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Published: Sunday September 17th |
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 Hi everyone, we’re back! First, we apologize for going silent so quickly and for such a long time. As many of you have reminded us, it’s been 3 weeks since our last entry. Life just seemed to overtake us there for a while. Kate returned to work a couple of weeks ago which took some getting used to. It was challenging for her at first to find time for work, hospital visits and life in general, but I think that she has settled into a rhythm albeit a hectic one.
As for myself, I have been overwhelmed with work as well. I have been working long hours in addition to going to the hospital to visit Luc and frankly at the end of the day neither of us had any reserves to sit down and write.
We understand the concern around the lack of entries, but we assure you that everything is going well and we appreciate all of the comfort and support that we’re continuing to receive. Most family and friends were simply worried that the lack of entries was an indication that there was something wrong with Luc. Nothing could be further from the truth. Over the past three weeks he has grown into a beautiful little baby boy (not to say that he wasn’t before).
 The biggest news is that he if off of the ventilator! It took a while with some TLC from the hospital staff, but they were eventually able to coax him off. He’s been off for almost a week now, and while his first couple of days were a little rocky, he seems to be settling in very nicely.He is on back on CPAP, which is the next phase in his respiratory therapy. And while the CPAP mask is a little obtrusive (think scuba gear), Luc is much more approachable as a result of not being connected to the ventilator. The CPAP is not as invasive as the vent and is much less intimidating. Kate and I have really been able to form a stronger bond with Luc for the fact that we can pick him up and cradle him now.
Luc has been steadily gaining weight and is now at 4lbs 11oz. He has been eating like a champ and is growing like a weed. He is pretty much out of the woods for NEC but we have learned throughout this process
to be cautiously optimistic. Another complication Luc is facing is that he may develop an inguinal hernia. It would be out of the ordinary if he didn’t as this is quite common in preemies. The practitioner seemed to think that he may escape this but he is not completely out of the woods yet. If it were to develop, he would have to undergo a minimally invasive surgery that would easily correct the condition.
 All in all, we are very pleased with his progress. He gets more and more personality everyday and both Kate and I are convinced that he is getting to know us and even when we are in the room with him. I was able to hold him for the first time today sans ventilator and it was awesome. Unlike the Kangaroo Care, we now cradle him instead of holding him on our skin. This is a little more fun, because we get to look at right him. His eyes are still a little immature but he is able to make out the shapes of our faces.
Again, we apologize for not writing sooner and we promise to keep writing although is will most likely be once a week from here on out. So, thanks again for all of you well wishes and we hope you keep coming back. |
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Published: Thursday August 24th |
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 Today is a great day! Luc is finally strong enough to be weaned a bit on the vent. He was previously at a pressure rate of 22 over 6, now he at 20 over 6 – so that is progress which Beau and I are thrilled about. They will do another blood gas late tonight to see how he is handling the change. Hopefully he will do well with the change and he will able to be weaned down again in a few days.
Luc and I had another great kangaroo today. My Mom brushed Luc’s hair and cleaned behind his ears as every good Nana should. I think he really enjoyed the hair brushing part. He is just getting cuter and cuter everyday – all the nurses say so, so it must be true! |
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Published: Wednesday August 23rd |
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 Sorry! Still no major news to share. My Mom has been here since Monday which has been a wonderful treat for me. I love just having her sit with me during kangaroo time – it is nice to have some company.
Luc weighs 3lbs 14.5 oz, so he is still growing like a little weed – he looks awfully cute in his little preemie cloths. Today he is sporting an outfit that his Auntie Shell and Unkie Dave bought for him. It has cute little blue bunnies on the feet which the nurses all really love and I love that he is wearing something from Shell and Dave. I can’t wait for Luc to meet all of his family! |
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Published: Tuesday August 22nd |
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 Not much to report again today. No weaning action on the vent yet, but his blood gases continue to look good so that is good news. We would rather stay were we are with the vent then to have to increase it again. Luc is almost done with the antibiotics, only a few more days so it will be nice when the PICC line is out again.
Sorry this entry is boring but we are in a lull in the action which I am personally grateful for. I don’t the simple things like just holding my son everyday and watching him grow – like the nurses have said a thousand times. No news is good news. |
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Published: Monday August 21st |
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 Luc extubated himself for the 4th time last night – I think he knew that his Daddy was back and wanted to show off for him. Luckily, this time he bounced back quickly and didn’t suffer from as many set backs as before. Luc is getting quite the reputation in the NICU. Every- thing else is still the same, which is great considering last time Luc extubated he went way up on the vent and I wasn’t able to hold him for two days. This time I held him only hours after the extubation. All the nurses still seem very positive about his condition, which reassures both me and Beau. |
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Published: Sunday August 20th |
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Everything is still the same with Luc.He hasn’t made any progress on the vent but
he hasn’t had a set back either so I guess that no news is good news. We are still on the every-other-day kangaroo
schedule, hopefully that will change soon. I miss holding the little guy whenever I want. His face is really starting to fill in and he
smells much better since the bath. I am
really enjoying seeing Luc wear clothes and am getting more comfortable
changing him myself. I can’t wait for the day
when I get to dress him in anything I want and am not afraid of extubating him
while I am doing it.
Beau is finally home. He was only gone for 4 nights but it felt like 4 years. Needles to say, Luc and I missed him dearly
and are happy to have him back. |
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Published: Saturday August 19th |
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 Today I gave Luc his 1st bath and I think he officially has curly hair. Luc didn’t really like the cleaning process but he seemed to be happy when it was over. It was very fun cleaning between each little toe and each little finger. I used a tooth brush to comb his hair. The nurses asked me how I wanted to “style” it so I chose the comb forward just like his Daddy does.
Luc weighed in at 3 lbs 8.2 oz, so he is still continuing to grow! We had a great kangaroo session today which always makes me happy. They said he did so well today that I may be able to do it again tomorrow. His temperature has been a little up and down for the last few days which can be an early sign of sickness but no one seems too concerned yet. Hopefully it will even out in the next couple of days.
Beau comes home tomorrow which I am very happy about. I think it is time that I reigned him back in. I am glad that he had his last hurrah… |
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Published: Friday August 18th |
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Same old thing, new day; Luc’s vent settings are still the same. They tried to do a blood gas this AM but it clotted so they didn’t get a reading. Rather then picking him again they are just going to do another one in the morning and then hopefully make a vent change then.
I went to see him for his 9 pm care which turned out to be a lot of fun. I got to wash him up a bit, behind his ears and in all of his little nooks and crannies. I also got to dress him a cute little onsie. It was very rewarding for me, I love it when I get to feel like Luc’s mamma. The nurse said that he handled it so well we might be able to wash his hair tomorrow – what fun! Luc weighed in at a hefty 5lbs 7 oz. He is really getting up there and has the double chin to prove it.
The family is all still up on the river. I believe they spent the day at Stovin Island, jerks! Brian and Sarah head back to Florida tomorrow and Brian and Ashley head back to Denver on Sunday. I think they all had a great time and I really am glad that Beau was able to join them. I can’t think of anyone else who deserves it more. |
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Published: Thursday August 17th |
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 Luc’s blood gas came back fine today, but not within a weanable range. They will check again tomorrow, but in the meantime will keep his vent settings the same. Luc extubated himself last night for the third time in as many weeks. As a result, the respiratory therapist opted to put the tube down his nose rather then in his throat. She said that this can actually be more comfortable for babies that are intubated for long periods of time. I was a little shocked to see it in his nose when I arrived today but I can tell he is more comfortable – he definitely has more room in his mouth for the binky now!
I am doing okay here by myself, although I didn’t fall asleep until 2:00 am. I was having hard time getting comfortable with the bed all to myself. |
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Published: Wednesday August 16th |
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Luc made some real progress with the vent today. His breath rate is down 2 levels and his pressure is down 1. They will do another blood gas in the morning to re-check his CO2 levels. If they remain stable, they will wean again tomorrow or the next day. Slow and steady wins the race.
He is still on the antibiotics, which is giving him pretty bad diarrhea. The night nurse last night had to put Luc into an entirely new isolette due to a “diaper explosion”. Poor little buddy – as a result of all of this he is beginning to have bit of skin break down on his rear end. Luckily he is in the right place and they have started treating it with super-duper diaper ointment that only can be removed with mineral oil. Hopefully it will do the trick.
Tonight will be my first night alone since the baby was born. I am actually looking forward to watching Project Runway without having to switch over to baseball during the commercials. Ask me how I am doing with the solitude tomorrow… |
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