DAY SIXTY-SEVEN

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! Mom told me that today is the day that we honor the men and women that keep our home safe. Mom said to say "Thank You!"

Well, the doctor did not think I needed a transfusion today, I am really holding my own, with God's help! Today was another plateau day, please keep me and my Mom and Dad in your prayers.

DAY SIXTY-SIX

As you can see Mom and Dad did give me a bath and I did get to wear my new overalls. I also got some new shorts, hopefully they will not look like a skirt, but I wanted to wear the overalls. As you know the doctor and nurses are always monitoring me to make sure I do not need a transfusion, so far I have been holding my own, but we will know something tomorrow, they always do my blood work and labs on Monday. Today was a good day! Thank you for your continued prayers!

DAY SIXTY-FIVE

I reached the 4 pound mark, WOO HOO! I had a good night last night no breathing episodes. The nurses told Mom my breathing has improved, it is either a coincidence or the Previcid is working! Mom told me that she and Dad went to a special store to buy me some more clothes, I think she called it Build A Bear, but they call me monkey so I may be confused! She told me that she would bring them to me after she washed them. Mom and Dad are suppose to give me a bath tomorrow so maybe I can wear my new duds then.

DAY SIXTY-FOUR

I have a killer grin don't ya think? The other picture is of my crib and all the cool stuff the nurses are letting me borrow while I am in the hospital, I hope Mom and Dad take notes and have stuff like this for me at home! Today was a plateau day overall, but the doctor did start me on previcid for reflux. Mom said the nurses told her this was common for preemie babies like me, I have to tell you milk hurts coming back up! For those of ya'll that have been with me from the beginning thank you for the last nine week ride, hope you stay with me until I go home and maybe beyond!

DAY SIXTY-THREE

Today was a good day! I took a bath and got to wear a new outfit. The doctor came by and checked on me, I weigh 3 pounds and 14 ounces. He spoke to Mom and Dad about immunizations, but he wants to wait until I weigh a little over four pounds, which will be in a couple of days! The doctor also let Mom and Dad know that in a couple of weeks he wants me to try and take a bottle, but the amount of air I get through the cannula needs to be lower. I am currently on 6 liters of oxygen and to take a bottle I need to be on 2 liters. I hope everyone has a good night, I know I will, please continue to pray that I grow big and strong.

DAY SIXTY-TWO

Mom and Dad get to hold me anytime they want now and me and my man monkey still hang out and talk a lot! The eye doctor came again today to check my eyes. Mom was explaining to me that because I was born early my eyes are still growing and the doctor wants to make sure they grow good and strong. Mom did warn me though that I come from a long line of people who wear glasses, but I think that would be cool, to look like Mom and Dad. The doctor said that he wanted to continue monitoring the growth of the blood vessels on my eyes, they are doing OK now, but he just wants to make sure they continue growing correctly. The occupational therapist made a split for my club foot, she likes how my foot looks since we started the range of motion exercises and thinks that I will not need surgery.

DAY SIXTY-ONE

I love my Mom and Dad! Lots of things happened today, I got to kangaroo with Mom and I got a new bed, a big boy crib! You know what? Mom says tomorrow is my birthday! She told me about ice cream and cake and candles, but I cannot have those now, I have to wait till I get older. Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers and notes on my blog it's always nice to read and Mom told me it helps her and Dad to stay positive.

DAY SIXTY

Mom got to hold me unexpectedly because of a horrible smell coming from my isolet, the smell was in my isolet, but it came from my diaper to begin with, WOW I feel better and I may or may not weigh as much as the nurses thought. After the nurse disinfected my bed I was snuggled back up and got to eat dinner! Today was a plateau day, all of my lab work came back and only minor changes were made to my existing supplements, they increased my milk to 1 ounce every three hours, and they took me off the CPAP, so all I have now is the nasal cannula. Saturday was a minor set back to my overall progress, but I have regained that ground and continue to move forward. Mom and Dad continue to get cards from friends and friends of friends, I cannot tell you how awesome this is and how it lifts their spirits and reminds them how powerful prayer is. God is great and He has blessed me immensely!

DAY FIFTY-NINE

Here I am switching back and forth between my nasal cannula and the CPAP. OK, fine we can talk about the shorts, yes they are shorts! I am NOT wearing a kilt. I had words with Mom before and after she took this picture. She repeatedly assured me that these were the smallest shorts available, these are preemie shorts ladies and gentlemen, I have grown quite a bit, but these shorts put my size into perspective. I am doing better today and have not shown many signs of distress from what happened yesterday, please continue to pray for my continued improvement and growth!

DAY FIFTY-EIGHT

I weigh 3.9 pounds! According to some book that Mom reads, "What to expect because you should still be expecting", if I were still in her belly I would about 19 inches long and weigh about 4.5 pounds. Mom has talked to me quite a bit about my hair color, she would like it to be curly as I get older and just a tad darker. Dad got to kangaroo care with me this afternoon and it did not go so well, my feeding tube worked its way up and milk was not going in my stomach and I spit up on Dad. The nurse said that I had to go back to bed and as she was taking me from him my tube came out. She reinserted the tube and now everyone will monitor me because I may have gotten milk in my lungs. To help me through this situation I will switch back and forth between the nasal cannula and the CPAP mask every six hours. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow go better.

DAY FIFTY-SEVEN

I am doing really well today! I am regulating my temperature well with my clothes on and the doctor increased my milk to 28 ccs. Can you believe I drink close to an once of milk every three hours? I am tolerating my increased milk well, but I do tend to get the hiccups every time I eat. The nurses took the bandage off my foot and everyone is very pleased with how it healed from the burn and the range of motion exercises I am doing for that foot are going well.

DAY FIFTY-SIX

The first picture is when Mom and Dad came to see me at 5:00 p.m. The nurse told them that we could increase kangaroo care to three times a week and they also discussed increasing my milk in the next couple of days! Mom and Dad went home happy and content with how I was doing and as always, Dad called to check on me at 9:30 p.m. and the nurse on duty said that I was wearing clothes and that was all it took, Mom and Dad came back up the hospital lickety split to ooh and ahh! The second picture is of Mom holding me and admiring my outfit as the nurse gets my bedding situated for the night. I now weigh 3.7 pounds!

DAY FIFTY-FIVE

This is me and Mom "hugging" during our kangaroo care! The picture is a little darker then Dad likes, but oh well, it's all about me and I like the lights off. Today was another plateau "growing" day and Mom and Dad are thankful for these days. Mom and I talked about the importance of growing big and strong because she is ready to see me be a big boy and wear clothes. I will see what I can do!

DAY FIFTY-FOUR

Today was another plateau day. If all goes well this evening then Mom and I get to kangaroo care tomorrow. The doctors are pleased with my growth trend, which they check every Monday. Mom and Dad talk with me about these plateau days, they are just as important as the milestone days. The "quiet" days are what Mom calls my growing days, so the more plateau days the better! Thank you for your continued prayers and well wishes.

DAY FIFTY-THREE

Today has been another milestone day. The doctor decided not to give me a transfusion, he increased my milk to 26 ccs, I finished my eye medicine and my pain medication. Mom and Dad came to visit me at 5:00 p.m. and we spent almost an hour together and made plans for Mom and I to kangaroo care on Wednesday! When Mom called to check on me at 9:00 p.m. the nurse told her that I now weigh three pounds! Tomorrow when Mom and Dad come to visit me again mom will bring clothes for me to wear when I weigh 3 pounds 8 ounces, which may be by the end of the week! Thank you for all of your support, love and encouragement, see you tomorrow!

DAY FIFTY-TWO

I love playing opossum with Mom! This is how it works, Dad and I will be talking and I will do something cute and he will say "oh look at that" and when Mom rushes over to get a peek, I quickly close my eyes and try REALLY hard not to smile.

Today was a plateau day, which is fine by me because of all the changes that happened yesterday. The doctor plans to do lab work tomorrow and more than likely I will be getting a blood transfusion. The doctor has held off on the transfusion for a few days because there is a fine line between teaching my body to make blood and giving me blood to help me continue grow and develop. Things are going well and God has blessed me, please continue to offer up prayers, especially prayers of thanksgiving.

DAY FIFTY-ONE

Today was a milestone day! As you can see from my pictures, I am off the CPAP machine! I am breathing on my own with just a nasal cannula. The first picture, Dad calls "Power to the people" and the second picture Mom calls my screen test for "Home Alone -20, Trapped in the NICU"! Please don't think that all the great comments and well wishes have gone to my head, but I am gosh golly cute, or so Mom says! My current weight is 2 pounds 10 1/2 ounces and I am 15 inches long, things are going well and I am tolerating all of these big changes, I want to continue to work hard and go home!

DAY FIFTY

As you can see Dad got to kangaroo care with me! I "behaved" all day and listen to my nurse, and was well rewarded! Whenever Mom or Dad hold me, the nurse takes that hour to feed me. While Dad was holding me I experienced a brady episode, this is when my heart rate falls below 80. I recovered rather quickly and my color remained good. My nurse told Mom and Dad that the brady may have happened as a result of reflux, just another way that I am like Dad. Reflux and brady episodes are a part of the roller coaster ride, but I know that Mom is worried about the brady episodes because they have an effect on my discharge date. The doctors have told Mom and Dad not to expect me home until at least my due date (July 11th), and any episodes I have before I go home, my discharge date gets pushed five days. So If I have a brady episode July 10th, I cannot go home before July 15th. Thank you for your continued prayers and your interest in my daily updates and ramblings!

DAY FORTY-NINE

Today was a day of ups and downs. I got another bath and my bedding was changed out, woo hoo! I had two significant breathing episodes today around lunch time, and the nurses were concerned that I may have an infection in my tummy. I was very tired and definitely not as active as I usually am. They watched me closely for the rest of the afternoon and I improved and became more active, but they did not let Dad hold me as planned. If I was stressed and not feeling well they did not want to handle me too much and make my condition worse. Mom and Dad were upset, but of course they understood that I needed time to rest and prove to the doctors that I was not sick. The nurse practitioner was pleased with my appearance and activity level when she spoke to Mom and Dad at 5:00 pm. When Mom called and checked on me at 9:30 pm I was resting comfortably and the nurse on duty told Mom that I had eaten well and I had no residual and my tummy looked good. The nurse that worked with me during the day today spoke with Mom about my situation today and she was of the opinion that I may need a blood transfusion within the next couple of days. If you remember, they have been monitoring my blood levels for a few days now, so I will keep you posted! Please continue to pray for my continued growth and development, God is good and I have a purpose!

DAY FORTY-EIGHT

I had my first eye exam today! The eye doctor said that all looks well and he will do a follow up exam in two weeks. No changes were made to my milk or supplements, so we are again, having one of those plateau days. The nurse said that Dad could hold me tomorrow, I cannot wait, come back and I will tell you all about it. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

DAY FORTY-SEVEN

Trust me the pictures start to look the same, but I am growing big and strong. No changes today, other than the doctor increased my milk to 22 ccs. Mom says that even though there are no big changes being made, everyday is a huge milestone. A large part of my stay in the hospital will be these "plateau" days where no big changes are made but I mature and develop, so I can go home. Mom and Dad continue to talk to me about what we will do when I get home and every day before they leave we pray together for my continued growth and development.

DAY FORTY-SIX

I know it has been awhile since my last blog so I am going to get caught up.





There were only small changed for me today. My milk was increased to 21 ccs and I still get additional calories and protein added, my goal to bulk up is going well! The eye drops I take for my eye infection have been moved to every eight hours and the doctor and nurses are still monitoring me for a possible blood transfusion. Along with my "protein shake" I get numerous supplements such as, vitamins, iron and sodium. Mark this as another "good" day!

DAY FORTY-FIVE

Happy Mother's Day Mom! So what do you think of my art project, that ink was messy! I ended up getting ink everywhere and had to get a bath and wash my hair today. Today has been another good day, the nurses were talking though and they decided that if I need an additional breathing treatment between my scheduled one every twelve hours that would be OK. The doctor and nurses continue to be pleased with my progress, as are Mom and Dad. The nurses updated Mom and Dad on my length and weight, drum roll please! I am 14 3/4 inches long and I weigh 2 pounds and 9 ounces. I hope all the Moms had a wonderful day, kiss your babies and tell them how special they are. Please continue to pray for me and my parents. God is good!

DAY FORTY-FOUR

You cannot really see it in the picture, but I am drinking milk, sucking on my pacifier and blowing milk bubbles. I am still hanging out and the doctor has made one small change to my care, I now get my breathing treatment every twelve hours instead of every six. Yesterday while I spent time with Mom and Dad, the nurses move me out of my giraffe isolet into a new "low tech " isolet, I really like my new bed!The nurses told all the babies that tomorrow is a special day for Mom and we are all going to work on a special project. Come back tomorrow and see my finished masterpiece.

DAY FORTY-THREE

Kangaroo Care with Mom on Friday topped off my week of just hanging out! The doctor and nurses made no major changes to my care. I had my third brain scan today and I still have a grade 1 hemorrhage which is great because that means it has not gotten worse! Remember a grade 1 hemorrhage is a minimal bleed. The nurse told Mom that the blood should be reabsorbed and the prognosis is favorable for typical brain development. I started getting eye drops today because I have an eye infection. I have to have drops in my eyes every three hours for the next seven days. Mom was worried about the infection interfering with my eye exam on Wednesday, but the nurse said that the doctor would not have problem completing the exam. Being with Mom and Dad tonight was great, and I know they were just as pleased as I was! Thank you for your continued prayers.

DAY FORTY-TWO

Have I mentioned lately that I am just hanging out this week, well it's Thursday and my plan has been successful so far. Have I also mentioned how much I love sleeping on my tummy? When Mom and Dad came to visit, I put my hand near my mouth and Dad said "look he is sucking his thumb"! Mom was not excited about that at all and quickly located my pacifier. She just does not get that purple is NOT my color! The doctor did not make any changes today, he is satisfied with the progress I am currently making and the nurse mentioned to Mom today that I looked really good. I have changed a lot since the last time she got to take care of me and she was impressed. Mom, Dad and I had a good visit this evening and I cannot wait to see them tomorrow, the rumor is Mom gets to hold me again and I get a new bed! Check back tomorrow for pictures of me and Mom!

DAY FORTY-ONE

Hi to everyone outside the hospital! Mom and Dad came to see me at 5:00 pm tonight and Mom and I had words, because I had not seen her all day. Mom and I always talked about Dad having to "bring home the bacon", whatever that means, I have never seen this bacon, but Mom says it is good on almost everything! Anyway, I was mad because I had not seen her and she explained to me that she had to go back to work and help other kids, so I guess that is OK! The doctor made some changes to my food today, he lowered my milk to 20ccs, not because there is a problem, but to prevent a problem from happening. The nurse explained to Mom and Dad that because I have fluid in my body, especially in my lungs, the doctor does not want my body to have to work too hard getting rid of the excess fluid. The important thing is, while he lowered my amount of milk he increased the amount of protein in my milk from 24 calories to 26, protein shake anyone? My plan for the week is still on track, I am hanging out and growing big and strong, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers and please give Mom and Dad a smile when you see them!

DAY FORTY

I left my man Monkey in bed today so I could hang out with Mom and Dad for a little while! The doctor made no changes to my amount of food or any other supplements. He did say that Mom and Dad could "Kangaroo Care" with me twice a week and they have decided to take turns, so please help me keep track, this is Dad's second "hug" with me. As I said yesterday the plan is to just hang out this week and grow big and strong. Please continue to pray for my growth and development and Mom and Dad's strength, physically, mentally and spiritually.

DAY THIRTY-NINE

As you can see me and my man, Monkey, are just chillin'. Mom calls me Monkey and she also calls my man Monkey, I think she is confused, she and Dad do not get a lot of sleep these days. The doctor and nurses say I am doing OK, they thrive on being cautiously optimistic! The only change today was an increase in milk to 22ccs. The doctor is monitoring whether or not I need another transfusion and told Mom that I may need transfusions until I go home. Hey guess what, Dad changed my diaper today all by himself, and it was a poopie one, yeah for Dad! Hopefully me and my man Monkey can spend the week hanging out, I will keep you posted.

DAY THIRTY-EIGHT

We thought yesterday was good! As you know Mom checks on me every night about 9:30 p.m. and then calls again about 6:00 a.m. to see how how the night went. When she called in this morning the nurse told her that I was doing well and that overnight I had persuaded the nurses to take out my breathing tube. OH YEAH, I am on the CPAP!! Mom and Dad came to the hospital after church to see for themselves, they were so happy! The nurse told them that I was tolerating the mask well and that every six hours I would transition from the mask to the nasal prongs and then back again. On top of all that, my food was increases to 19ccs. I know the doctor said two more weeks on the ventilator, but I was ready now and if I get tired they can reinsert the tube and put me back on. I know it will be awhile longer, but I am ready to go home and be with Mom and Dad all the time. God is good and he answers prayer!!

DAY THIRTY-SEVEN

The first picture you see is me patting myself on the back for having an awesome day, the second is my Mom holding me, and the third is of course, the happy family!! WOO HOO!!!! Today has been a day of many changes, my milk has been increased to 18ccs and my IV was taken out (after this picture was taken). When Mom called and checked on me tonight the nurse let her know that I was resting comfortably and that my blood test came back good, hopefully that means they lower the settings on my ventilator in the morning!! Mom, Dad and I got to be together for an hour and we talked about all sorts of things like all the fun things we would do when I get to come home, it was nice! God is so good!

DAY THIRTY-SIX

WOO HOO! The doctor put me on the conventional (smaller) ventilator and increased my milk to 17cc, so for those of you keeping track, that is 4.5 ounces over a 24 hour period. Mom and Dad are very happy with all the changes and want to thank everyone for their continued support and encouragement. I also got a new, bigger, purple pacifier, I love it. Mom and I were talking and she wants me to do the best I can on the new ventilator, she reminded me about what the doctor said yesterday, that I would be on the ventilator for a couple of more weeks and then I will move to the CPAP mask like Dad. Things are going well, thank you so much for your prayers, see you tomorrow!