“You have now entered the sleep deprivation zone.” That’s what the narrator would be saying if my life were a television show. And like all new parents, we have. Our lack of sleep is complicated by an apnea monitor that liked to go off repeatedly on the first night — fortunately all for no real reason.
Veronica is doing well at home, in some ways just like a typical newborn and in some ways more like the two-month-old baby she is. She is eating very well, every two to four hours, and gained weight on her first day home (according to the visiting nurse’s scale on Friday). She still sleeps most of her non-eating time, but is starting to have longer alert periods.
Ethan continues to be both excited and disappointed with his big brother experience. As expected, he is upset about how much time and attention she demands. But he is also very protective of her, and likes to read to her and play with her when she’s awake.
Back in the hospital, Colin continues to progress. He now weighs 3 pounds 6 ounces — finally passing Veronica’s birth weight. He looks a lot like Ethan did as a baby now, and all the nurses are now commenting on his “chubby” cheeks. He has started (unofficially) taking a bottle occasionally. He has good technique with the bottle, pausing on his own to breathe regularly and spilling very little. So far, he has been managing about 10 ml of his 27 ml feeding when we give him the bottle.
Colin’s nurse yesterday was going to try to get the doctor to write an order to make the bottle feeding official. At that point, we’ll have an appointment with the speech therapist to evaluate his technique and put together a feeding plan.
Colin still is having desatting problems, keeping us from attempting to further wean him off the oxygen. We have been looking for possible causes:
We’ll try to get the homecoming pictures and pictures of Colin with chubby cheeks posted later today. If we can squeeze in some computer time.
Veronica is doing well at home, in some ways just like a typical newborn and in some ways more like the two-month-old baby she is. She is eating very well, every two to four hours, and gained weight on her first day home (according to the visiting nurse’s scale on Friday). She still sleeps most of her non-eating time, but is starting to have longer alert periods.
Ethan continues to be both excited and disappointed with his big brother experience. As expected, he is upset about how much time and attention she demands. But he is also very protective of her, and likes to read to her and play with her when she’s awake.
Back in the hospital, Colin continues to progress. He now weighs 3 pounds 6 ounces — finally passing Veronica’s birth weight. He looks a lot like Ethan did as a baby now, and all the nurses are now commenting on his “chubby” cheeks. He has started (unofficially) taking a bottle occasionally. He has good technique with the bottle, pausing on his own to breathe regularly and spilling very little. So far, he has been managing about 10 ml of his 27 ml feeding when we give him the bottle.
Colin’s nurse yesterday was going to try to get the doctor to write an order to make the bottle feeding official. At that point, we’ll have an appointment with the speech therapist to evaluate his technique and put together a feeding plan.
Colin still is having desatting problems, keeping us from attempting to further wean him off the oxygen. We have been looking for possible causes:
- Is the water from the oxygen tube (necessary to maintain the proper humidity level) causing his oxygen levels to drop when it collects and runs into his nose?
- Is his feeding tube in properly, or is it rubbing somewhere and causing the desats?
- Could the effects of the steroids be reversing? (Please no.)
- Are the antibiotics still in his system affecting his oxygen levels?
We’ll try to get the homecoming pictures and pictures of Colin with chubby cheeks posted later today. If we can squeeze in some computer time.
For a sleep deprived mother you still write better than I could even on my best day! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for continuing the updates during this busy and tiring time.
I am so happy to hear Roni is doing good at home. It is also great to know Colin is growing & if the pictures are the ones John posted on FB, I agree with the nurses about the chubby cheeks! That is so awesome to see. I do hope they figure out what it is that is causing the desatting problem.
I am sure Ethan will adjust to Roni (and Colin when he comes home) needing attention, he is a smart and resourceful young man and will adjust. Plus it will be another lesson he will learn.
Wishing you and the whole family a very restful day!