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!