Morning Rounds

Parker has had an excellent couple of days. This morning Parker was able to breathe again through his nose so they removed the ventilator. So, right now he is not on the CPAP or a ventilator. He is breathing on his own with no assistance. His feeding tube now goes through his nose. They will be increasing his feeds again this evening to 16. Oh and as of last night he is above his birth weight. He is now 2 lbs 3 oz. Keep it up little man!!!!

The results of his brain scan (head ultrasound) came back this morning and the Doctors were thrilled to report that everything looked normal. Head ultrasound scans are an integral part of the care of sick newborn infants. They preform the ultrasound when the babies are 10 days old. The main use of ultrasound scanning in the NICU is to image the preterm brain for evidence of Germinal Matrix - Intraventricular Haemorrhage (GM-IVH). This is what most people call bleeding on the brain. This occurs in up to 20% of infants with gestation <32 weeks at birth. I was so thankful that everything came back normal. We have made it ten days without any major issues, which is a very big deal.

Parker had lots of visitors today. I was at his bedside from 9:00am-12:30pm. Sandy, Paul and Mom-Mom (Lance's parents and grandmother) came to visit around 11:00am. Then my Mother, Grandmother and the girls stopped in a little after noon. Parker can only have four visitors at one time, so when my Mother got to the hospital, Lance's family was ready to leave so it worked out okay.

This was the first time some of our Great Grandparents have had a chance to see Parker. Parker was a very good boy while everyone was visiting. He was opening his eyes and waving to everyone. Maybe next weekend my Grandpa Baur and Grandma Laney will be able to make the trip down to see him.

I asked his nurse today who is able to hold him. I was worried about stranger volunteers holding him at this time. She said that on this side of the NICU (the smaller babies) only the parents are able to Kangaroo hold. When Parker graduates to a big boy crib (which is the size of a small dresser drawer) then the Grandparents can also hold. No one else is able to hold until Parker graduates completely from the NICU. Sorry family, but it will be a couple of months before anyone else is able to hold him. Samantha and Laney can't wait to hold and love on their little brother.

We are doing well. We are starting to get in more of a routine. Lance and I like when one of us can make it to the hospital for rounds in the morning. This is the best way to get the most up to date information and ask any questions we have of the Doctors. I feel fantastic. I honestly do not feel like I had a baby ten days ago. I have a ton of energy. People keep telling me how great I look, but everyone has to remember that he was only 2lbs 1 oz, so it is not like I had time to gain that much weight with this pregnancy. I think all of my weight gain went to my behind anyways. I am not yet in my skinny jeans, but I am getting there. :)