Over the past few weeks I've been hearing about approximate dates for milestones in little John's development. While the nurses and doctors are adamant that every baby is different and things can happen sooner or later, we've been looking forward to these dates as goals. When he got sick a few weeks ago, I was really bummed because he had been doing so well. I was certain we would be set back weeks. It was impossible to imagine that things would do a complete 180 so quickly. Well, not wanting to disappoint his mama, my boy has been working overtime to make sure he hits these dates--I'm so completely blown away with his progress!
Last night John and I went to visit him, and I was a bit nervous when he was really warm when I took his temperature...then I learned that's a good thing! His temperature in isolette was automatically adjusting based on a temperature probe in his armpit. Because he is getting fatter--he's now 3 lbs 13 oz and has shed the excess water weight--the probe is becoming less accurate so this control function doesn't work well. The nurse switched the isolette over to manual control, and they're now starting to wean the temp down to room temperature. Right now his isolette is 32 degrees celsius, and room temp is 28. As they lower that temperature, they will start dressing him and swaddling him. When he gets to 28, as long as he's maintaining his body temperature and still gaining weight, they'll move him to his crib!!! We expect this to happen within the next week or two.
When I showed up today, I took a look at his oxygen levels before peeking in at him. The dial was at 27% when he's usually 35-45% (sometimes higher). Then I peeked under the blanket draped over the isolette and saw that he was laying on his back. This boy hates his back! The sides of his head are getting flat because he HATES laying on his back. His oxygen is usually highest in this position, which sucks since we want him to have a nice round head. Then I looked back at his equipment and saw his high-flow level was down to 2.5 when it was at 4 yesterday (it was 6 last week). I couldn't believe it so I asked the nurse. She said they lowered his high-flow to 3 and that the 2.5 must be an accident with the equipment and she bumped it back to 3. Either way, he was kicking butt at the 2.5 so I'm confident he'll keep weening down in the next few days.
I held him for 2 hours and his oxygen level dropped down to 23%. When I had to put him back he was pretty upset and fussy about it. Even then his oxygen only needed to go to 29%. I positioned him on his back and gave him his binky to calm him down. His oxygen STILL stayed low, and he just sucked away. His nurse was so proud of him, she told me that on Monday, as long as he keeps this up over the weekend, she's going to speak to the doctor about starting him on his breast feeding training. I'm so floored by this. It's typical to start this around 34 weeks, and today he is 34 weeks on the nose. If you had asked me a week ago, I never would've guessed that he'd be ready by now. I know things can change, and he may not be ready on Monday, but he is so close. I'm getting so excited and nervous, I have to try not to think about it.
When he was first born, I was too scared to buy anything for him. Now I'm stuck here completely unprepared while he's working so hard to come home. This weekend that will all be fixed. It's drill weekend for John, and the kids are visiting their other parents so I have all this time to myself. Instead of watching movies, eating chocolates, and drinking wine like I usually do, I'm scrubbing the house and buying all the baby gear we'll need. Next Saturday, John and I are attending the mandatory discharge and CPR class. Oh my hell, this is really happening!!!
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