August 11, 2008 afternoon

Stu and I went to see Brandon this afternoon. Stu kangarooed and then we both got to hold him like a real baby for a little while. It was great being able to hold him like that. Brandon is up to 24 cc's of milk every 3 hours.

August 10, 2008 evening

Brandon had a good night when I was there tonight. I kangarooed for 2 hours and he was good the whole time. Sue was his nurse tonight and I talked to her about the head ultrasound results. She said not to worry at all, that it means nothing about the ventricles being slightly enlarged. He weighed 1213 grams tonight so he is now 2 pounds, 11 ounces.

August 10, 2008 afternoon

Brandon continues to do well. He is still on 21% oxygen except for his cares when he needs to be turned up slightly since he gets mad that he is being disturbed. Dr. Alemany called before Stu and I went to the hospital and said Brandon is doing "amazing" and that he really turned the corner. He said he will be on CPAP for another 2 weeks approximately. He should be on straight CPAP sometime this week. Right now he gets some assisted breaths but they will stop that sometime this week so he is only getting oxygen. Once he comes off CPAP they will start with bottle feedings and not too long after will be able to come home. He is still getting his milk through a tube that goes through his mouth into his stomach. Probably he will be home in another 4-6 weeks it sounds like.

5 weeks old

I was at the hospital all afternoon and again tonight. Stu worked today so he came after work. I kangarooed with Brandon both times. Brandon has been at 21% oxygen since yesterday afternoon almost the whole time. His nurses have had to turn him up slightly for his feeds and cares but then they turn him back to 21%. He has been doing really well. He had 23 cc's of milk today. His weight was 1172 grams so another gain. Two nurses that had not seen Brandon in a few weeks stopped by his isolette tonight to see him. They both said how big he is getting. He really is starting to fill out a lot.

Evening Update

Brandon weighed 1159 grams tonight so he is now almost 2 pounds,9 ounces. He seems to put on an ounce everyday. I kangarooed for 2 hours tonight and he was very relaxed.

31 weeks corrected

Brandon was still on 22% oxygen when I was at the hospital this afternoon. Room air is 21% so it is great that he is so low. His pressure on the nasal IMV was also lowered. He is now at 50, which means he is getting 50 puffs of air a minute, instead of 60. He was switched yesterday and has been doing great. He is now getting 22 cc's of milk every 3 hours. Dr. Alemany talked to me when I was there about the results of the head ultrasound. The ventricles are slightly enlarged but Dr. Alemany does not seem to think it is a concern. He said the reason they are enlarged is because of having been on the vent and now on the IMV/CPAP. However, he needs to be on those. Brandon will have a repeat head ultrasound in a few weeks.

First Bath

Brandon had his first bath last night and really enjoyed it. He didn't cry and seemed very relaxed. Sue showed me how to do the bath and I did it. Before giving him his bath she told me that he might not be able to kangaroo after the bath because it might be too much on him. After his bath he was doing fine so she said I could kangaroo if I wanted. She thought my temperature would get his temperature up quicker than the isolette would. I kangarooed for almost 2 hours and he did great. He was very relaxed after his bath and just slept the whole time.

Brandon had his second head ultrasound yesterday afternoon. I will find out the results today. Sue looked in the computer last night to see if the results were in yet but they were not. She said that the lab is quick to call the NICU if there is a problem and they had not called so she said she is sure everything is fine.

Brandon is now 1127 grams which is almost 2 pounds, 8 ounces. I can really see how big he is getting now when I go to see him.