It takes a while to get RT enrolled in DEERS at base Seattle, there is someone ahead of us that is trying to get an ID but does not have a social security card and is above the age to be eligible for a dependent ID. When it’s finally our turn it only takes a few minutes.

Then back to the NICU, RT is still hanging out at 34% oxygen!! Good job buddy!

A nurse that has not had RT yet, but knows of him.  She seems nice, and willing to accommodate RT’s needs!  Continue reading “Afternoon August 31 2016” →

After only a few hours of sleep 0500 wake up shower, wife pumps, then we clean pump supplies.

I wake up extremely anxious feeling this morning.

Then up to the NICU, RT is at 30% oxygen! Lowest he has been in weeks! Snug looking all swaddled up. Nurse tells us how much secretions they got out during repositioning for his bath! He got pampered! Clean baby, smells better now! He looks exhausted and comfortable!  Continue reading “Morning of August 31 2016” →

I’ll start the post with the best news of the day… He pooped for my last diaper change of the day!

Enter NICU, oxygen is at 58%. Alright we will take it. Weight on the board is 1380 a loss of 10 grams. To be expected, just TPN fluids and emulsified lipids, while getting rid of swelling. Continue reading “August 30 2016” →

When we get to the NICU it is one of his primary nurses that knows him well! Our personalities match well with the nurses that we get.

If there is one thing that helps it is stability in who knows him.  Not everything can be passed down.  Plus she will be doing the passdown tonight to the person that she relieved.  Only 2 different people over 36 hours!

His oxygen is at 55% it seems lately he needs higher oxygen during the day.  Maybe because he is sensitive to sound and light.

His feeds are stopped. Continue reading “August 29 2016” →

Phone call at 6:30from Dr. to tell us X-ray shows blockage in bowels. Checked because he hasn’t pooped in over 2 days, even with suppositories.

His stomach girth has increased over the night too.

So they’ve stopped his feedings again and back on IV fluids. Hoping that helps but we’re also waiting on lab results to see if he has an infection in his gut.
Respiratorily he is hanging in there, slowly trying to rebuild his lungs. They got him down to high 30%’s for a little. Then back up to 55%.
Can see expanded intestines in X-ray.

It really is one thing after another. 

Keep on chugging along little dude.

Stress dreams all night again. Not sure how the wife continues being able to get up and pump every 3 hours ontop of everything.  She is an impressive woman.

Phone call from Dr. this morning.  Everything is ok, just getting an update.

She says the xray shows his upper right lobe getting fluid filed again. Ventilator  Tube position looks spot on,  where she would put it if she was doing a seminar on ET tube placement so it is more likely positional edem, going to try and keep the right side of his chest elevated when positioning.

Oscilator settings are different Pressure down to 18, Amplitude up to 37 from 33, HZ down to 10 fron 12. He seems to be tolerating it.

Because settings are down his oxygen percent will be a little higher, untill his lungs heal.

When checking his stomach contents for residual,  the fluid was pink,  likely irritation from his feeding tube.  Not uncommon to happen.

Continue reading “August 28 2016” →

1230 Went and grabbed a friend from the airport that had a layover in Seattle.

Got lunch.  Brought back friend to hospital, had a good talk in lobby. Wife pumped bedside.  While she was up there RT braided (Bradycardia means a slower than normal heart rhythm.) and desat.  Its a new thing for him to bradie. We don’t need a new issue.

Continue reading “Afternoon August 27 2016 “ →

His weight is 1440 on the board. A healthy gain.

Mean pressure weaned down to 19. Not a big change. But will help his lungs not be over inflated.

Oxygen at 47% since cares earlier.

They were able to get him down to 33% at some point during the night!

Continue reading “Morning of August 27 2016” →

Enter NICU, a nurse that is becoming more familiar with RT is on today.  She has more years of experience as a nurse than I have being alive. An impressive amount of knowledge!

His oxygen is down to 47%! An improvement from what we saw last night.  His weight on the board from last nights weight is 1410 grams! He would be 29 weeks gestation today.

Xray last night shows some improvement,  upper right lobe looks rough though. Blood gasses have been good.

Nurse got a poo in the morning after a sapository. He needs to work on doing it without help.  Continue reading “August 26 2016” →