Scoot-a-long baby!

Josh had a decent night last night, with only a few episodes of apnea/bradycardia (slow heart rate).  He seems to be averaging about 6 episodes in a 24 hour period.  This hasn't really changed in the last few weeks.  Josh had a good day today.  When Mom arrived this morning she found Josh sacked out in bed.  He didn't even wake up when she said good morning.  That of course didn't last long! He had three really good awake times today.  During one of those awake times he attempted to crawl out of his isolette!  Mom was trying to pump and looked up to see Josh squirming towards one of the doors on the isolette.  The next thing Mom knew Josh had his head touching the door and was pushing on it with his hands.  It was quite a sight!  Mom thought this was a clear sign that Josh needed some cuddle time with Mommy.  While Mom was getting him all ready to come out of his isolette Josh started sneezing and sneezing and out flew his feeding tube!  He sneezed it right out!!  Even the nurse hadn't seen a baby sneeze out his feeding tube before.

Josh is still on the continuous feedings and seems to be tolerating them well.  He still has reflux, which seems to be worse when he is being held.  Mom and Dad have to hold him almost completely upright to prevent the reflux.  We are hopeful he will out grow the reflux soon or start some medication to decrease it.  Josh continues to do well with his "dry" breastfeeding.  So well, in fact, that starting tomorrow he will get to try to be breastfed for one feeding a day.  The nurse will turn off his feedings 2 hours prior to his breastfeeding attempt to help him be hungry and ready to eat.  Mom and Dad are hoping these attempts will go well.

Josh's eye is draining less today, which is a good sign. He is continuing on the eye drops for a least a few more days just to be cautious.  His blood cultures that were drawn yesterday are negative so far, which is also good.  It will be a few more days before the doctors will say for sure that he doesn't have a current infection.

One more interesting piece of information...the nurse practitioner asked us who our pediatrician would be.  We were a little surprised by this because we hadn't thought about who we would use for a pediatrician and because it sounded like something that is needed for discharge planning.  Josh is definitely not ready for discharge yet, but it is nice to think that we are starting the process now to get him ready to go home.  Mom and Dad are both very ready to have Josh home, once he is ready.  Anything that gets us closer to that is a step in the right direction.  So we are currently looking at pediatricians in the Gainesville area.  Any suggestions?

Prayer Requests:

• Josh's eye get better and that his blood cultures show that he does not have any other infections
• Josh have a good attempt at breastfeeding tomorrow, with no choking, or any desaturations/apnea/bradicardia while breastfeeding
• Josh continue to gain weight well... he is up 10 grams today to 1540 grams (3 pounds 9 ounces)
• Josh's reflux come under control, so that he does not have A's and B's caused by it
• Josh not develop any infections or get sick while in the NICU
• Mom and Dad get good rest so that they do not get sick
• Mom's milk supply increase to meet Josh's current and future needs
  

Praise Reports:

• Josh is going to start breastfeeding!
• So far any infections are localized to just Josh's eye
• Josh is becoming mobile and more energetic

 (Josh sleeping peacefully this morning)

 

 (One of Josh's many "comfortable" sleeping positions

 

 (Josh wondering why he gets so many pictures taken of him)

 

 (Josh peeking out of the isolette door after scooting up to it)

 

 (Josh all bundled up after coming out of the isolette)

 

 (Josh ready for a cuddle from Mommy)