Sleepy Saturday

Saturday has gone by pretty uneventfully, which is good after the past few days.  Josh's blood cultures and spinal fluid have not grown any bacteria at all, which is good.  His repeat CBC shows that he is neutropenic, which means that his immune system is low and it is more likely that he would get sick.  This is actually pretty common among babies, and especially common among preemies.  This is because while a baby is in the womb, the baby gets its immunities from the mother.  The main thing with this is that Josh will have to be isolated after he comes home, with only healthy adults coming to visit, and not going to public places for a couple of months after he is home.

Josh did very well in eating yesterday and today, and that was shown by a 68 gram weight gain, so that he is now 2180 grams, or 4 pounds 13 ounces.  Josh is just 3 ounces away from the 5 pound threshold!  The doctors told us that we should go back to doing kangaroo care, since it helps alot with body temperature regulation.  We haven't done much kangaroo care in the last three or four weeks, so we were very happy to do this.  Mommy got the first round of kangaroo care today, and Daddy will hopefully get some time tomorrow.

The doctors said that they are just waiting to see how Josh does and recovers from his little setback at the end of last week.  Josh needs to be gaining weight consistently (a weekly average of 10 grams per kilogram per day), he needs to be able to hold his own body temperature (not use the radiant warmer that he is currently under), and not have any more apnea/bradycardia/desaturation issues.  It looks like the doctors may discontinue his reflux medication to see if he has outgrown his reflux issues.  He could still have reflux, but if it does not cause him to stop breathing and his heart rate to decrease, then that would be all right. If he still has issues, then they will probably put him on a medication that would be easier for him to be given when he goes home.

Mommy and Daddy are also welcoming lots of visitors to town, as Josh's baby shower is tonight!  We look forward to celebrating his birth with friends and family.  We just can't wait until we can take Josh home.  His bedroom is also almost completely done.  We will post pictures of Josh's room when it is finished.

Prayer Requests:

• Josh continue to gain weight steadily and not lose weight
• Josh be able to hold his body temperature and not get cold
• Josh not have any issues breathing
• Josh not get sick or develop any infections while in the NICU
• Mommy's milk supply continue to increase to meet Josh's demand
• Mommy and Daddy get the rest that they need to be a good support for Josh

Praises:

• Josh is up to 4 pounds 13 ounces!
• Josh had a good day eating today
• Josh's baby shower is today!

 

 (Mommy and Josh enjoying a tender kangaroo care moment)

  

 (Josh thinking that there aren't many more comfortable places than where he is now)

  

 (Josh's cute outfit with "need a lift" on his feet)

  

(Josh all done being changed and ready to be bundled up and start nursing)