We go in to the NICU in the morning. The first thing I look at is his humidity. Expecting it to be close to the lowest setting, it is a surprise to see that it is off! The nurse comes over and tells us he tolerated being weaned extremly well so they were able to get humidity low enough that the next step was off! Continue reading “August 3 2016”
Silly RT
It’s time for cares. Checking his temperature comes first. I get the temperature probe out, figure which arm will be easiest to check it under. Decide on which side to do it from. He is on his right side so under his left arm from the front is usually easiest. I turn on the heater and open the port holes on his incubator. He looks so comfy, his arms tucked up under his chin. I carefully lift his tiny little arm and put the probe tip carefully in the crux of his armpit.
Aug 2 2016 checking into hotel
We check into the silver cloud on Broadway and Madison. Much closer to the hospital, they give us a discount rate for having a baby in the NICU at sweedish. It is cheaper than the military rate.
Now if I find time I can start using the gym at the hotel like when I first got down here. Not sure when that will be but I can pretend.
August 2 2016 morning
We wake up, have breakfast.
Pump
Clean pump supplies
Pack, and check out.
Several loads to the car later we are on our way to the hospital.
RT had a relatively uneventful night! Bedside, it is time to pump again. Pumping done.
Time for morning cares! Temp is a healthy 36.7. Then the diaper change, I manage to make this one a one diaper change! I’m getting better at changing his tiny diapers through the arm holes on his incubator. Mom helps by containing him and his exploring hands, they seem to almost have minds of their own.
Micro Preemie
While looking up info on various things I came across the term micro preemie to more accurately describe preemie babies born before 26 weeks. Link has some good definitions. Percent chance table is different than what I was told, but I like the chances better. Maybe the percent chance I was told was for a micro preemie with an infection….
Aug 1 2016
The nurses took a cute picture of RT for us last night and made another little poster to put behind his incubator. It makes us laugh. We are lucky to have such great nurses!
When they took his blood gas this morning his co2 levels were too high so they had to turn up his support settungs on the ventilator again. Continue reading “Aug 1 2016”
July 31 2016
1655 Almost no blood coming from lung suction the last two times!
If evening goes perfect I think we are due to be discharged the day after thanksgiving. That would be something we would be grateful for the rest of our lives.
Over the last couple days me and mom on our own times without telling each other have tried talking to God and said there are certain things we would do or no longer do/give up if our child makes it through this.
One treatment of acetaminophen complete. Continue reading “July 31 2016 “
July 30 2016
When I changed RT’s diaper this morning it was the biggest poo I had seen him do yet! It was another 2 diaper change, he still likes peeing when I’m nearly done. Everything is still working!
But more bad news… Continue reading “July 30 2016”
July 29 2016
Super busy day. Moved hotels again. We somehow managed to cram all the belongings we have accumulated into the small car we have authorized as a rental. The hotel we move into today is an old hospital room on the 5th floor of a sweedish campus a mile and a half from the one RT is at, they put two twin beds in a tiny room with a window, it is more affordable but we will get cabin fever. The hospital wide announcements come into the room throughout the night which doesn’t help our sleep, Continue reading “July 29 2016”
July 28 2016
0712 Ryan is 7 days old today! Happy one week! The results from yesterday’s echocardiogram are in. The valve on RT’s heart is open, he has PDA. They start him on a treatment of acetaminophen (tylenol) which can help the valve shut. They remind us that PDA is not that abnormal Continue reading “July 28 2016”
Preemie Pop 