(no subject)
Today was our second day with Leo in the NICU and things have gone so well that it's likely (though not of course guaranteed) that it'll be our last.
With all the snow yesterday roads were tricky last night, but my mom and sisters managed to make it to Children's with some food and a few other supplies. My mom and Randi got to hold Leo for the first time and Amy but him to breast. The guy latched on to one side and sucked well for 5-10 minutes under the gaze of his adoring mother. We were very relieved since Peter had significant difficulty learning how to nurse. Mom and Randi gave me a ride home around 6:00 and I dug out the car and headed to the Peterson's to see Peter and spend the night. He hadn't fallen asleep Sunday night until 1:00 am and woke at 6:30, then didn't nap at all yesterday. He wasn't happy about going to bed but after only 2 songs sung by Daddy he was out. He and I had a restful night while Kara stayed with Amy until about 11:00 pm. The two of them convinced the resident and nurse last night to skip the IV nutritional supplements in favor of a hungry Leo to nurse. It worked! Leo nursed and nursed and nursed on both sides keeping Momma up more of the night this time, but well worth it. He has gotten into a pattern of latching on for about 20 minutes before staying happyily close to Amy until he falls asleep again. Will we actually have a eat-sleep-poop baby this time? Only time will tell. Amy's milk has come in so things look good!
Leo was off O2 last night around 10:00 pm. This morning's chest x-ray showed one lung basically clear with a questionable area still visible on the other side. They expect the 48-hour cultures to be clear tonight. A clearing chest and negative culture means no infection/pneumonia! Monitor wires came off this afternoon. He continues with a sugar IV line and a "bili blanket" light. His bilirubin was a little high yesterday and higher today (slightly jaundiced), hence the light wrapped up with him. However, this is not uncommon for newborns in the first few days before they start working momma's milk through their little systems. With the nursing up and running we expect it to improve in the near future.
We assume there'll be another x-ray of Leo's lungs tomorrow, and expect a clear culture tonight. So mid-day tomorrow is the likely time of release. Amy will stay here tonight to nurse when "called for" and Peter and I will go home to sleep in our own beds. Things are going just about as well as can be hoped. Thank you for all your prayers, and we thank Our Lord for his healing will.
Peter was able to visit his brother, "baba Leelo" today for 15 minutes. He was very sweet and even ok with Leo nursing in front of him (he only stopped nursing before naps himself last Tuesday). Peter has wanted to see his brother more but will have to wait until we leave, hopefully tomorrow. Flu/cold season makes children under 13 anathema in the NICU except healthy siblings for 15 minutes once a week.
Well, we're going to eat dinner now with Kara and Randi. Then Peter and I are heading home again. I hope to share the good news that our family is home together tomorrow.
Much thanks and God bless you all,
Dan
With all the snow yesterday roads were tricky last night, but my mom and sisters managed to make it to Children's with some food and a few other supplies. My mom and Randi got to hold Leo for the first time and Amy but him to breast. The guy latched on to one side and sucked well for 5-10 minutes under the gaze of his adoring mother. We were very relieved since Peter had significant difficulty learning how to nurse. Mom and Randi gave me a ride home around 6:00 and I dug out the car and headed to the Peterson's to see Peter and spend the night. He hadn't fallen asleep Sunday night until 1:00 am and woke at 6:30, then didn't nap at all yesterday. He wasn't happy about going to bed but after only 2 songs sung by Daddy he was out. He and I had a restful night while Kara stayed with Amy until about 11:00 pm. The two of them convinced the resident and nurse last night to skip the IV nutritional supplements in favor of a hungry Leo to nurse. It worked! Leo nursed and nursed and nursed on both sides keeping Momma up more of the night this time, but well worth it. He has gotten into a pattern of latching on for about 20 minutes before staying happyily close to Amy until he falls asleep again. Will we actually have a eat-sleep-poop baby this time? Only time will tell. Amy's milk has come in so things look good!
Leo was off O2 last night around 10:00 pm. This morning's chest x-ray showed one lung basically clear with a questionable area still visible on the other side. They expect the 48-hour cultures to be clear tonight. A clearing chest and negative culture means no infection/pneumonia! Monitor wires came off this afternoon. He continues with a sugar IV line and a "bili blanket" light. His bilirubin was a little high yesterday and higher today (slightly jaundiced), hence the light wrapped up with him. However, this is not uncommon for newborns in the first few days before they start working momma's milk through their little systems. With the nursing up and running we expect it to improve in the near future.
We assume there'll be another x-ray of Leo's lungs tomorrow, and expect a clear culture tonight. So mid-day tomorrow is the likely time of release. Amy will stay here tonight to nurse when "called for" and Peter and I will go home to sleep in our own beds. Things are going just about as well as can be hoped. Thank you for all your prayers, and we thank Our Lord for his healing will.
Peter was able to visit his brother, "baba Leelo" today for 15 minutes. He was very sweet and even ok with Leo nursing in front of him (he only stopped nursing before naps himself last Tuesday). Peter has wanted to see his brother more but will have to wait until we leave, hopefully tomorrow. Flu/cold season makes children under 13 anathema in the NICU except healthy siblings for 15 minutes once a week.
Well, we're going to eat dinner now with Kara and Randi. Then Peter and I are heading home again. I hope to share the good news that our family is home together tomorrow.
Much thanks and God bless you all,
Dan