Lots to Update

Back to Work...

Sorry that it's been a few days since my last update. I went back to work for the first time in a few weeks on Monday, and it's a bit of an adjustment for me. Let's just say that it's tough to focus on the job at hand when you know you have a little one waiting for you 45 miles away. Needlesss to say, we've been straight up to the NICU after work each night, and not getting back until rather late. I should be updating a bit more regularly now- maybe every 2 days or so.

What's New?

Well... let's see- Dylan is now receiving 23cc of breastmilk with each feeding. His IV nutrients have been discontinued, and mom's milk is all he's getting now (score one for Mom!). His weight is up to 1575g or about 3 lbs, 7 1/2 oz. Also, he has grown 1/2 of an inch since birth, to 17 inches long. Today, he also passed his first hearing test. We weren't there at the time, but there was a note attached to his isolette which explained that the test was performed and that he passed and also that they would be back to do a folllow up test in the future. Otherwise, there hasn't been much change to things. There is some small concern about his red blood cell counts, and that is something that they are monitoring closely. If they feel that he is not producing enough on his own, they can give him a shot of something called Epogen to help him do so.

He's gotten very comfortable with all of the handling from the nurses, and typically doesn't get very upset about anything that they need to do with him. He has earned himself a bit of a reputation though. Nurses warn each other as they change shifts, that he may try to pee on them or poop on them. Apparently, he has gotten a few of them. Dylan especially likes to wait until you are changing a dirty diaper to poop some more- into the clean diaper, of course.

Even better though, is what he did to me tonight. The way the nurses weigh him is a bit of a process. First, they pick him up off of his bed totally naked and weigh it with his bedding. Then they place him back on the bed and weigh everything again, this time including Dylan. The difference, of course, is what Dylan's weight is. Tonight, I offered to help by holding Dylan while the nurse noted the weights. So, while I was holding him suspended over his bed, he decided to poop right into my hand. There was no warning at all- just a handful of baby poop.

I'm so proud of him :)

Graduation

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Dylan has officially graduated to NICU2, where as one nurse puts it, they focus on getting them home, not just getting them better. Basically, it's the same setup as NICU3, but the nurses each handle 4 babies in NICU2 where they handle only 2 in NICU3. The nurses even rotate between both NICUs, so we can request, as we did, nurses that we have already grown comfortable with.

Speaking of Nurses...

I think it's important that I give mention to the great nurses that have been taking such good care of Dylan these first 11 days. Shands must really have the cream of the crop. It seems that the vast majority of the nurses there truly care about the babies almost as they would if they were there own children. Simple things like using pressure to clot blood after a pin prick to check the blood sugar rather than using a band-aid, because the band-aid hurts the baby when they are removed, or taking the time to slow down when taking vitals if the baby seems restless or agitated- these are things that they don't have to do, but the good nurses do because they care. It's really heart-warming to know that he is being taken such good care of when we can not be there.

Looking Ahead...

So what's in store for Dylan over the next few days?

By the time I am posting this, he should be completely off of any IVs. When we left, his lipids were on their last dose, and when that ran out, it was to be turned off for good. This also means that his PICC line, or central IV, will be coming out entirely. The only things he will be hooked up to now will be the monitors that watch his heart, respirations and temperature, and his feeding tube.

Also, a Nurse Practicioner called today to talk to Barbara about the possibility of moving Dylan to another hospital. Apparently they feel that he is doing well enough that he doesn't need the level of care that Shands provides. My personal opinion is that they are crowded and could use his spot for another baby. The problem is this- there are two hospitals in the area that they are affiliated with. There is one in Gainesville, which is a bit further up the road from where he is now, and one in Ocala which is currently full. Simply put- they want us to OK moving him even further away. FAT CHANCE. Regardless of the reasons, there's just no way he's getting any further away, even if it's only an additional 15 minutes.

Otherwise, it's just more of the same for little Dylan- steadily increasing feedings, watching closely to make sure things are progressing normally, lots of rest, and quite a bit of worry from his parents.