Peek-a-boo, I see you!

John Update on 11 May @ 1623:

Today has been a good day for Parker.  He has been breathing well and just looks really good.  Amber will have all the medical terminology in her update later but I wanted to share about how we got to see him open his eyes.  He was moving his eye lids all day and finally we got a lot of good peeks from him.  He has such beautiful eyes!  Seeing him look up at me even for the split second that he did was amazing because it felt like he knew me.  That connection made me feel more like a dad, knowing that my son has seen my face and had heard my voice.  I am so proud of my little man and the progression that he is making.

Parker Playing Peek-a-boo with His Parents

May 10 @ 2230 Update

Amber's Update on May 10 @ 2230:

I can't believe my sweet little boy is 1 week old. This week has flown by. Continual ups and downs. Today we came to visit and heard baby boy had quite the night. His BP and HR was dropping, so they stopped his fentanyl drip and gave him dopamine. I had a feeling that fentanyl would be too much for him. His hematocrit also dropped, so he got another transfusion through the night. By this morning his BP was up. Because of the low blood count they did another head ultrasound to follow up on the brain. Results were good. The doctor said that the stage 3 on the right looks more like a stage 2. I was relieved to hear that!! They stopped his feedings last night just to be on the safe side. He had a good afternoon and then around 1600 his nurse checked his oral gastric tube an pulled back blood. We were both a little freaked out. The doctor order a STAT x ray of the belly that turned up negative. We're thinking the few doses of steroids he had irritated his belly, so he's in Zantac. Also going to get some FFP(fresh frozen plasma) to help thicken up the blood. They will do another X-ray of his belly tonight and follow up his labs. Like a said, a continual roller coaster ride. We are keeping out spirits high. We have learned to me submissive to the Lords will and have faith in Him and those taking care of our baby boy Parker. Once gain we appreciate all the support and prayers for our family! More updates to come

May 9 @ 2131 Update

Amber's Update on 9 May @ 2131:

Day 6 Parker had a good day today! But last night was not so good. His heart rate and blood pressure were high, his pain meds just weren't cutting it. So his doctor started him on a pain drip to help maintain adequate pain control. He has had a rough few days, his body needs to relax. He had a repeat ECHO of his heart that showed his PDA is still closed (yay!). He had an ultrasound of his belly that showed his aorta is doing fine (yay!). And he had an EEG that he did not like, but we got some good brain activity going on, just waiting on the results. He is still doing well on the vent, he's been taking a lot of breaths on his own. Other times he lets the vent do the work, which is fine. His labs are good today. He is doing well with his feedings. They did have to hold his 1800 feeding because the residual was too much. He has been a real trooper. John and I have been taking turns with changing his diapers. Today I got to wash his hair after the EEG. He's so tiny! It's like changing a little doll. We can't wait until we can hold him and kiss on his sweet little face!!

May 9 @ 1214 Update

Amber's Update on May 9 @ 1214:

Day 5 in the NICU. Started off with good news, chest x ray showed the right lung that was collapsing is back to normal. Adjusted the vent through the night to more respirations by the vent, which is ok. Let little Parker rest a little. Then not so good news about the follow up Ultrasound of head. Bleeding remains stage 2 on the left, but progressed to stage 3 on the right. All we can do is monitor it with another ultrasound in a week and daily head measurements. Oh the ups and downs of the NICU. On another good note we started feedings at a whopping 1cc every 6 hrs. Let's hope that digests well. We pray that the bleeding in the head will not progress any further. And hope for a restfully night for our little Parker.

May 7 @ 1117 Update

Amber's Update on May 7 @ 1117:

Day 4 in the NICU. Good news today! PDA is closed (hole in the heart) so that means he can start some feedings. It will be very little, 1ml every 6 hrs. Blood count is doing good. They will repeat the ultrasound of his head tomorrow to follow up on the bleed. His WBC are still a little low so he will need a lumbar puncture in the next day or so. He is still weaning down off the vent so that is good too. He has dropped weight 800 grams today but he has been peeing alot. Overall doing well today :)

May 6 @ 1807 Update

 Amber's Update on May 6 @ 1807:

Sitting with Parker at the hospital. He got another blood transfusion this morning. His hematocrit had dropped pretty significantly through the night. They did another ultrasound of his brain and they did find a stage 2 bleed in both ventricles (stage 4 is the worst). It is very common in micro preemies. Their vessels are so fragile. They will do another ultrasound in a few days to follow up and will monitor his blood pressure and labs. Otherwise he is doing well. Slowly weaning off the vent. He is actually doing well for a baby born at 26 weeks. We are very hopeful that he will continue to progress.