Weight: 4lbs 10.25oz
I was glad to hear Austin had gained a little since he's still dealing with "dumping". He also took 2 bottles today in a row!
Austin will be heading down for the barium study very soon! We are one step closer to going home. He now will have to master taking all of his feedings by bottle and in the last 24 hours has made major progress.
Still keeping my fingers crossed that he will be home around Christmas!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Little Update on Jackson
Although this blog is titled "All About the Craigs", it has been "All About Austin" forever so I thought I would give a little update about Jackson.
Jackson has rebounded from the excitment of my hospitalization. He did have some behavior problems, but they were minor and to be expected with everything he went through. He still spends the night with grandparents, but it's not because he has to anymore. He goes to school 3 days a week and spends the other 2 with Nana and helping Big Pa work. He seems to always come up with some adventure when he is with them. Jackson also enjoys spending weekends playing with his cousin, Wyatt, at Grandma's house.
Jackson is anxiously awaiting the arrival home of his little brother.
Jackson has rebounded from the excitment of my hospitalization. He did have some behavior problems, but they were minor and to be expected with everything he went through. He still spends the night with grandparents, but it's not because he has to anymore. He goes to school 3 days a week and spends the other 2 with Nana and helping Big Pa work. He seems to always come up with some adventure when he is with them. Jackson also enjoys spending weekends playing with his cousin, Wyatt, at Grandma's house.
Jackson is anxiously awaiting the arrival home of his little brother.
One More Week!
Weight: 4lbs 9oz
Austin has been holding steady at 4lbs 9oz for the past 3-4 days, but at least he's not losing any like he did last week. We are about 7 days out from surgery and are super ready for it to be over! Austin has a busy week ahead of him with some routine things along with the preparation for his surgery. On Monday he gets another eye exam. Tuesday or Wednesday he will be taken down to have a barium study done on his entire digestive tract. This will make sure that he has no strictures or blockages before they close him up. I know the nurses will be extremely happy when they don't have to clean him up after bag leakages anymore. Then on Thursday he will be taken to the OR to have his final surgery. Please pray that this surgery is uneventful!
Please continue to pray for the other babies that surround us. We are not in the same room as Tucker and Riley anymore, but we see Tucker's parents from time to time. Tucker is still making progress but it is slow. We are now next to a little boy named Gabriel. He needs special prayers for healing and growth for his little lungs. His situation is similar to what Jackson's was 5 years ago.
Austin has been holding steady at 4lbs 9oz for the past 3-4 days, but at least he's not losing any like he did last week. We are about 7 days out from surgery and are super ready for it to be over! Austin has a busy week ahead of him with some routine things along with the preparation for his surgery. On Monday he gets another eye exam. Tuesday or Wednesday he will be taken down to have a barium study done on his entire digestive tract. This will make sure that he has no strictures or blockages before they close him up. I know the nurses will be extremely happy when they don't have to clean him up after bag leakages anymore. Then on Thursday he will be taken to the OR to have his final surgery. Please pray that this surgery is uneventful!
Please continue to pray for the other babies that surround us. We are not in the same room as Tucker and Riley anymore, but we see Tucker's parents from time to time. Tucker is still making progress but it is slow. We are now next to a little boy named Gabriel. He needs special prayers for healing and growth for his little lungs. His situation is similar to what Jackson's was 5 years ago.
Nice Surprise
After hitting a wall of frustration over the weekend, I came into the NICU to a nice surprise. Our Grapevine team, Dr. Kappler and Mark (NNP) were at Baylor Dallas today! Dr. Kappler was Jackson's doctor when he was in the NICU in Grapevine 5 years ago and Mark spent a tireless amount of time keeping Jackson breathing. I was SO happy to see them even if it's only for a few days.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Bumpy Ride
Last Night's Weight: 4lbs 9oz
The last week or so has been up and down. Austin is fine, but a few things happened that set him back a little.
1. Third attempt at fortifying his milk failed. I'm not going to let them try again until after he has been closed and recovered.
2. He started vitamins but they seemed too much for him to handle as well.
3. Got his first two month immunization.
4. The doctors suspected that he got another infection, so he's been on antibiotics for the last 5 days.
So because of all of the above, his feedings were cut from 40cc's to 12. He is REALLY not happy about this change. In my opinion too many things were changed in a short period of time so no one really knows what triggered it.
Austin was also moved to a new (much larger) room since they are deep cleaning all the nurseries.
The last week or so has been up and down. Austin is fine, but a few things happened that set him back a little.
1. Third attempt at fortifying his milk failed. I'm not going to let them try again until after he has been closed and recovered.
2. He started vitamins but they seemed too much for him to handle as well.
3. Got his first two month immunization.
4. The doctors suspected that he got another infection, so he's been on antibiotics for the last 5 days.
So because of all of the above, his feedings were cut from 40cc's to 12. He is REALLY not happy about this change. In my opinion too many things were changed in a short period of time so no one really knows what triggered it.
Austin was also moved to a new (much larger) room since they are deep cleaning all the nurseries.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Mission Accomplished, Day 60
Last Night's Weight: 4lbs 8oz (2040 grams)
He did it!
Lots of things have been happening in the past few days.
Austin has finally met the weight requirement to have his surgery, but we have to wait until the first week of December now. The surgeon is on vacation next week, so that pushes us to the following week. The surgery is scheduled for December 6th at 12:30pm! He will have a barium study done a few days prior to make sure everything is working before they reattach his intestines.
Since Austin has been doing so well, we were moved to the stable baby room although we are still on the North hall. Once the surgery is over and he recovers we will move to the South hall, which is the last stop before discharge. We can't get there soon enough! The only thing he really has left to accomplish is taking all his feedings on his own.
Today after his Monday labs, they decided to transfuse him again since he's been anemic for the past two weeks. It is amazing how quickly they perk up. He has been doing great with breathing and was turned down to .5 liter on his nasal cannula today. After this transfusion, I would expect he would be off of his cannula by the end of the week.
Austin also had his PICC line removed today. They had hoped to leave it in until after his surgery, but it stopped working this afternoon. The nurses tried redressing it and flushing it several times, but it wouldn't stay open. In a way this is a good thing because having it in for long periods increases risk of infection.
Last week Austin had a routine head ultrasound (his third). Jacob and I have been keeping a little secret because we didn't want to worry anyone. We were told about a month ago that Austin had a grade I IVH or brain bleed. He was never really symptomatic. The results of the ultrasound last week show that his bleed is resolving and because it is a grade I he should have no lasting long term effects from it.
He did it!
Lots of things have been happening in the past few days.
Austin has finally met the weight requirement to have his surgery, but we have to wait until the first week of December now. The surgeon is on vacation next week, so that pushes us to the following week. The surgery is scheduled for December 6th at 12:30pm! He will have a barium study done a few days prior to make sure everything is working before they reattach his intestines.
Since Austin has been doing so well, we were moved to the stable baby room although we are still on the North hall. Once the surgery is over and he recovers we will move to the South hall, which is the last stop before discharge. We can't get there soon enough! The only thing he really has left to accomplish is taking all his feedings on his own.
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| Not too thrilled about the move, he was the king of Nursery "B" for 8 weeks! |
Today after his Monday labs, they decided to transfuse him again since he's been anemic for the past two weeks. It is amazing how quickly they perk up. He has been doing great with breathing and was turned down to .5 liter on his nasal cannula today. After this transfusion, I would expect he would be off of his cannula by the end of the week.
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| He's got his unicorn horn in ready for his transfusion. (Yes, that's an IV in his head. That is the easiest place to get an IV in the little ones, but usually the last place they try.) |
Last week Austin had a routine head ultrasound (his third). Jacob and I have been keeping a little secret because we didn't want to worry anyone. We were told about a month ago that Austin had a grade I IVH or brain bleed. He was never really symptomatic. The results of the ultrasound last week show that his bleed is resolving and because it is a grade I he should have no lasting long term effects from it.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Baby Steps, Day 54
Last Night's Weight: 4lbs 5oz (1970 grams)
Austin had gained to 4lbs 6oz (1990 grams) and we were almost there. I am hoping tonight that he hits the mark! The doctor did call the surgeon today and his surgery will happen sometime the first week of December. Since we have a couple of weeks, Austin is working on taking all of the feeds on his own which is the last thing he will have to master before going home.
Update on other babies in our room...
Baby R (girl) - She was the one that her family was called in. I am happy to report that she came off her ventilator yesterday!
Baby T (boy) - He was doing well after his surgery, but developed an infection and was not doing well. Please pray that he gets well enough that his mother can hold him. She has never held him, but comes in and sits by him a good portion of the day.
Austin had gained to 4lbs 6oz (1990 grams) and we were almost there. I am hoping tonight that he hits the mark! The doctor did call the surgeon today and his surgery will happen sometime the first week of December. Since we have a couple of weeks, Austin is working on taking all of the feeds on his own which is the last thing he will have to master before going home.
Update on other babies in our room...
Baby R (girl) - She was the one that her family was called in. I am happy to report that she came off her ventilator yesterday!
Baby T (boy) - He was doing well after his surgery, but developed an infection and was not doing well. Please pray that he gets well enough that his mother can hold him. She has never held him, but comes in and sits by him a good portion of the day.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Quick Update on Eyes
Last Night's Weight: 4lbs 4.3oz (1937 grams)
Austin had his eye exam and the doctor said that he would not notice the defect. The drawing he did in his chart today actually was much smaller than two weeks ago. He will have almost all his vision in that eye. The only thing he may not be able to do is be a pilot and I have no problem with that. God is SO good!
He is now a little over 2oz away from qualifying for his surgery. I would guess that his surgery will be sometime next week.
Austin had his eye exam and the doctor said that he would not notice the defect. The drawing he did in his chart today actually was much smaller than two weeks ago. He will have almost all his vision in that eye. The only thing he may not be able to do is be a pilot and I have no problem with that. God is SO good!
He is now a little over 2oz away from qualifying for his surgery. I would guess that his surgery will be sometime next week.
Friday, November 9, 2012
All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go
Last Night's Weight: 3lbs 14 oz
Austin is finally to the point where he can wear clothes. He is in the process of being weaned from the isolette and will probably get out sometime this weekend.
The breast milk fortifier was tried again and again he is not able to tolerate it. Thankfully he was only on it for less than 24 hours and it was stopped as soon as he started showing symptoms. Because of this, Austin has not really gained any weight in several days so it is taking longer to get to the point of having his closure surgery.
Austin is finally to the point where he can wear clothes. He is in the process of being weaned from the isolette and will probably get out sometime this weekend.
The breast milk fortifier was tried again and again he is not able to tolerate it. Thankfully he was only on it for less than 24 hours and it was stopped as soon as he started showing symptoms. Because of this, Austin has not really gained any weight in several days so it is taking longer to get to the point of having his closure surgery.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Waiting and Growing
Last Night's Weight: 3lbs 15.1oz
After the dose of lasix the other day, Austin lost down to 3lbs 13oz and I had the pleasure of changing the 3oz diaper.
We are at the point now just waiting on Austin to get big enough to have his last surgery. NICU life is wonderfully boring! I am now spending everyday with him snuggling and enjoying my new baby as any mother should.
After the dose of lasix the other day, Austin lost down to 3lbs 13oz and I had the pleasure of changing the 3oz diaper.
We are at the point now just waiting on Austin to get big enough to have his last surgery. NICU life is wonderfully boring! I am now spending everyday with him snuggling and enjoying my new baby as any mother should.
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| Is it really time to change my diaper again? |
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Surgery on the Horizon
Last Night's Weight: 4lbs (1820 grams) (30 grams=1 ounce)
The weight gain above was partially fluid again, but he was given Lasix while I was there today and I got to change a diaper that was 94 grams.
Austin started trying to breastfeed on Tuesday and today was his best day. Because he did so well he had to be burped twice. When I started patting his back to burp him, he looked at me like "why are you beating on my back?". I guess he thought I was crazy since he had not been burped before.
As soon as Austin gains 180 more grams he will be eligible for his final surgery. The doctor thinks it could be as soon as this week, but it all depends on his weight gain.
Once the surgery is complete and he recovers his goals will be to take all feedings without the help of a feeding tube and maintain his body temperature out of the isolette. I think he already can maintain his temperature, but I think he is staying in the isolette since he will have surgery soon. They actually will do his surgery in the isolette and will close his room down to keep it sterile. His other two surgeries were done in the isolette.
With his progress, we hope to be home around December 1st.
The weight gain above was partially fluid again, but he was given Lasix while I was there today and I got to change a diaper that was 94 grams.
Austin started trying to breastfeed on Tuesday and today was his best day. Because he did so well he had to be burped twice. When I started patting his back to burp him, he looked at me like "why are you beating on my back?". I guess he thought I was crazy since he had not been burped before.
As soon as Austin gains 180 more grams he will be eligible for his final surgery. The doctor thinks it could be as soon as this week, but it all depends on his weight gain.
Once the surgery is complete and he recovers his goals will be to take all feedings without the help of a feeding tube and maintain his body temperature out of the isolette. I think he already can maintain his temperature, but I think he is staying in the isolette since he will have surgery soon. They actually will do his surgery in the isolette and will close his room down to keep it sterile. His other two surgeries were done in the isolette.
With his progress, we hope to be home around December 1st.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Making Progress
Last Night's Weight: 3lbs 12oz
Austin is still doing great! Last night he did a trial run without his nasal cannula, but has it back on now. He needs very little help, so he's only on a half liter.
Today his feedings were increased to 22mL. The doctor also said that his closure surgery could happen in the next two weeks as long as he keeps gaining weight and is over 2kg (about 4.5lbs).
Austin is still doing great! Last night he did a trial run without his nasal cannula, but has it back on now. He needs very little help, so he's only on a half liter.
Today his feedings were increased to 22mL. The doctor also said that his closure surgery could happen in the next two weeks as long as he keeps gaining weight and is over 2kg (about 4.5lbs).
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