Mixed Blessings

I have to admit that going back and forth to the hospital every day (even though it is just a short trip) is exhausting. I keep falling asleep while sitting with Colin and holding Veronica — quite a feat considering how noisy the NICU is. But I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to be with them, so I guess I’ll take my naps like a cat — often and where ever the mood strikes.

Colin continues to do well on his feedings and will be going up to 3 ml every hour starting this evening. He has started putting on some weight as a result, and is now approaching 2 pounds. Unfortunately, he is still struggling to breathe and continues to have many bad periods with much desating.

Last night, according to his nurse, was not a good night for him, nor was this morning. Every time they had to change him or check on him, he would get very angry and worked up, and then his blood oxygen levels would start dropping for a long time. I desperately would like to hold him again, but the transition seems to make him very unhappy (even though he settles down and is very calm while we hold him) and I'm afraid that holding him will only make things worse. So I try to content myself with just sitting by him and holding his hand.

This morning Colin had more fluid in his lungs, so the doctor started him back on the medication to clear that out. They have had to raise the pressure on his respirator again to compensate, which takes us further away from our goal of weaning him off it.

John did call from the hospital tonight to say that the nurse pulled Colin’s respirator tube out some (so it’s not as far in his lungs), and that seems to be making it easier for him to breathe. They also discovered that if they raise his oxygen levels before trying to change his diaper, he doesn’t seem to get as worked up. Thank goodness for creative nurses. We’re hopeful that he’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight.

Veronica continues to progress much faster than expected. Her nurse today told me she keeps forgetting that Veronica is only at the equivalent of 30 weeks because she “acts” so much older. (The doctor said the same thing earlier.)

She is up to an ounce of milk every three hours, and is not spitting anything up. She also is starting to open her mouth and make sucking motions when she is hungry or eating, which is good for being able to start feeding her by mouth. The earliest we’ll be able to try that will be in two weeks — I am very excited for that. It will be another big milestone for Veronica, and for us.