First Kangaroo Care

I went to the hospital tonight from 7:45-10:30. Brandon had a good night again. I got to do kangaroo care with Brandon for 45 minutes. It was supposed to be for 30 minutes but he was doing so well with it that Sue let me do it a little longer. His oxygen level was great the whole time (between 98 and 100) and his heart rate was great too. He really seemed to enjoy it. With kangaroo care his head is where my heart is so he gets to hear my heartbeat like he did when I was pregnant with him.

Good News from the Doctor

I called Sue this morning to see how Brandon was over night. She said he did not have any problems. He stayed pretty much the same. He still tolerated his feedings and was down to 23 oxygen.

I went to my doctor at 10:15 for my two week appointment. Dr. Rogers asked about Brandon and how he was doing and told us he got the pathology report back and that the two placentas had fused together. He said that if he had not done the c section when he did Brandon would have not made it. So it is a good thing he did the c section when he did it.

Dr. Alemany called when we got home from the doctor. He told us he had lowered the settings on the ventilator and that he thought Brandon would be on the ventilator for a shorter amount and that maybe next week he would take him off. He also said that he was increasing Brandon's feedings to 3cc's every 3 hours. He said that Brandon was responding very well to the feedings.

Stu took the day off of work to go to my doctor appointment with me so we went to the hospital this afternoon at 1:45. Our friend Stephanie came with us. Brandon was good the whole time we were there. The only time he had a desat is when he got his shot and when he was moved to his back from his stomach. He had to get a vitamin a shot which he did not like. He gets a vitamin a shot three times a week to help with his lung development. I changed Brandon's diaper and took his temperature when we were visiting.

Two More Good Visits

Stu and I went to see Brandon around 4:45 and then I went to see Brandon and my friend Sommer came with me at 7:45. Brandon was really good both times. At the 4:45 visit I got to hold the tube for the milk again. At the 7:45 visit I got to do all of the care and hold the tube for the milk. Sue was his nurse tonight. She said since he is stable I can kangaroo tomorrow. Hopefully he will continue to be okay tonight so I can. I was so excited to hear that.

July 16, 2008 afternoon

Brandon did such a good job with 1 cc of milk yesterday that the doctor increased the amount of milk he gets to 2 cc's every four hours today.

I was at the hospital this afternoon from 11:45-2:00. Brandon only had one desat the entire time and it was when he was moving around a lot. He was down to 24 oxygen when I got there. Dr. Alimony came over to talk to me and said since he was doing so well he was thinking Brandon would be off of the ventilator on the shorter end rather than the longer end. Chris, his nurse, let me take his temperature and change his diaper. I also held the tube again while the milk went in.

Stu and I are going to go back to the hospital when he gets home from work and then a friend of mine is coming with me at 7:30.

Open Eyes

Stu and I were with Brandon tonight from 7:45-8:45. We arrived to find him back under the bilirubin light since his levels (jaundice) were a little elevated. We had a great visit with Brandon. He did not desat at all the whole time we were there even though we did his care. He was fed again when we were there. I held the top of the feeding tube while the milk went in. Not quite the same as giving a bottle but it is a start. Brandon had his eyes open a lot when we were there. We were SO happy to see them. We have the same nurse as last night but she was a little better tonight so I left feeling better than I did last night.

I drove today for the first time since May 18th. It was so nice to be able to drive. I drove myself to the hospital this afternoon when I went to visit Brandon.

July 15, 2008 morning/ afternoon

I called the hospital twice this morning. Once at 6:00 am and talked to Brandon's night nurse and once at 8:45 am and talked to Mark, Brandon's day nurse. Both told me he was fine until they did his care each time and then he had desats. Incase I forgot to mention what a desat was in an earlier message it is when Brandon's oxygen level drops. Anything higher than 82 for oxygen is good. When it drops below that it is a desat. Once the nurses finished doing what they needed to with Brandon his oxygen went back up to where it should be each time. I am off to call the hospital to see if Brandon is getting fed today.

I just got back from the hospital. I was there from 12:15-2:45. The time really goes by so fast. I am not sure how since I just sit there staring at Brandon. Brandon had a pretty good afternoon. The only times he had desats were when he was touched. Other than that his levels were good. Brandon finally got to eat! He had 1 cc of milk when I was there. I got to help by holding up the end of the tube while the milk went in. Brandon now has a feeding tube through his nose. I also finally saw Brandon's eyes. He opened them a few times for a second when I was there.

July 14, 2008 afternoon/ evening

I was at the hospital this afternoon for a few hours. My mom and aunt came with me. Brandon had a desat when I first got there because he had to be suctioned and did not enjoy it. He seemed to be okay the rest of the time. I finally talked to Dr. Hudom who had not been there for the past few days and asked her how long she thinks he will have to be on the ventilator. She seems to think that it should only be for a few weeks but it could be a little longer. Brandon is on two antibiotics for something that he tested positive for. They may try to feed him tomorrow. I guess they can't while he tests positive for something but hopefully he will test negative after being on the antibiotics and then he can start to get some milk. Brandon also got another blood transfusion today.

When I was at the NICU this afternoon, Chris, Brandon's nurse introduced me to another NICU nurse who had a baby born at 25 weeks. He is now 6 years old and doing well. It was very promising to hear that. Chris also told me that I need to look at the positive things he has accomplished so far. I guess the whole NICU experience is baby steps.

Stu and I went to the hospital tonight from 7:30-9:15. Brandon had a new night nurse who I did not really feel as comfortable with. I am sure she is great at what she does but I did not get the warm fuzzy feeling from her that I get from the rest of the nurses. I feel like the rest of the nurses really love Brandon but I did not feel that way tonight. It was really hard leaving the hospital. Brandon desatted a few times when we were doing the diaper changes, temperature, etc. He was settled by the time we left though.