Written September 29, 2013 5:56pm
Evan hit the 4 week mark today! To celebrate the milestone, the PICC line was taken out of his arm. I take this as a great sign he won't need instant access for any continuous meds anymore.
After Evan's busy night last night, I kind of assumed we'd just observe him today. I was super excited to learn that I'd be able to hold him again today. We snuggled for about 45 minutes. He was all bundled up like a little taco and just slept on me. He has to get a little bigger so I can look at him easier. Right now I'm stuck trying to sneak glances at an awkward angle!
Evan's respiratory situation seems to be settled. He is on a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) now. This provides pressure to his lungs (to continue to help with the weakened lungs) but he does all of the breathing. He didn't try to pull the nasal prongs out of his nose today, but he did try wiggling out of them.
Evan did successfully pull out his OG (feeding) tube - again. He pulled it out last night too. Andrew and I both thought it was a process to put it back down his throat, but it isn't. It takes the nurse about 15 seconds to put it back in place. Since Evan is so drooly, the saliva helps loosen the tape holding the tube in place and then he just slowly sneezes/coughs/pushes/pulls it out. I'm not quite sure what his thinking is since he likes to eat! He certainly isn't ready for a bottle yet. (They can start bottling as early as 33 weeks.)
Speaking of eating, Evan is receiving all his nutrition from breast milk now! He no longer receives supplemental nutrition via an IV. The doctors have pumped up the calories in the breast milk so he can continue to bulk up. There are 20 calories per 1 ounce of breast milk. There are 30 mL in 1 ounce. Evan will be at 20 mL of breast milk this evening. They are holding back a little bit since he does have the PDA. They don't want to over work him until they know how the PDA looks. He has an echo scheduled tomorrow to check on the PDA. I am really hoping it closed on its own so he can start really packing on the pounds. (His cheeks are pudgy, but they could stand to be pudgier.)
It's so hard to believe everything that has happened the last few days. When I was holding him today I had the overwhelming urge to just bolt out the door with him. Yes, he's little, but he looks and acts just like a full term baby! Andrew and I have to store up all the happiness that we're feeling. Evan is only about 75% "cooked" (as Andrew so eloquently put it today) so he still has plenty of milestones that he'll need to hit. Every week may not be as amazing as this one.
We'll keep wishing and praying for Evan to continue to amaze us. Nurses and doctors stop us in the hallway to tell us what a great job he's doing. He is so strong. I keep telling him to slow down, that he can just take it easy.
After Evan's busy night last night, I kind of assumed we'd just observe him today. I was super excited to learn that I'd be able to hold him again today. We snuggled for about 45 minutes. He was all bundled up like a little taco and just slept on me. He has to get a little bigger so I can look at him easier. Right now I'm stuck trying to sneak glances at an awkward angle!
Evan's respiratory situation seems to be settled. He is on a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) now. This provides pressure to his lungs (to continue to help with the weakened lungs) but he does all of the breathing. He didn't try to pull the nasal prongs out of his nose today, but he did try wiggling out of them.
Evan did successfully pull out his OG (feeding) tube - again. He pulled it out last night too. Andrew and I both thought it was a process to put it back down his throat, but it isn't. It takes the nurse about 15 seconds to put it back in place. Since Evan is so drooly, the saliva helps loosen the tape holding the tube in place and then he just slowly sneezes/coughs/pushes/pulls it out. I'm not quite sure what his thinking is since he likes to eat! He certainly isn't ready for a bottle yet. (They can start bottling as early as 33 weeks.)
Speaking of eating, Evan is receiving all his nutrition from breast milk now! He no longer receives supplemental nutrition via an IV. The doctors have pumped up the calories in the breast milk so he can continue to bulk up. There are 20 calories per 1 ounce of breast milk. There are 30 mL in 1 ounce. Evan will be at 20 mL of breast milk this evening. They are holding back a little bit since he does have the PDA. They don't want to over work him until they know how the PDA looks. He has an echo scheduled tomorrow to check on the PDA. I am really hoping it closed on its own so he can start really packing on the pounds. (His cheeks are pudgy, but they could stand to be pudgier.)
It's so hard to believe everything that has happened the last few days. When I was holding him today I had the overwhelming urge to just bolt out the door with him. Yes, he's little, but he looks and acts just like a full term baby! Andrew and I have to store up all the happiness that we're feeling. Evan is only about 75% "cooked" (as Andrew so eloquently put it today) so he still has plenty of milestones that he'll need to hit. Every week may not be as amazing as this one.
We'll keep wishing and praying for Evan to continue to amaze us. Nurses and doctors stop us in the hallway to tell us what a great job he's doing. He is so strong. I keep telling him to slow down, that he can just take it easy.
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