Sunday 11/30/08

Sunday, November 30, 2008 2:59 PM, CST

The bad news: John had a bad episode last night. His heart rate dropped, he turned blue and he needed both stimulation and oxygen to bring him back to normal. He continued this morning having heart rate drops but brought himself out of them. This will likely keep him in the NICU this week.

The good news: John is doing better this afternoon and is up to 5 pounds 15 ounces. He has had no feeding tube for a week and is still gaining weight. He just needs more time before coming home. Tammie bought him a build-a-bear with her voice message on it so he will not miss her as much when he comes home.

11/28/08

Friday, November 28, 2008 8:32 PM, CST

6 WEEKS....

Today John is 6 weeks old. We are still amazed at how fast (and slow) time has passed.

John now weighs 5 lbs 12 oz, almost 2 pounds from his birth weight and is almost an inch longer. And he almost made Mommy cried tonight; he has outgrown the very first outfit he wore!

Daddy and Mommy bathed John together for the first time tonight. And since his circumcision and umbilical cord have healed, it was a true bath. =) John really enjoyed it. Afterwards, he was off the monitor during feeding, burping and cuddling time to help us get comfortable with reading him rather than relying on the monitors/alarms. RN Tammie was right next to us supervising, but John (and parents) did a great job.

He has done such an amazing job these past weeks. It's incredible to think he is still a month premature now. WOW!

We are hopeful that, if he continues to do well with no new episodes, he will be home very soon.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

P.S. Please keep John's little roommate Aiden and his family in your prayers. He had a REALLY, REALLY BAD episode today. He doesn't look well....

Thursday 11/27/08

Thursday, November 27, 2008 7:51 PM, CST

John had a great Thanksgiving Day.

He only gained 5 grams from yesterday, but the doctor is not concerned considering how much he's been consistently gaining. He had only two incidents where he dropped his heart rate, but he immediately brought it up on his own.

In the spirit of the holiday, he wore his Gobble 'til you Wobble onesie. And he looked adorable! And true to his word, he stuffed himself today having between 60-70 cc at almost every meal.


John also enjoyed some cuddling time with grandma Haltom. He behaved himself the whole time. Is he too young to know Christmas is around the corner?

He wasn't able to meet his great aunts Delores & AA and great uncle Gary as we had originally hoped. However, we shared the hundreds of pictures and videos of John. We were reminded how far he has come in just a few weeks.

We are thankful for how wonderful he is doing and for all your prayers on his behalf. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Day.

Wednesday 11/26/08

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:01 PM, CST

John continues to gain weight. He is up to 5 lbs 9.7 oz. He is also doing a great job breast feeding. He's had a couple of heartrate and O2 drops today but has pulled out on his own.

For now, he continues to grow and get stronger. And of course, he continues to be the cutest baby in the NICU.

We hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. =)

P.S. Thanks for all your prayers for John and for his little roommate Aiden. He is also doing much better. Both boys now have a competition as to who "christens" the most nurses. They are getting quite good at it.

Tuesday 11/25/08

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 10:45 PM, CST

John's weight today is 2529g or 5 pounds 9.2 ounces. He had an ultrasound on his head today (standard) and it was normal. He had two episodes yeserday, one of which needed stimulation

, so John will be spending the holiday weekend in the NICU. But he looks good and is eating well, and we hope to have him home next week.

Saturday 11/23/08

Sunday, November 23, 2008 10:32 PM, CST

John continues to gain weight at 2479g (or, more importantly, 5 pounds 7.4 ounces). He breast fed 4 times today and took bottle feedings each other time, eating his entire meal each time. He peed on his mother three times and projectile pooped on nurse Lisa twice at 3am. He played with Daddy at 6am and with Grandma Haltom at 7p.


John passed his hearing exam with flying colors and will get measured for length this week. It is starting to look like coming home is a possibility in the next 7-10 days, but we are not taking anything for granted.

Saturday 11/22/08

Saturday, November 22, 2008 8:33 PM, CST

"Warp speed ahead Scottie."

That is exactly how it feels now. John had an amazing day. Everything is clicking together.


After doing a great job with nipple-feeding 2 out of 3 feeds yesterday, he progressed to nipple feeding all feeds starting at 3am today!!! He has done an amazing job. We have also progressed enough that we are breastfeeding at least twice a day without supplementing. And at 3pm, John decided he had had enough of the feeding tube. He took it off...for the 5th time. But this time, we hope it's staying off for good.

John continues to gain weight to 2456g (5 lbs 6.6oz). And so far the only times he had brady and O2 drops were when he was trying to eat too much too fast.


John just continues to amaze us!

Friday 11/21/08

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:03 PM, CST

John had quite a hectic and eventful day today.

He continues to gain weight. He is now a hefty 5 lbs 5 oz! His feedings were increased to 50cc not including whatever he eats while breastfeeding. And more importantly, he is now nipple feeding 2 out of 3 feeds!!!

The brady and O2 drops have noticeably decreased in frequency. They mainly occur during feedings, and he pulls out of them on his own. The neonatologist believes they are now mainly a result solely of reflux rather than any other prematurity issue. So he is now off the caffeine.

And John is no longer a baby, he's a little man.... He was circumcised today. He was great and did not cry at all (except when he lost his Pacifier). Although, he did take revenge on the nurse and doctor by peeing on them. The poor tyke was a little more irritable and cranky (not at all like him) during the afternoon and evening. But the nurses have been amazing loving and giving him extra attention.


We still don't have a set discharge date, but we are now talking about it! It will all depend on when he meets the criteria for discharge:

1) Maintain/control body temperature --- CHECK
2) Nipple feed every meal --- currently 2 out of 3
3) Continue to gain weight --- obviously not a problem
4) no brady/apnea episodes needing stimulation --- working on this

Thursday 11/20/08

Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:59 PM, CST

John has been trending up the past couple of days. He now weighs 5 pounds 4.6 ounces or 2398g, and he is self-correcting his Brady (heart rate) and apnea (respiratory) incidents. He does have a bad habit of pulling out the feeding tube in his nose, but the nursing staff doesn't get angry because his "cute head" makes him popular with the ladies.

Wednesday 11/19/08

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 2:57 AM, CST
Tuesday was a good day. John continues to gain weight. He is now 2364g (5 lbs 3.4 oz)! He is now nipple feeding every other meal. And his intake was increased to 47cc. We are also now doing "nutritive" breastfeeding. Hopefully, this won't cause him to lose or slow down in gaining weight.

John is also doing a great job at maintaining his temperature above 98 F. He has mastered the open crib.

And the heart rate and O2 drops continue to be less frequent, less intense. More importantly John continues to pull out of them without assistance.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:53 PM, CST

Today was another good day for John. We'll post details tomorrow....so exhausted. =P

Monday 11/17/08

Monday, November 17, 2008 10:51 PM, CST

John had a much better day today. He gained an ounce to 5 lbs 2 oz (2332g). He also drank his entire bottle the 3 times he bottle fed today! Not only that but he is waking up right before meal times and rooting. At one point he even attempted to eat his blanket (see pictures).

John continues to do a great job maintaining his temperature above 97.7 F.


The doctors have not added any new orders other than adding a multivitamin with one of his meals.

The heart rate and O2 drops have noticeably decreased in frequency, duration and intensity. And, more importantly, John is able to bring himself out of them the majority of the time.

Sunday 11/16/08

Sunday, November 16, 2008 10:23 PM, CST

A better day...

John had a much better day today. He gained one ounce up to 4 lbs 1 oz. Daddy bottle fed him in the morning. And he finished the entire bottle in the evening feeding after breast feeding for 10 minutes! He continues to have heart rate and O2 drops but thankfully they have noticeably decreased in frequency.

Sunday, November 16, 2008 10:29 PM, CST

Oops! Correction, he is up to 5 lbs 1 oz.

Saturday 11/15/08

Saturday, November 15, 2008 12:56 PM, CST

Saturday update - John continues to have multiple heart rate and O2 drops. They are happening more often, lasting longer, and dropping lower. Dad and Mom had a long discussion with the doctor, who ruled out neurological or cardiac issues and continues to focus on reflux and prematurity as the primary causes. We simply have to stay patient. On the plus side, John now weighs 5 pounds even!

Friday 11/14/08

Friday, November 14, 2008 11:50 PM, CST

A not terrible day...

John continues to have multiple heart rate and O2 drops. They are happening more often, lasting longer, and dropping lower. He needs stimulation more often than not and has even required "byblow" (blowing 100% oxygen near his mouth/nose) to get him out of some spells. The explanation continues to be reflux. His caffeine dose was increased to 12mL in the hopes that he might just have outgrown his original dose. The doctor stated this might explain why John is taking longer to come out of the episodes.

On the bright side:
He continues to gain weight; John's now up to 2206g (4 lbs 13.8 oz). His bottle feedings are progressing. He had 35cc in the evening feeding (over half his feeding). And he continues to be alert, tracking and interacting although he's not doing it as much as when he was in the isolette. His temperature continues to be above 97.7 F.

Please continue to keep our little Munchkin in your prayers... and his parents that they may be wise and strong advocates for him.

Thursday 11/13/08

Thursday, November 13, 2008 9:23 PM, CST

A hard day....

John was transfered to the open crib at midnight. He was able to maintain a decent temperature most of the day (97.2 - 98.3).

He also had his first eye exam today. It was to rule out any possible vision problems due to the premature birth. Everything looked normal. This, of course, is not a guarantee that John will not inherit Mommy or Daddy's myopia as he ages.

He gained a little weight up to 2166g (4 lbs 12 oz). Ideally he would be going up 1-2 oz every day. So his food intake was increased to 50cc. His morning nipple feeding was not too successful. However, he ate 30cc from the bottle during the 6 pm feeding!


Unfortunately, he continues to have multiple bad drops in heart rate and O2 levels probably caused by reflux. He had to be stimulated multiple times today. It's never a good feeling to see your child turn blue.

Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

P.S. Pictures are coming... as soon as we find the USB cord.

Wednesday 11/12/08

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 10:37 PM, CST

Not a bad day...

John ate 17cc and 16cc in the morning and night bottle feedings respectively. He had a harder time maintaining his temperature up today. He also had a few decelerations, including 4 after the 9pm feeding, where he needed stimulation. However, he is still alert and interacting with Mommy and tracking movements. He went up to 2149g (4 lbs 11.8 oz).

Today he would be 34 weeks gestation. So tomorrow, he will try the open crib again per doctor's orders. We are hopeful that he will be able to tolerate the colder room temperature better.

John spent quality time with Grandma this morning before she returned home.

Tuesday 11/11/08

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 9:20 PM, CST

A good and quiet day....

John continues with 3 nipple feedings a day. John is not the only one learning new skills. We are learning how to teach him to bottle feed since it's a lot harder than feeding a term baby. And John is doing a great job with his feedings. Sucking, swallowing and breathing is hard work for a preemie. Tonight, he had almost half his feeding in the bottle. All this eating is adding up, John is now up to 2145g (4 lbs 11.6 oz)!

His isolette temperature was also reduced this morning to 26 C (@ 78 F) almost room temperature. He did a good job maintaining his body temperature above 97.7 during the day. The next step will be trying the open crib again.

John also met his uncle Ivan today. It had to be through the NICU window since the rules limit who can go into the unit.

Monday 11/10/08

Monday, November 10, 2008 10:26 PM, CST

We are loving the good and quiet days!

John had his morning meal in a bottle again after which he promptly took out his feeding tube. And at noon we tried breastfeedi

ng. He did wonderfully! The plan is for three meals a day to be done by bottle/breastfeeding.

He is still having drops in heart rate and O2 levels, but the neonatologist mentioned he should hopefully be outgrowing them soon. He is also back on air temperature in the isolette and is able to wear clothes again.

His favorite nurse Tammie came back today after a few days off. Grandma and Mommy have determined John is a major flirt even at this age. He would lift his head and turn towards where Tammie was sitting whenever he heard her voice.

Sunday 11/09/08

Sunday, November 9, 2008 8:53 PM, CST

Today was another good and quiet day for John. He's no longer on the IV. His caffeine dose was increased by 1cc to help him through the heart rate and O2 level drops. He is still having them but less frequently and is able to pull out of them on his own... most of the time.

Our chunky monkey is now 2125g (4 lbs 10.4 oz), and his food intake was increased to 40cc. Today he also had his first bottle. He ate his entire morning meal using the bottle! We are also trying non-nutritive breast feeding once a day to help him get used to it.

Saturday 11/08/09

Saturday, November 8, 2008 10:17 PM, CST

Today was a better day for John. He is still on skin temp in the isolette and still needed stimulation once today for heart rate/breathing, but he is back on full feedings and looks better. We are hoping he has turned the corner on this latest dip. John has taken to cuddling his pacifier and gets upset when it is taken away. He was without a hat tonight and looked especially cute.