pretty good day. Did another ET cpap trial for 3 hours today. Working up those lungs. Talking about taking out his breathing tube in the next day or so. Feedings are the same right now. John was able to hold him for a little while. Parker's breathing tube was a bit positional while John was holding him, so we had to put him back after about 20 min. We appreciate every minute we get to hold our little guy.

Day 49

Parker did well again today. He did another ET cpap trial for 2 hours and did well. He is up to 9cc/hr on his feeds. Doing well with that. We were going to discontinue his PICC line today, but Parker decided to puke when we did his meds through his feeding tube. Checked his belly with an X-ray and the tube was in the right spot, so he shouldn't have puked. Just a fluke I guess. So he gets the PICC line another day just in case he needs meds intravenously. I was able to hold him again today. That always makes Parker and I happy. Love me some snuggle time!

Day 48

Parker did well today. We did ET cpap trials again today. He did it for 2 hours and his blood gases were good. He had some episodes of apnea, but hardly desat, and when he did desat he recovered well on his own. Good job son! He had mom, dad and his nurse cheering him on! One step closer to extubation! His feedings are being fortified now so that he can get some extra calories in since we're making him work a little harder. Hopefully we can get his PICC line out soon too. He's been such a good boy for us!

Day 47

Parker continues to have good days! Did amazing today. He did so well that I got to hold him again. He was so wide eyed when we started and was sound asleep a few minutes into holding him. Such a good boy. We learned that he loves being swaddled. We kept him swaddled after I held him and he was an angel all afternoon. We bumped up his feedings again to 7.5cc/hr. Decreased his vent setting again and since he was doing well on them we did a cpap trial. Unfortunately it was too much for him, so it was a no go. That's ok, we can try again. At least he doesn't desat like he used to. We're still headed in the right direction!

Day 46

Another good day for our little man. Only bad news is that the final result from the new breathing tube culture did come back with MRSA. Little disappointed, but he is doing well, not showing any symptoms and tomorrow is his last day of antibiotics. So as long as he is doing well, he's fine. Although we still have to isolate him and wear our pretty yellow gowns when we visit. Parker is doing well on his feedings and is up to 6.5cc/hr. his TPN has been discountinued and continues to do well on his vent with decreased settings! Best part about today was that I got to hold him again. It was only for about 45 min because his oxygen levels wouldn't stay up where they needed to be. But I will take any amount of time I can! Love that sweet little boy!

Day 45

Today Parker had his best day ever. Did so well throughout the day. He is down even more on his vent settings. Been doing so well with his breathing! Increased his feedings again to 5.5cc/hr. The best news was that his culture from his new breathing tube came back with no MRSA! Yay! Either it was just in the old tube, or the antibiotics killed it all. Either way, for now it's gone. I'm sure they'll culture again after his antibiotics are done. We are just excited that he has been doing so well the past few days.

Day 44

Parker did very well today! He is looking so much better. Very awake and alert today. A couple of episodes where he was fussy, but dad knows how to settle him really well. Slowly decreasing the vent settings. His chest X-ray is looking better too. Waiting on culture results about follow up MRSA. Increased his feeds to 4.5cc/hr. The best part of the day was that John got to hold Parker for the first time. Parker was fussy, so the nurse asked if I wanted to hold him and I said sure! Instead, I said John should since he hasn't had a turn yet. Happy Fathers day! Parker did so well! He fell right asleep in daddy's arms. Daddy even nodded off too! Love it!!

Day 43

Parker had a pretty good day today. Weight is still up, but he doesn't look as swollen as he did a few days ago. Slowly weaning him down on the vent settings. They changed out his breathing tube last night, that all went well. A few more days of antibiotics and we will see how his cultures turn out after that. Moved up on his feedings to 3.5cc/hr. He was so awake and alert for a while this evening. Love watching his eyes look all around. I always wonder what he's thinking. Probably something like, "I'm still in this box", or "when is this tube coming out of my throat". Keep on keepin' on Parker (that's what daddy tells him).

Day 42

Parker did really well today. Weight is a little bit down, so we know the Lasix is helping. Doing well on the vent. They are going to change out his ET tune tonight to see if that will help him get rid of the MRSA. His head ultrasound yesterday showed that the bleeds are reabsorbing and the ventricles are getting smaller. We like good news! His feedings are at 2.5cc/hr, the highest we've ever been at!!

Day 41

Parker did pretty well today, although his weight is way up. He's almost 4 pounds. I know that sounds good, but not when it's all fluid weight. His poor feet are puffy and he just looks like a marshmallow. So, more Lasix for our little man. Had a good chat with the doctor today. Parker will most likely be on the vent for a few more weeks. His poor lungs are still premature. We have a long road ahead of us! Our hopes are high and we know Parker can overcome anything.

Day 40

40 days sure does go by quick when you're sitting in the NICU all day! Little Parker is doing well today. Lots and lots of rest (thank you morphine)! Just letting the antibiotics work through him. Letting the vent do a lot of the breathing for him. Watching him today all I could think about was how big he is getting! He's starting to get rolls on his legs! He's now 3 lbs 10 oz! I think some of that weight might be extra fluid, but still, he sure is growing!! Check out his cleavage on this pic!

Day 39

A very restful day for Parker. Started him on a low dose of morphine to help keep him calm and relaxed. That did the trick cuz he was out all day except for when we would do his cares. We're glad he's able to rest so that he can fight this infection. He got another blood transfusion today too. Doing ok on the vent. Wish we could get him off, but clearly he's not ready. Appreciate all the prayers for our little guy!

Day 38

Another step back today. Parker's cultures from his ET tube aspirate came back with MRSA (a staph infection). He's already on antibiotics for it. We are still waiting for some other lab cultures to come back too. So yet another obstacle for him to overcome. Still having apnea episodes with some desats. Not as bad as days past. Up on the vent settings for support. He is more alert and active today though. This kid just keeps on pushing along. Keep fighting little mister!

Day 37

Parker is doing a little bit better today. Still having episodes of apnea, but he recovers from them more quickly and is needing less oxygen support than yesterday. Had a bunch of tests that aren't showing anything significant. His lungs are a little wet today so most likely will get Lasix. He was awake for John during his cares. Been giving this boy lots of pep talks. We've decided that his first word will be breathe because that is what we are always telling him to do.

Day 36

Today was one of those one step forward, two steps back days. Did his cpap trial again this am for 3 hours. Tolerated pretty well. But throughout the day he has been desating and having several apnea spells. So went up on the vent settings. Had a work up to rule out any infection. Stopped his feedings too. Just one of those days where you feel so good about making progress and then you hit a brick wall!!

Day 35

Good day today! Blood gases this am were perfect, so down on the vent settings. Today we tried cpap settings on the vent and he did great! No issues at all. They'll do it again tonight to see how he does, and maybe his tube will come out soon!! Up on his feeds again, 2cc/hr. He is doing so well! Making his doctor happy ;) and of course his parents happy too.

Day 34

What a better day today! Blood gases were good so his vent settings went down a bit. Up on his feeds, 1.5cc/hr. Very content today. He was awake and wide eyed for about 45 min. John and I just stood there and talked to him while he looked all around. He gave us a few little smiles too. Love when he's awake and wide eyed. He's at 3 lbs now too! Getting so big.

Day 33

Parker had an off day today. Blood gases were crappy in the afternoon so they went up on the vent settings. Then he was really unsettled in the late afternoon. Needed Ativan twice and still wouldn't chill out. He practically pulled his breathing tube out too. So frustrating! We tried everything to settle him. Then he finally relaxed before we left tonight and is resting well. It breaks my heart to see him upset. Hopefully he will rest well through the night. On the bright side his head ultrasound looked good. The bleed on the right is looking better and the ventricles are stable. They will continue to do weekly ultrasounds to follow up on the ventricles and monitor for any additional fluid build up. But so far we are looking stable.

Day 32

Parker did really well today. Vent settings down and he's tolerating it well. We will see when he will let us take him completely off the vent. He is up on his feedings now, 1cc every hour....woo-hoo! We will gradually increase it daily. His chest X-ray looked pretty good today too. He is such a good boy! And all the nurses comment on how good he is, and especially how cute he is! He's already the ladies man!

Day 31

Our little baby boy is 1 month old today! How time flies by! He had a pretty good day. The usual up and down on the oxygen. He was very content during the day, so he was able to get some sleep. We love when he sleeps because we know that means he is growing bigger. He is 2 lbs 15 oz! Almost 3 lbs buddy. Keep it up!!! I love this picture because he is always kicking his legs out of his snuggie. The nurse would tuck him in and he would kick himself free. I can only imagine how he would have been kicking me in my belly if he were still inside of me.

Day 30 6/2/12

No new changes with Parker. Not quite ready to be extubated yet. He had a pretty bad episode of his oxygen level going down. So bad that the nurse needed to give him some rescue breaths with the bag. So I am glad they did not take out his breathing tube yet. One step at a time! No rush. This little guy is a trooper though!

Day 29

Another good day. Down on the vent settings again. Talking about extubating soon. We'll see how his ABG's are tonight. A few more days with where his feed are at now and then we'll slowly advance his feedings. We like progression.