Busy weekend

Well, we lasted 27 hours out of the hospital, but we are back home again! Saturday night, Brody's oximeter alarm kept going off so much we didn't know if the problem was Brody or the monitor, so we brought him in to the hospital. It turned out to be a combination of a bad cord and Brody. We stayed Saturday and Sunday nights for observation and tests. Brody is needing a little more oxygen than planned. We ruled out any infections and swallowing problems. We are back at home now, trying to get into a routine.

Home

We brought Brody home! He was at the hospital until about 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 24th. We came home with oxygen and two monitors. One is a pulse oximeter that measures his pulse and oxygen saturation level. We leave this one on at night and hook it up and check it three times per day. He also has an apnea monitor on continuously. This will alarm if he stops breathing for more than 20 seconds. It is quite the production to haul all of this around with Brody, but we'll manage. We are very excited but very nervous too, and tired. It will take us a while to get into a new routine. But we are so glad to have our baby home.

Rooming In

Wednesday and Thursday we roomed in with Brody at the hospital to practice for bringing him home.

Today, Brody was switched to a low flow cannula, which is the equipment that he will be coming home with. This cannula pumps 100% oxygen into his nose at 1/8 of a liter compared to the high flow cannula that was pumping 3 liters of air into his nose with adjustable oxygen levels. So far, he is doing great with it. He didn't even notice a difference. If he does well with this, he will be coming home soon!

3/13/2011

6/19/2011

Brody is 7 pounds, 4 ounces. He is eating four bottles per day (half his feedings). He is doing great!

I'm a 7 pounder!

Brody reached 7 pounds, 1 ounce today! Here are some pictures in his big boy crib and bottle feeding. He is taking two bottles per day and we'll probably try three tomorrow. He is doing very well with the bottle. He is still trying to coordinate the suck, swallow, and breathe rhthym. Right now, he needs 30% oxygen (room air is 21%) and has 3 liters of flow on his cannula.

Tuesday, June 15th

Today, Brody is 13 weeks and 3 days old! Gestationally, that is 38 weeks and 3 days. He is a week and a half away from his due date! He weighs 6 lbs., 12.9 oz. and is 17.75 inches long. He is awake and looking around for long periods of time. And, for the most exciting news... he ate his first full bottle yesterday and repeated it again today! Tomorrow, if he does okay with one, they will try two bottles; one in the morning and one in the evening. He is now eating 43 mL per feeding.

He's in a big boy crib now instead of his isolette. It is much easier to access him and change his diaper or to just lean over and give him a kiss. Brody is making great progress. Each day is a step closer to going home and being a family. We are so proud of our little Brody and love him so much!

12 weeks old!

Pictures from the NICU photography session

Well, let's see. Brody is now 12 weeks old and three weeks before his due date! He weighs 6 pounds, 3.1 ounces. He got the top up on his isolette yesterday, and so far he is maintaining his body temperature. Talking to the doctor today, we will probably be in the hospital past his due date. It is too early to tell how long, but he has a long way to go with his breathing yet. It will probably be several more weeks. Although we want him home, we want him to be safe and sound. So we'll wait until he's ready! He's the boss. :)

Thursday, June 2nd

Brody is 6 pounds, 1 ounce! They changed the composition of his feedings so he is getting less calories and more protein. He needs to gain more lean muscle mass. His breathing is doing very well now that his cannula was turned back up to 3 liter flow.  He was very alert and awake this morning. We will be so glad when he is ready to go home!