Four Weeks Old

Jack is now 4 weeks old, not quite a month, but 28 days. He gained a little bit of weight today. Up to 3 lbs 1 oz (1400 g). Over night they had to put his oxygen flow back up to 4 liters per minute. He had a few apnea episodes after decreasing his flow to 3 lpm so he wasn't quite ready for the change. Doctors are still keeping an eye on his red blood cell count. Being so early he doesn 't produce sufficient red blood cells for himself, but he is at the stage where he should start. So he is getting a couple meds to help kick start the process. They are hoping he will start to show increased red blood cell count before they need to do a transfusion. His oxygen and breathing should increase with more red blood cells.

Mary got to do some kangaroo time this afternoon. Jack had a very nice time just relaxing and resting.  He also got a visit from Mary's Aunt Sharon.  Everything else is going well, still making slow and steady progress.

Back to the Blue Light

Jack is now 27 weeks 2 days old (well in terms of what his gestation would have been). Over night Jack had a blood transfusion and they took the main lines out of his little belly button, since they can use the PICC line for that. Overall he had a good morning, he weighed in at 990 grams, or 2 lbs 3 oz (for us in the USA).

Grandma Christi went in and got to see little Jack without his mask/head gear on. I changed a poopy diaper (not quite as poopy as the one Mary changed, as she was quick to point out). He did a bunch of crying and kicking when it was time to clean the gunkies off his mouth. He did have a little set back and has been put back onto the photo therapy because his jaundice level was a little on the high side. It looks like he is in a little preemie tanning bed, he did get a cool set of light blockers for his tiny eyes.

They also switched a feeding tube out, and gave him his first taste/bit or Mommy's milk. He must have liked it from all the squirming he did afterward. Tomorrow they are talking about letting us try some kangaroo care with him. They will let Jack lie skin to skin on our chests and take a nap. Finger crossed that we get to go through with that.