July 10, 2006

Another really big day! These days just keep on piling up. The first thing we noticed when we visited was that he was now in a "normal" bed. We quickly realized that his chest tube had been remove over night. After talking with the nurse, we found out that the tube had been pulling, so the doctors decided to just remove it instead of clamping it first.

Additionally, since his isolet was already at the lowest temperature setting and he was warm, the nurse decided it was time to move him into a standard crib.

With those changes he was sleeping the best we have seen when we got there. He wasn't moving every few seconds and twitching. Just a nice peaceful sleep.

The nurse told us that since he was growing out of all of his supports he was going to be treated like a healthy baby. That includes not bothering him except for his feedings every three hours. And that includes us. :(

However, we now get to hold him at each of his feedings. They tried giving him a bottle this morning, which worked for a while. However, he tired out from the sucking very quickly.

Later, when we came back from lunch, we found that his oxygen tube had been removed. Slowly, but surely, all of his support systems are being removed. They are planning on removing his IV tonight or tomorrow morning since his feedings are going so well.

Now he just needs to learn how to eat all of his food through his mouth, instead of down a tube through his nose. Once he does that he gets to come home. The general concensus is a few weeks. Probably by the end of July. Guess we need to get that car seat. The nurse did say that he would most likely be over 5 pounds, so we shouldn't need to pick out a different car seat. Most seats are rated for between 5 and 35 pounds. A few are rated for birth to 35 pounds. We just need to verify that the lowest shoulder strap setting will be good for him.

So far that is all of the news for today. And it's only 4:30p.

The excitement just never ends. When we went back around 8:00p, we found that they had moved him to a room further back in the NICU. Another good sign. Also, his IV nutrition has been replace by a slow drip of sugar water.

So many things happened today. We even got to help get him dressed and ready for bed.

All in all, a good day.