My time is MIA-7/13/09

I cannot believe it has been a month since my last post...it feels like it has only been a few days. There has been so much going on lately, every time I set out to write an update, things change so quickly it no longer applies.

We are finally off all of the oxygen support, although we battled with the nasal cannula quite a bit. 4 days on...3 days off...5 days off, 7 days on. But D finally had enough and it has been MIA ever since.

I wish I could write that D was up to full 30ml/3 hours on his feedings, like he was last week. But last Wednesday that all came crashing down. We had been working with a speech therapist on developing his oral feedings almost 3 times a week. Then D's eye Dr. came in from Flint and declared that come Thursday, D was going to need Emergency laser surgery as he was suffering from stage 3 ROP.

Retinopathy of prematurity – commonly known as ROP - is a potentially blinding eye disease primarily affecting premature infants weighing less than 2 pounds, 12 ounces. The disease spurs the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye, vessels that leak fluid and blood, and scar the nerve tissue inside the eye. This increases the risk of retinal detachment and severe vision loss in these infants, most born more than two months prematurely.

The Dr. returned on Thursday and was able to perform the surgery, and suspects everything went well, however we will not know for sure if it worked until later this week. There is a strong suspicion that he will need glasses at some point in his life though. In order to perform the surgery, all feedings had to cease 6 hours prior and D had to be placed back on the breathing tube. He was not very happy with that and yanked that out first thing Sat. morning. They did try to start things up with feedings again on Friday...however D did not tolerate that very well. So they ceased all feedings for the weekend in hopes of letting his tummy rest.

The Dr. ordered that we could try again today, however they are starting at a measly 3ml/3 hours for now. And they are using Neocate, which is the most foul smelling, partially digested, disgusting formula powder you can imagine. YUK. They hope this will be more gentle on his tummy, but I cannot wait for him to go back to BM. Fortunately, because he is taking so little, I did get to give him his first bottle today, and he took it like a CHAMP. Hopefully, this means we are getting the hang of things and the next few weeks will be a breeze.

On that note, prior to surgery we had a couple of nursing sessions to get D familiar with the general layout and idea of what he was supposed to be doing when placed at breast. He did well, tuckers out easy, but no heart or desat episodes. As soon as the IV's are removed we will be trying again once a day.

As for now, D is up to 4lbs 1oz...and we are hoping for his departure home within the next 2-3 weeks, but now that is all up to him. It just depends on how well he tolerates eating and eventually, nippling on a bottle and nursing. Fingers crossed.

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers, and ask for continued prayer for healing. We are getting there, slowly but surely, D is truly proof that miracles can happen. I will also TRY to blog more frequently, as I did in the beginning =)

Back when he was still in the cannula




Meeting Grandpa for the first time!




Look at those cheeks!!