I arrive back at the NICU at 0700. The weight on his board is now 620 grams. He has lost a little bit of weight which is normal for newborns, and underatandable due to stopping feeds for blood transfusions. We are going to try and get RT off of the ventilator today. The nurse pages the Dr to notify him they are about to try. We wait around for a while. The nurse and respiratory technician get set up to remove the ventilator. We wait for a while.  Page the Dr again.

They decide to go ahead. All he asked for was to be notified when they were about to do it. They remove him from the ventilator and he does ok for a little, then his oxygen levels begin to drop off.  One of the nurses is there and asks if I have my camera.  Ofcourse today I didn’t even think to, all I was focused on was being there for RT.

That’s OK they have a camera to take his picture.  While working with RT and trying to get him breathing they pull off the mask momentarily and the nurse is able to snap a few pictures without the big breathing tube down his throat. It looks like he is so used to having his mouth propped open by the breathing tube he doesn’t want to close it.

They mention the air might be just going in his nose through the mask and out his nose.

They try several times to get him breathing with this new machine but, he isn’t quite strong enough yet. They have to help him out and bump up oxygen content and really work to keep him breathing. RT begins to open one of his eyes he is really trying to see what the hell we are doing to him.he peeps through his one squinty eye he manages to open.   I tell him he doesn’t have to open his eyes yet, I am watching for him.

They page the Dr. again.  They have tried adjusting the levels several different ways. Today is not the day. They will have to re-intubate. That’s OK RT next time maybe!

One of the other Dr. comes in to re-intubate him because his Dr. Has not been found.  She says RT throat is a bit swollen then tries to put the tube down his throat but can’t quite get it.  Then Dr. Shows up and asks what they have tried,  he asks if they tried certain numbers on the machine and they have,  he concurs and agrees to re-intubate.

0945 He gets RT re-intubated and they start the ventilator back up.

Time to get some rest RT it’s been a big day for you, during the few hours we have had.

Go to sleep little baby, we love you!