Blood Production Up and Running.

Jack is still getting bigger and cuter everyday.  He is 30 weeks 5 days (4 weeks 2 days since birth).  Again we thought he might slow down after his big growth spurt of late, but he gained an additional 40 grams.  Now up to 3 pounds 4 ounces (1480 g).  Doctors got his blood work back and everything is looking good.  His red blood cell count has increased, as has his over all blood count.  He is now
producing reticulocytes (immature red blood cells).  Since he is doing well, and producing his blood they won't have to do as much lab work.

He also had his feeding increased from 28 ml to 32 ml (he needs to get his yummy food).  His oxygen flow has been taken down again to 3 liters per minute, hopefully he is a good boy and remembers to breath and they can slowly ween him off of the vapotherm machine to straight high flow oxygen.

Another good day means less stressed and more rested parents.  We are thankful for that.

Just a Little Tired

The weight that Jack gained the day before has gone back down. He is still considered 2 lbs 6 oz, but went from 1090 g down to 1070 g. The doctor upped his feeding from 15 ml to 19 ml of Mary's fortified milk (fortified with a few extra calories to help with weight). Jack continues to be more and more of a wiggle worm during his care times. He really does not like his diaper to be changed. He kicks and swings his arms, but we always seem to prevail. We had a talk with the doctor after his head ultrasound today. He said that some of the blood near his brain (IHV) had drained and that his head circumference has stayed good. We breathed a sigh of relief with that, but they still needed to keep an eye on it week to week.

Mary tried to do some kangaroo time again today. After about 10 minutes of fussing and a few bradycardia episodes we had to put him back in his isolette. We think that Jack might be tired from all the activity he had the day before. With being switch over from SiPAP to CPAP and his lengthy kangaroo time it was a bit much. After that care time Jack had a very good day, without any episodes. Hope he keeps up the good work.

Not too many pics today. We tried to keep his isolette lid down for the most part to keep him warm and resting.

Somedays are not as good as others.

Today Jack is 11 days old. He weighed in this morning the same as yesterday, 2 lbs 2.6 oz (980 gs). He is still doing good keeping down and digesting all his feedings. Jack has started having increased episodes of apnea. He had enough that there is talk that he may have to go back to a ventilator. Also, some eye gunk returned. It is possible that he has gotten an infection and they have taken some blood to run tests on. We should know more on that front tomorrow or the next day, but they would start him back on antibiotics is they found an infection. If it is an infection it could be contributing to his apnea, because his system is overloaded trying to fight the infection. His bilirubin levels went up again so they placed Jack back on phototherapy. The blood that was in the fluid near the brain hasn't absorbed/drained as doctors had hoped. Again that could be a side effect of the infection (if he has one). It hasn't got any worse, but it hasn't improved. It is something the doctors will keep an eye on over the next week.

Earlier in the day Mary and I went to a preemie handling class that gave us some pointers handling Jack while he is doing his care time in the NICU. I think everything just took it's toll today. Jack didn't have a very good day, and we just need to keep focused on the overall goal. There will be ups and downs, and today was a downer. Mary and I are back at the house for the night. We will destress, recharge, reload then head back out to Kaiser tomorrow.