The Skype adventure

So, today being Saturday, Mom and Dad slept in until 9:00am a nice treat for them.  A new toy came in the mail this morning.  We decided to buy a netbook.  The purpose of this would be so that Dad could use Skype during the day to see little Josh while Mom is at the hospital and Dad is at work.  It will make it a bit more bearable for Dad when he has to be at work while Josh and Mommy are at the hospital.  It will also help us to keep in contact with family around the globe while Josh is hospitalized.  Josh got to meet his Mimi and Poppy today for the first time thanks to the netbook and Skype.

When Mom and Dad got to the hospital, we saw that Josh was doing very well.  He is up to 2 pounds 7 ounces today!  The nurse said that Josh was very quiet today, which is a good thing.  He hasn't tried to pull his breathing tube out, or had many apenic episodes with desaturation and bradicardia.  He is just in the phase of his stay where we get to watch as he grows and puts on weight, and pray that he does not develop any infections or get sick from anything.  We are very encouraged by his weight gain today and hope he continues to gain weight over the next few days so his breathing tube can come out.

Of course, Josh couldn't stay still for too long.  As soon as we got here, he woke up and started looking around and squirming around... and of course, grabbing his breathing tube.  Fortunately he was only holding on the tube, and not pulling on it, so we let him stay that way.  He is still getting 20 ml of breast milk, with an additional 4 calories per feeding of a fortifier to help him put weight on more steadily and consistently.  He is still experiencing reflux, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse.

We find it interesting the while the nurse reports that Josh hasn't been very active today or awake much (which is normal for a preemie), he sure does seem to wake up alot for us.  When he wakes up, boy does he wake up.  Todays activities have included trying to pull out his feeding tube, trying to untape his feeding tube, trying to turn his head again and scooting off of his cuddler.  Even though it isn't always convient for the nurses, we are very proud of our little mover.

A friend of ours gave us a little CD player that hangs on the side of cribs, and aother person gave us a baby Mozart CD (from the baby Einstein collection).  Although Josh has only listened to it for a short while, he seems to like it. Studies have shown that classical music can help with a baby's brain development, as well has help them to be content and more restful.

Prayer Requests:

• Josh continue to rest well and gain weight steadily
• Josh come off of the ventilator when he is ready, and that he not go back on again
• Josh continue to be healthy, and not develop any infections, especially in his lungs while on the ventilator
• Josh continue to take his feedings well, and that he not have any reflux
• Josh continue to have good, attentive nurses assigned to him
• Mom's milk supply continue to increase
  

 Praises:

• Josh is gaining weight - he is up to 2 lb 7 ounces!
• Josh's awake periods are starting to get bigger and we can tell that he can recognize us and is taking in his surroundings
• Mom and Dad got good rest today

 (Even in his sleep, Josh knows where his breathing tube is)

 

 (Josh likes to go with the full handed grip of his breathing tube)

 

 (What are you doing with that computer?  Who are those people on the screen? Must be Mimi and Poppy!)

 

 (Tired little Josh sucking on his finger)

 

 (Isn't he just the most adorable thing you have ever seen?)

 

 (Josh trying to scoot completely out of his bed, we think he was making for the door.)