Dilated Pupils

Dear Samuel,

Today you had your very first Eye exam. It only consisted of dilating your pupils to make sure all of the blood vessels in your eyes are growing properly. You passed with flying colors. Everything looks normal for your gestational age.

The rest of the day consisted of you recovering from said eye exam. As you can imagine, for such a little guy it takes a lot out of you! Because of this you had quite a few alarms (mostly de-sats, but some ABD's) today.

The GOOD news is that your O2 levels were all the way down to 23% tonight! And how much is room air, again???? That's right. 21%.

There is some talk about switching your vent machine and your nose prongs, as well. The new machine would only supply you with what's called "high flow". It would NOT give you breaths like your current vent but rather supply you with a high flow of oxygenated air. I know, it sounds kind of like the same thing but they are different.

Other than that, not much change today. Mom is going to give you another bath tomorrow.

Sleep tight little one.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Rolling Along

Dear Samuel,

Another good day....

Not a ton to report today, which are days that we like.

Your O2 levels were trending down again today (25% when Mom was there). Your Pip levels were also down to 22 (The intensity of how much oxygen/air is pumped into your lung). Also, your Respiration rate was moved 25 RR. You still had a number of alarms today, but you are trending in the right direction to start breathing on your own. Tonight, respiratory therapy came and did essentially a NediPot in your nose and got a bunch of "goobers" (Yes, that's a medical term.....Okay, maybe not) and since then you haven't had any ABDs; only a few de-sats.

The urinalysis came back today as well and it was determined that the level of bacteria was too low to treat.

Other than that, not a busy day for you. We are thrilled with how well you are handling the RSV and starting to breath more and more on your own without the vent.

Sleep well Sam.

Love,
Mom and Dad

One down.....Plenty more to come

Dear Samuel,

Hard to believe, it's been one month.......

This has been one of the longest month of our lives, bud. It's also been one of the shortest. I can't believe that you have been here for a whole month. It feels like yesterday that we were heading to the hospital, meeting you for the first time, holding you for the first time...... 

I can't wait until the day when I get to look back at this blog and say, "It feels like yesterday that (insert favorite memory here)". 

Today has been a little up and down. When Mom was down to see you this morning, you were having a great morning. Your O2 levels were all the way down to 34% with no chin strap and your O2 saturation was at 99%! The picture from up there is actually how she found you this morning and the nurse didn't take your strap off......

She also gave you another bath again today, so hopefully you won't smell like a foot anymore (You don't really smell like a foot). 

It was a different story when I came down to see you tonight after work. Your nurse told me that you had two big ABD's during the afternoon that required the use of a "Neo Mask" (Just a mask that goes over your nose and mouth to give you Oxygen). When I got there your O2 levels were set to 54% Your belly looks to be a bit "distended" as there is a lot of air in your stomach from the CPAP machine. The only way to reduce this is to "vent" your stomach using your feeding tube. 

Tonight, you have had two more spells of ABDs that required stimulation (rubbing your back/tickling your toes) to help you to remember to breath but not the "Neo Mask". Your O2 levels are still around 50%. 

You are SO close to having your 2 pound party. Weigh-in tonight was at 1 pound 15.8 ounces. About as close to being 2 pounds as you can be. 

Hoping the overnight goes a little better than your afternoon. 

Happy 1st month buddy. Here's to many more! 

Love, 

Mom and Dad

How do you spell Amoxicillin, again?

Dear Samuel,

Not much change today. I wish I could say the same for your Mom, Isaac and Schatze.

Mom woke up feeling even worse today (sore throat and congested). We cleared it with your doctors to have her take some Amoxicillin to try to help her get rid of this nasty cold. She asked me earlier today if she "looked as bad as she felt"......I didn't answer. Your brother Isaac is still fighting something too. He has more of a cough and runny nose. Schatze is just Schatze. She's sitting across the room from me and I can hear her stomach making all kinds of noises (The temp is going to drop this weekend). For now, I'm healthy as a horse (knock on wood). 

You had a really good night last night. Your nurse said that from 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. she was in your room twice because of de-sats. Today, however, you were a little naughty (as your nurses like to call it). Only 1 ABD but a lot of de-sats. Good news is that you recover on your own when you do de-sat. 

Tonight, when I came down to see you, your O2 was at 32%. 32%!!!! That's the lowest you have been in weeks! I'm pretty impressed, because I would think that with the RSV that you would require more O2. Guess you're just a little champ. 

Your weight was down 20 grams last night to 790 (1 pound 11.5 ounces). This is going to be our next milestone; getting your weight up. I threatened you with Hans and Frans before....don't think I won't do it......

See you tomorrow buddy! 

Love, 

Mom and Dad

Good Mojo

Dear Samuel,

Not much to report today. Mostly status quo.

I got to hold you again today and you seemed to tolerate it very well. I think you just wanted to watch the Badger's game with me. I got to hold you right when the game was heading to OT. We sent some good mojo their way, that's for sure. Can't help but think we'll have some come our way too.....

Mostly a good day today, only a few random ABDs and de-sats. Your O2 levels have been as low as 37% and as high as 50%. Being on your tummy is still your favorite....when the nurses put you on your side or back you like to ABD or de-sat, so your tummy it is. During one of your ABD/de-sat the nurses were able to suction some gunk out of your nose, and were impressed by how much "gunk" you had in there. I guess I would take that as a compliment, but I'm not real sure buddy?!!? 

Your weight went back up to 810 grams (1 pound 12.6 ounces). 

Happy New Year pal. Here's to a happy and healthy 2015! 

Love, 

Mom and Dad

1 Step Back....

Dear Samuel,

2 steps forward. 1 step back.

Today, we may have found the cause for the recent ABD's. Since none of the tests came back positive for anything, the nurses decided to test you for RSV (RSV Info). The test came back positive. They didn't think you had this due to the lack of "secretions" from your lungs but unfortunately you do have it.

The working theory is that you have had this since Sunday or Monday, which would explain the ABDs you have had this week. The good news is that you seem to be tolerating this very well, as your oxygen needs have not really changed (You were at or around 50% O2 when we were there today). Having said that; our nurse did tell us that it may get worse before it gets better and that it peaks around 7 days (We are on day 3).

So, while this is not ideal it IS at least an explanation to all of the ABD's and hopefully you will be able to kick this sooner than what the nurses expect.

Your weight was down slightly today to 1 pound 11.9 ounces. Your weight is now "on the radar" for the doctors. Not a concern yet, but you need to start gaining some weight bud. But for now, we need to focus on kicking this RSV.

Get better little one. Sleep well.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Bath-time Fun!

Dear Samuel,

Today was bath day. FINALLY!

You weren't exactly thrilled with this whole bath thing, but trust me...you needed it.

The cool part was that you didn't really have any de-sats during bath time. We were a little worried it would wear you out but I think you ended up liking it. 

We worked on some kung-fu......

Mama was happy :) 

Took some video of bath time too: 

Otherwise, everything else is status quo. You had a few of the ABD's today, but they are occurring far less than yesterday. Looks like the caffeine that they are giving you is working!

Your weight is up to 810 grams!! 1 pound 12.5 ounces for the layperson (We are starting to learn the nurse-speak).

Today was good pal, let's have more days like today......

Love,
Mom and Dad

Acronyms for Everyone!

Dear Samuel,

Not a whole lot of change today, which is what we like.

You did have a few ABD's today (We are learning all kinds of acronyms through all of this....ABD stands for Apnea, Brady, De-Sat) but nothing like you did yesterday; at least anything prolonged. Unfortunately, (Or Fortunately?) this is fairly common in premies. However, all of the tests/cultures that they took yesterday have all come back negative still. One thing they did to counteract these ABD's was to increase your overall dose of caffeine but split it into two doses per day. So far, this seems to be doing the trick.

Other than that, there hasn't been any change today. Your weight is barely up at 1 pounds 11.9 ounces

Your mom and I only came down once today. We think Isaac got us both sick and don't want to run the risk of giving it to you. We are hoping to give you that bath that you desperately need, tomorrow.

I'm glad that these are starting to be short and shorter. I can't wait for the day when I can stop writing these! Not that I don't like talking/writing about you.....Just that I can't wait until the day when we get to take you home.

Love,
Mom and Dad