Weight at discharge: 6lbs 1.6oz
Austin has made it home! He was discharged around noon on Thursday, December 27th and we have spent the last 2 days trying to figure out a routine since its been 5 years since we brought Jackson home. He is the best baby and really doesn't cry much.
Jackson is absolutely in love with his baby brother! He is also very protective of him. When his grandparents stopped by yesterday he met them at the door and made sure they washed up and applied "hanitizer".
The next few weeks will be spent at doctors appointments making sure Austin is continuing to gain weight. He was discharged on Imodium and his stools are no longer watery but are still loose sometimes.
I guess that's all for now. He's been up for and hour and needs to take a nap.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Tomorrow is the Big day!
Weight: 5lbs 15oz
Austin is finally getting paroled! We are checking off the last few items before discharge. He passed hearing test this morning and is in the middle of the car seat test. If all goes as planned we should be pulling out of this place mid afternoon!
Austin is finally getting paroled! We are checking off the last few items before discharge. He passed hearing test this morning and is in the middle of the car seat test. If all goes as planned we should be pulling out of this place mid afternoon!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
One Ounce at a Time
Weight: 5lbs 12.7oz
It's working! He is now only getting my milk. I started pumping hind milk for him which is fattier and higher calorie. The doctor also started him on something similar to Imodium to slow down his motility. This is such a different scenario from Jackson. We had him meds to speed up motility. Unfortunately he won't be home for Christmas, but hopefully sometime next week.
It's working! He is now only getting my milk. I started pumping hind milk for him which is fattier and higher calorie. The doctor also started him on something similar to Imodium to slow down his motility. This is such a different scenario from Jackson. We had him meds to speed up motility. Unfortunately he won't be home for Christmas, but hopefully sometime next week.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Another Bump
Weight: 5lbs 11oz
Austin has not gained any weight in the past three days. We tried another type of fortifier where the proteins are already broken down into amino acids. He lasted on it for about four feedings and then started having loose watery stools. This is the most frustrating part of being here. He's not gaining weight so we trying to increase the calories by fortifying, but he doesn't tolerate it and has diarrhea which causes him not to gain weight and sometimes lose. It's just a vicious, frustrating cycle!
Enough of my rant! Here's our three month picture. I would have put it on him, but I didn't want to risk him burning any calories trying to keep warm.
Austin has not gained any weight in the past three days. We tried another type of fortifier where the proteins are already broken down into amino acids. He lasted on it for about four feedings and then started having loose watery stools. This is the most frustrating part of being here. He's not gaining weight so we trying to increase the calories by fortifying, but he doesn't tolerate it and has diarrhea which causes him not to gain weight and sometimes lose. It's just a vicious, frustrating cycle!
Enough of my rant! Here's our three month picture. I would have put it on him, but I didn't want to risk him burning any calories trying to keep warm.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Getting Closer!
Weight: 5lbs 11.6oz
Austin is still doing wonderful! He's about two weeks out from surgery and has made great progress toward going home. The medical staff are now starting to talk and plan for it but we don't have a date yet. Yesterday was the fourth attempt at fortifying his milk and again he is not able to tolerate it. Within about 4 hours he was already having loose stools that were blood tinged. It was immediately stopped.
Today when I arrived I noticed that his IV line had been removed. This was one of the last boxes that needs to be checked. He is now at full feeds for really the first time in his life, which now is about 50mL (a little over 1 1/2 ounces). They are trying vitamins and I'm keeping my fingers crossed he can handle it. He will still need to pass his car seat study and hearing screen. We are hoping to have him home by Christmas!
Austin is still doing wonderful! He's about two weeks out from surgery and has made great progress toward going home. The medical staff are now starting to talk and plan for it but we don't have a date yet. Yesterday was the fourth attempt at fortifying his milk and again he is not able to tolerate it. Within about 4 hours he was already having loose stools that were blood tinged. It was immediately stopped.
Today when I arrived I noticed that his IV line had been removed. This was one of the last boxes that needs to be checked. He is now at full feeds for really the first time in his life, which now is about 50mL (a little over 1 1/2 ounces). They are trying vitamins and I'm keeping my fingers crossed he can handle it. He will still need to pass his car seat study and hearing screen. We are hoping to have him home by Christmas!
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| Jackson forgot Froggie on his last trip to Nana's, so Eagle took him to visit Santa and they also paid a visit to Austin. |
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
12/12/12 - 83 days
Weight: 5lbs 8oz
Today is the day that Austin was supposed to enter this world.
Austin is doing great as usual. Today he was fed for the first time since his surgery and so far has tolerated it. We just need to get up to full feeds and tolerate it being fortified to get our ticket home. He has also been upgraded to a big boy bed and seems to be enjoying it.
Today is the day that Austin was supposed to enter this world.
Austin is doing great as usual. Today he was fed for the first time since his surgery and so far has tolerated it. We just need to get up to full feeds and tolerate it being fortified to get our ticket home. He has also been upgraded to a big boy bed and seems to be enjoying it.
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| The BIG BOY bed! |
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| Holding pacifier in with his arm |
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| Big Brother taking a breathing treatment (Thankful that Austin has good lungs!) |
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Hungry Baby
Austin is doing good other than being hungry. He was taken off the nasal cannula around noon today. He is not liking the replogle being down his throat, but it has to stay in to keep his stomach empty for the next few days. Once the amount coming out is minimal and he has a poopy diaper then he will most likely get to start eating again. The amount in the beginning will be really small until we know that he tolerates it. It will then be increased slowly until he gets to full feeds.
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| So upset he kicked out of his boundaries |
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| No Cannula! |
Friday, December 7, 2012
Extubated
Austin was extubated around 6pm. He's had a little trouble remembering to breathe after the tube was removed so he is now on a high flow nasal cannula.
Surgery Update
Austin made it through his surgery great! He is still on the ventilator for pain management purposes, but they have started to wean it a little. He will probably be on in another day or two. He is breathing over it consistently.
About the time he comes off the vent, he will probably receive his first meal again. Our goal for him at that point will be to get up to full feeds and tolerate it. I am hopeful that he will be able to also tolerate the increased calories since he is really small for his gestational age.
Here are some pictures of the first 24 hours after:
About the time he comes off the vent, he will probably receive his first meal again. Our goal for him at that point will be to get up to full feeds and tolerate it. I am hopeful that he will be able to also tolerate the increased calories since he is really small for his gestational age.
Here are some pictures of the first 24 hours after:
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tomorrow is the BIG day!
Weight: 5lbs 1.9oz
We have made it! Tomorrow is Austin's final surgery. He will be taken to the OR and the plan is to let Jackson sneak a peek of him as he heads to the elevator to go down.
Austin will be on a ventilator for a few days after surgery so that he can receive the good pain meds. I'm hoping he is able to go back to room air when they take him off.
One of the biggest things we are all looking forward to is Austin being able to eat with no limits. Right now he is only getting 13mL (less than half an ounce) every three hours.
I'll update again as soon as we have more information.
We have made it! Tomorrow is Austin's final surgery. He will be taken to the OR and the plan is to let Jackson sneak a peek of him as he heads to the elevator to go down.
Austin will be on a ventilator for a few days after surgery so that he can receive the good pain meds. I'm hoping he is able to go back to room air when they take him off.
One of the biggest things we are all looking forward to is Austin being able to eat with no limits. Right now he is only getting 13mL (less than half an ounce) every three hours.
I'll update again as soon as we have more information.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Three More Days!
Weight: 4lbs 14oz
A lot has happened since Friday. On Friday night a spot was needed on the North Hall for a baby that needed to be moved back from the South Hall. Since Austin is doing so well, he was the obvious choice to move to the South Hall. He will still come back either Wednesday night or early Thursday for his surgery.
The barium test he had done on Friday looked great so he is ready for surgery.
He hit another major milestone today. He no longer has a feeding tube! Starting Friday at noon, he has taken every feeding by bottle. He will probably have it put back in when they start feeding him after surgery. It will take him a couple of days to get his strength back and come off the pain meds. The practice he has now will definitely help make his stay shorter after surgery though.
A lot has happened since Friday. On Friday night a spot was needed on the North Hall for a baby that needed to be moved back from the South Hall. Since Austin is doing so well, he was the obvious choice to move to the South Hall. He will still come back either Wednesday night or early Thursday for his surgery.
The barium test he had done on Friday looked great so he is ready for surgery.
He hit another major milestone today. He no longer has a feeding tube! Starting Friday at noon, he has taken every feeding by bottle. He will probably have it put back in when they start feeding him after surgery. It will take him a couple of days to get his strength back and come off the pain meds. The practice he has now will definitely help make his stay shorter after surgery though.
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| Look Mom, No Tubes! |
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