Well, little John had another eye exam today and I'm happy to say he seems to be in the clear. He still has stage one ROP, but his vessels have grown out to zone 3. Basically there is not enough room left for any abnormal growth to jeopardize his eyesight. They'll check him again in a few weeks just to be sure, but they say we have nothing to worry about. Whew!
They gave him some Lasix yesterday and he lost 3 ounces of excess fluid. He's still a tiny bit swollen today, but he's looking so much better. He is IV free and they're starting to fortify his milk again with extra calories. His oxygen levels are much better today as well. That's the biggest thing he needs to work on now. He needs that oxygen flow to get lower so he can start learning to eat. He's been practicing the sucking and can breathe and suck at the same time really well, we just need him to get swallowing in the mix.
He basically has to do four things before he can come home:
1) Regulate his own body temp--we'll be there in about a week or two.
2) Stop the A's and B's (apnea and slowed heart rate) -- he's only had one episode in the past few days, where he used to have several each day. This typically is outgrown around 36 weeks
3) Be steadily gaining weight -- he's doing good on this one lately
4) Take all his feedings on his own -- this is the big one he needs to learn next
He has come so far in the last 6 weeks, and I'm starting to feel like there may be an end in sight. I'm starting to feel unprepared! I need to clean my house top to bottom, get the carpets cleaned, get my ducts cleaned, wash his new clothes and bedding, buy a car seat, buy a rocker/recliner, buy pretty much every other little baby thing (stroller, diaper bag, bottles, mini fingernail clippers, etc.) that I didn't get to since he came so early, and the list goes on and on.....I'm starting to panic!!!!
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And toys you forgot TOYS
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