8-31-10

Oliver has had a very productive day. The morphine was weaned down to 25mcg/kg and he seems to be doing better today with the weaning. He still gets a little jittery and his blood pressure elevates but nothing like yesterday. His blood pressure seems to be running higher so they did an ultrasound of his kidneys since they're thinking that tiny clots may be forming at the tip of the umbilical arterial catheter (UAC) and migrating to his kidneys causing the blood pressure to go up. So, today they took out the UAC and he was such a good boy during it and slept through the whole thing. This means that they will have to prick his heels now for blood draws but at least they made the lab draws to only twice a day instead of every 6 hours. With the UAC out now we also won't be able to see what his blood pressure is constantly.

They discontinued his antibiotics today. They also discontinued the NO (nitric oxide) that he got through the ventilator to help dilate the capillary branches. He seems to be doing really well with his breathing. His oxygen concentration is at 29% and his saturation is 95%. They turned his respiratory rate down to 10 breaths a minute but he takes a lot more than that on his own. He is initiating most of his breaths on his own at this time taking over 100 breaths by himself.

Slowly they are starting to wean him off of everything. His nurse today said that with the UAC out that they can put him on his tummy now and see if he likes that AND that also means that I may be able to hold him finally today or tomorrow!!!!!! His feedings were increased to 20ml every 4 hours now so that is 2/3 of an ounce he's getting along with the IV nutrition, fats, and lipids. His labs were all good today as well.

One of his fellows (doctor in training to be a neonatologist) told me today that in the next few days he might be able to be extubated (take the breathing tube out). I can't believe how fast this is all going now. I'm so excited and proud of Oliver. He's doing so well. He really is a fighter. If I get to hold him I'll get pictures and will post. That is all for now I guess.