July 25, 2011

Good Morning Friends! Things have been going better this week in the NICU. The doctors did a bunch of tests after I had to go back on the ventilator to see if they could figure out why I had slipped back so far. All of the tests came back negative... so there isn't an answer as to what happened. They started a second round of steroids and since then the ventilator settings have come way down. Hopefully I will be back on the CPAP in the next few days. I have been feeling pretty good and have my fiesty attitude back. Still hoping to come home soon, but as the nurses keep letting me know... the road of a preemie is not straight and who knows what is in store for me!

July 19, 2011

I have had a rough couple of days. On Saturday my oxygen requirements started to go way up and therefore the doctors decided to put me back on the ventilator. This means that I now have the tube back in my mouth. Since then, there have not been many changes and they are not sure why I have gone back this far. They are doing as many tests as possible to figure it out, and hopefully we can come up with a solution to get me moving foward again. In the meantime... I need all the positive thoughts and love I can get... it is currently a hard part of my journey.

July 15, 2011 - 11 Weeks Old

Today I am 11 weeks old. This has been a busy week with a few new things going on in my life! They have been working with me to get me on the nasal canuale. I tried it for three days, but got tired... so now I have it for a few hours twice a day. This will allow me time to get used to the canuale slowly. During this time, they are also going to try and teach me to bottle feed! I had my very first bottle this afternoon. It was scary, confusing, and hard work... but I did a good job and was able to get 7 ccs. We will keep on practicing so I am ready when it is time to come home. As always, I am still sleeping and growing and have now gained a total of two pounds since my birth. That gives me a weight of 3 pounds 6 ounces!

May 3, 2011 - About 610 Grams

How I have grown... July 15, 2011 - 1530 Grams

July 10, 2011

This has been kind of a rought week. One of ups and downs... I got an infection this week and needed my CPAP settings to be turned up. The good thing is that the doctors were able to figure out what the infection was quickly and the antibiotics are already kicking in. My CPAP settings are back to where they were before the infection... so I am ready to move foward. I now weight 1390 grams! Still need to meet that four pound goal before they consider sending me home. That, and the whole breathing thing! As for my eyes... the injection into my eyeballs has worked! The specialist came to check them out and said that the ROP is gone. I have to continue with followups for a while, but we are very glad that I did not have to go through laser surgery. Mom and dad still visit all the time, and are holding me daily. I am looking foward to the day when I can come home!

July 3, 2011

Happy Fourth of July

 Good Evening to everyone and I hope that you are all having a good holiday weekend. Things in the nicu are slowly progressing and I am doing well! I am not 35 centimeters long and weigh 1240 grams (2 pounds 11.8 ounces). As I grow, it is becoming clear that I am getting stronger. I had my eyes checked again of Friday, and was diagnosed with stage three ROP (Retinopothy of prematurity). This required some immediate attention, as if it is not treated, there is a chance I could go blind. So... the specialist came to give a second opinion on Saturday and agreed that something needed to be done. Mom and dad agreed to allow the doctor to put a shot in my eyes in hopes that this will stop the ROP. The specialist will return on Wednesday to follow up, so hopefully there will be some good news to report. Otherwise, I am able to be held everyday now, assuming that I am having a good day. I am continuing to be dressed daily and am maintaining my body temperature well. All in all, I am doing well! Still sleeping and growing as I need to be. Enjoy your holiday!