Hi folks!
First of all, our apologies for not getting the pictures up yet. It's been another one of those weeks. Thanks again for all the comments, prayers and well wishes. We really appreciate them. For those of you that don't know, we are planning on saving/printing this blog for Zachary to read when he is older, that's why we solicit comments, plus it makes us feel good to know that you are concerned and curious about our sweet little boy.
As you know, Zachary is back on the CPAP. The pressure of the CPAP is 10 and his oxygen saturation fluctuates between 25% and 40% which isn't too bad. The oxygen in room air is 21%. They may try the nasal cannula again this weekend or they may give him some more time to recover, right now it's too soon to know.
Today, Zachary was seen by the pediatric opthamologist. The doctor determined that Zachary has developed a grade 1 (of 4) retinopathy of prematurity ("ROP") in his right eye. The doctor says this is very common in preemies and expects it to get to a grade 2 and then resolve itself without the need for treatment. He will be back to check Zachary again in two weeks.
Also, today Zachary was put on an additional diuretic. He seems to have problems with rapid, shallow breathing at times and his team of doctors, NPs and RNs plus the respiratory therapists think that he will do better with two medications to eliminate excess fluid.
Today Zachary had his first temper tanturm. His heart rate accelearted, his face got all red and he kept trying to get the CPAP out of his nose. Thankfully Mommy and Daddy were there to rub his back, sing to him and were able to calm him down. He felt even better a half hour later when Daddy held him.
Today we found a pediatrican for Zachary. Drs. Gant and Gray will be coming to see him next week in the NICU to meet him and to talk to his neonatoliogists. One or the other (or both) will be taking care of Zachary once he leaves the hospital. We are very happy with both of them and think they will help us take excellent care of our little boy.
Otherwise, things are going well. Zachary is enjoying his daily holdings, last week he was held by Granny Marie, then last weekend Grandma Marla held him and Mommy and Daddy hold him lots. Right now Mommy and Daddy are suffering through allergies, especially Mommy. We're hoping that the pollen goes away soon so she can breathe easier.
As always, love to all!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Day 43
Well folks, Zachary did so well on the nasal cannula. He was on the nasal cannula for 36 hours before they put him back on the CPAP. He was breathing so fast it was such a relief for him to go back on the CPAP. We sure are proud of him for working so hard. They will be trying him again on the nasal cannula again soon we're sure. By the way, this is not uncommon, it takes awhile for preemies to get their lung strength up to be off the CPAP and on the nasal cannula.
In the meantime, please pray for his lungs to gain some strength. He is such a tough little guy and he really gives breathing on the nasal cannula his all. It would be nice if his lungs were a bit more cooperative.
Thank you and love to all.
In the meantime, please pray for his lungs to gain some strength. He is such a tough little guy and he really gives breathing on the nasal cannula his all. It would be nice if his lungs were a bit more cooperative.
Thank you and love to all.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Day 42
Hi Folks!
Just a quick update to let you all know that Zachary is off the CPAP! Whoo hoo! So far he’s doing really well, his oxygen saturation is good and while he has periods of rapid breathing, for the most part, he’s breathing normally. Yeay Zachary! He didn’t even de-sat when Mommy took his temperature and changed his diaper. We are so proud of him!
We just wanted to share the news! Love to all.
Just a quick update to let you all know that Zachary is off the CPAP! Whoo hoo! So far he’s doing really well, his oxygen saturation is good and while he has periods of rapid breathing, for the most part, he’s breathing normally. Yeay Zachary! He didn’t even de-sat when Mommy took his temperature and changed his diaper. We are so proud of him!
We just wanted to share the news! Love to all.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Days 39, 40 and 41
Hi folks!
Well, it’s been a great week for the Baldwin trio! Zachary now weighs 3 pounds, 2.4 ounces. He’s still on the CPAP, but his doctor says that he may try to try the nasal cannula again tomorrow (Friday). We hope that Zachary doesn’t have to work so hard this time. We’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Zachary is now eating 26 mls. every three hours, which is just under seven ounces a day! What a big boy! He is doing really well since he went off continuous feeds and is now eating over an hour.
Today Granny Marie got to hold Zachary. It was a special moment and Zachary was awake for part of the visit. This weekend Grandma Marla will be coming into town and she’ll get a chance to hold him too. We know she’s looking forward to it.
That’s about all that is going on with us. We hope that all of you are doing well. Have a wonderful weekend and love to all!
Well, it’s been a great week for the Baldwin trio! Zachary now weighs 3 pounds, 2.4 ounces. He’s still on the CPAP, but his doctor says that he may try to try the nasal cannula again tomorrow (Friday). We hope that Zachary doesn’t have to work so hard this time. We’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Zachary is now eating 26 mls. every three hours, which is just under seven ounces a day! What a big boy! He is doing really well since he went off continuous feeds and is now eating over an hour.
Today Granny Marie got to hold Zachary. It was a special moment and Zachary was awake for part of the visit. This weekend Grandma Marla will be coming into town and she’ll get a chance to hold him too. We know she’s looking forward to it.
That’s about all that is going on with us. We hope that all of you are doing well. Have a wonderful weekend and love to all!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Day 38
Hi folks!
Zachary spent most of yesterday snoozing from his lung workout on Saturday. Today he was doing great and we both got to hold him for an hour today. It was wonderful. Oh how we have missed holding him!
Here is what the doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists have planned for Zachary this week.
- The CPAP was turned back down to 6 today and we are hoping to try the nasal cannula again later this week.
- Starting on Tuesday, they will be slowly changing him from continuous feeds to getting a certain amount at one time. They will do this by giving him his milk over two hours, then an hour and a half, then an hour, then forty-five minutes, then a half hour, or something like this. This is because he needs to be eating once every three hours in order to be able to bottle feed (thank goodness no continuous bottle feeding, ha ha!).
- They increased the amount of his milk intake again today so he is at full feeds for his weight, which is 3 pounds even (can you believe it!!). He measures 14 and 3/4 inches.
Sounds like a busy week for our little boy, doesn't it?
This week Mommy and Daddy are starting to cut back a bit on their visits (not by choice!). In a couple of weeks both of us are going back to work (until he gets to come home) and we don't want him to all of a sudden not have us there. Therefore we are slowly weaning our visits to match our work schedules. So instead of visiting for a few hours three times a day, we are visiting for a few hours in the morning and then for a few hours after dinner. We figure it will take ALL of us awhile to get used to this, but it will probably be much easier for Zachary than it is for us. We miss him so much when we aren't with him. The good thing is that he sleeps a lot and us not being there gives him a good chance to catch up on his zzzz's.
That's about all for us. We hope that all of you are doing well. Love to all!
Zachary spent most of yesterday snoozing from his lung workout on Saturday. Today he was doing great and we both got to hold him for an hour today. It was wonderful. Oh how we have missed holding him!
Here is what the doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists have planned for Zachary this week.
- The CPAP was turned back down to 6 today and we are hoping to try the nasal cannula again later this week.
- Starting on Tuesday, they will be slowly changing him from continuous feeds to getting a certain amount at one time. They will do this by giving him his milk over two hours, then an hour and a half, then an hour, then forty-five minutes, then a half hour, or something like this. This is because he needs to be eating once every three hours in order to be able to bottle feed (thank goodness no continuous bottle feeding, ha ha!).
- They increased the amount of his milk intake again today so he is at full feeds for his weight, which is 3 pounds even (can you believe it!!). He measures 14 and 3/4 inches.
Sounds like a busy week for our little boy, doesn't it?
This week Mommy and Daddy are starting to cut back a bit on their visits (not by choice!). In a couple of weeks both of us are going back to work (until he gets to come home) and we don't want him to all of a sudden not have us there. Therefore we are slowly weaning our visits to match our work schedules. So instead of visiting for a few hours three times a day, we are visiting for a few hours in the morning and then for a few hours after dinner. We figure it will take ALL of us awhile to get used to this, but it will probably be much easier for Zachary than it is for us. We miss him so much when we aren't with him. The good thing is that he sleeps a lot and us not being there gives him a good chance to catch up on his zzzz's.
That's about all for us. We hope that all of you are doing well. Love to all!
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