Day 9 Updates

I got to spend some good quality time with my little man today. The 2pm feeding seems to be the best in terms of him being alert and receptive to feeding, without the feeding tube that is. He usually wakes up about 10 minutes before care time and is wide-eyed and alert. He will stay awake for almost an hour just looking up at me, so I always make sure to make it for this care time.

Today, he did what I expected him to, woke up started searching for his hands, but didn't really want them when he found them. I was waiting for the nurse to bring his bottle so we can try that instead of just breastfeeding. So while he was waiting, I offered him the paci, and he just went to town. Strong sucking reflex!

In the past, he hadn't been interested in the bottle. But today, he successfully took 5 cc's (I know...not much, but it's the first time) without spitting up or loosing any. He seemed like that was enough, so we didn't push it.

Hopefully they will be successful another time on the next shift, as this is key for him being ready to come home. His little girlfriend, who was a week ahead gestationally, but a day before in terms of when she was born, went home today. She has always been about a day ahead of Gunner...so he may be getting ready to go home before too long. That is if he continues eating progress.

He is also gaining weight, he is now up to 4lb 3.6oz....all is good!

Day 8 Updates

Gunner has left the NICU....he is now on the 3rd floor, step-down NICU or intermediate care nursery. He is doing well, but the feeding tube in his nose (in my opinion) sucks. It is to help him transfer to oral feeding, but he is getting really stuffed up and spitting up more with it in. His first day in clothes below...

Greyson came to see his baby today, although he told us he wanted a "sister" for his birthday...good luck with that kid. Two boys is all we want and can handle. Here is Greyson loving on his baby....

He is done with phototherapy for now...and in an open air crib, they will be monitoring if he can control his own temperature through the night. But here is a pic of him on the beach (aka bililiytes) it looks like I did some fun photoshopping, but this is just how the pic turned out.

I was finally able to load up the pics on my camera and I found the last belly pic that I took, ironically 2 days before my water broke, taken at 28.4 weeks.

ONE WEEK OLD....

That's right, today is Gunner's "one week birthday" he is now 34 weeks gestational age. His big birthday present was the removal of his IV. He is now IV free. He is eating 40cc's at each sitting, which is about 1 1/3 ounces.

Last night when we called to check on him, after visiting, he was up to 4lbs 2 oz. So he is growing!

I held him for about 2 hours today and he is figuring out how the rooting and sucking reflexes work together and getting how to eat without the feeding tube. They will be moving the tube to his nose so he can eat without it disturbing him. Soon he will not need one at all.

They are moving him down to the step down or intermediate care nursery sometime this weekend.

Day 6 Updates

Today was a much better day. He had phototherapy but I got to hold him for a few hours and we had the LC come in and she helped put him to breast and he likes that much more than pacis or bottle nipples. So I am much better today...

They are also hoping to get rid of the IV. They are increasing his feeds 3cc's each feeding till they hit a max of 40cc's which is about 1 1/2 ounces. He is doing great. He took 32 with no aspirations. So hopefully, when I get there tomorrow, he won't have the IV in his head any more.

Day 5 Updates...Mommy is hormonal

So, I would like to start by it is amazing to sleep in your own bed, even if it was only for 3 hours. I am up every 3 hours and every 3 hours I changed positions and sleeping location. Started on the couch, that hurt to get up and hit the bathroom, went to the recliner, that is comfortable to sit in, but not sleep in. Then I finally went up to my bed....ahhh.

I am still healing and it isn't easy to take it easy, especially when you have a sweet little boy all by himself...but that little guy is doing awesome. He is eating more and more. They have upped his feedings to 26cc (which is almost a full ounce) 8 times a day and lowered his IV fluids to 4 units an hour. They hope to discontinue the IV sometime this week. As he is tolerating the food so well. When that happens, he may move to the 3rd floor.

The IV needed to be replaced today, which was so much harder on mommy than him. I bawled. It was hard to see him have to go thru it and I left the room. It took an hour to finally get it in and after three tries in three places, he was getting pretty fiesty so it went in his sweet little head vein. Mommy bawls again.

He is under the bililytes today and they hope the phototherapy will help get his levels down. I guess it is more common in breastfed babies for the regulation of the billirubin to take a little longer. So we didn't get to hold him, which of course is hard, but we also know if he needs the phototherapy, in the long run this will help him get better faster.

So there may not be any photo updates for a few days. I can't stand to see him with his little head IV.

Day 4 Updates...Mommy Goes Home...

Little Gunner at 4 days old...

Today, after feeding, holding and stamping footprints, Mommy was discharged and Gunner stayed in the NICU...emotional, yes, but I honestly think it would be worse to have him home, because there is no way that I could provide for him the care he is getting in the NICU. The nurses there are amazing. I actually think if he were home at this point, I would be in the same 100% anxiety state that I was in the hospital those 5 weeks before he was born. So, is it odd to drive home without your baby? Yes, but it sure is better to know he is in the best hands there are.

Honestly, yes, I did cry on the way home from the hospital. But it wasn't really because he wasn't with us. It was because I was having flashbacks to on the way there when I was not sure he would be ok.

He was doing great this morning. They have increased his feeding to 20cc's, which is over a half an ounce. Dr. also said if he wants more, he can have it. This is key to regulating his billirubin count, as well as the poopy diapers they get real excited about in the NICU. They sound as though they will be removing his IV later this week and that would be when he moves to the step down nursery, to "feed and grow". He was loving his paci today; especially when you put your finger in the hole of it from behind so he can feel the nipple better.

Day 3 Update

Little Gunner continues to amaze us. He is just the sweetest baby. He has the "schedule" of the NICU down. He wakes up and cries right before it is time to eat, which happens at 8, 11, 2, 5 in the am and pm. During this time he is so alert and awake and it's great to see him acknowledge and recognize our voices.

He also has taken a big liking to the paci, especially right before he eats. This is great because it shows he is developing his sucking reflex/skills, very necessary to eat.

Brian is amazing with him. He is so comfortable and has changed many a diaper and has logged in hours holding him. So today, I decided since I have been feeling much better and starting to really recover, to spend some extra time with him. I made it down there for several feedings, changed a couple of diapers, and held him a lot.

I have been doing my duty, pumping every 3 hours, as he is getting to where he is eating a half an ounce (16cc's) at each sitting. This is really helping his billirubin levels, along with chilling on the glow blanket.

I am getting discharged tomorrow, which of course will be hard, but we do know he is in great hands here.