In 7 Days

A lot can happen in 7 days. God created the earth in 7 days (well 6, he rested on the 7th). Daniel has performed some miracles himself in the last 7 days.

Daniel reached the 3 pund mark. His current weight is 3 pounds, 4 ounces. This doesn't place him in the heavy weight division but it does mean that we have a growing boy.

Daniel has started learning to drink from a bottle. Babies who are born full term are born with the ability to suck, swallow and breathe. Preemies have to be "taught" how to suck, swallow and breathe. The "normal" protocol is to start "teaching" when the baby reaches 32/33 weeks gestation. Daniel is 33 weeks gestation, this means that if Daniel was still in the womb, Mommy would be 33 weeks pregnant. Daniel gets one bottle day for "practice", the rest of his feedings are through a tube that is down his throat. When Daniel drinks from a bottle he burns a lot of calories, like when we go to the gym and do an aerobic excercise. Daniel doesn't have any "spare calories" which is why he only gets one bottle a day for now, his "practice times" will increase as his "performance" improves. (Daniel has to be taking all his feedings by mouth before he is released.) We are hoping he is a quick learner.

Daniel has started learning how to control his own body temperature. He is started wearing clothes.

Daniel did receive a blood transfusion this weeks. He received an ounce of blood in the transfusion. It is very common for a preemie to receive a transfusion during their NICU stay, a lot of time they require more then one transfusion. Daniel seems to have "perked up" since his transfusion.

Daniel had an eye test on Thursday. The test was to check for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity). ROP is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eyes, about 7% of premature babies have ROP. We are very happy to say that Daniel is not part of the 7%, his tested negative for ROP. He will have another eye exam done in 3 months (outpatient).

Pop-Pop

Happy Birthday!

We love you!

Wide Awake

Daniel sleeps a lot, which is good because he needs sleep to grow. He is not suppose to "be here" for another 43 days. It takes a lot of energy for him to do the "simple things" like breathe. A lot of our visits involve us "cuddling" with Daniel while he is sleeping until today...

Daniel was wide awake, alert and very interested in his surroundings today. After a few minutes of "interacting" with Daddy and Mommy, Daniel ate and Mommy rocked him to sleep.

Prayer works! Daniel's head ultrasound showed the brain bleed had not increased, another ultrasound will be done before Daniel is discharged.

Granny 2

We love you!

Almost

Daniel is almost 3 pounds. His current weight is 2 pounds, 11 ounces only 6 more ounces to go. Grow Daniel grow!

Daniel is almost "eating" one ounce of milk every 3 hours. He is currently "eating" 22 ccs every 3 hours, only 8 more ccs and he will be "eating" a whole ounce. Eat Daniel eat!

Daniel was not very happy when we arrived at the hospital today. It was time for him to eat and he knew it and he was making sure that everyone else knew it too. We "fed" him. Mommy held the feeding tube abd Daddy helped Daniel hold the pacifier in his mouth. (Daniel gets a pacifier during "feedings" so he will associate sucking with eating.) After Daniel was through eating we burped him, spent some time snuggling, changed his diaper before putting him in his isolette. We love getting to do the "little things" for Daniel, it makes us feel like "real parents".

We want to end this post with a prayer request. Daniel will have a repeat head ultrasound sometime tomorrow. Please pray that the bleed has not gotten worse, infact the ultimate prayer would be that the bleed has totally dissolved.

Father's Day in July

Daddy got to hold Daniel for the first time yesterday. Daddy and Daniel really enjoyed their time together.

Daniel is steadily gaining weight. His current weight is 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The goal is that Daniel gains an ounce a day.

Daniel's feeds have been increased, he is now getting 16 ccs of milk every 3 hours. As of Friday he is no longer getting nutrients and lipids through the IV, he is getting all his nutrients and fats through milk. He will stay off the IV as long as his blood sugar stays under control.

Thank You Time

We wanted to take some time to thank everyone for your thoughts, calls, visits, food, gifts and especially the prayers that have been received since Jenny was hospitalized and Daniel arrived. These past few weeks have not been easy, it's so hard to see Daniel lying in the hospital with tubes, etc. and know there is nothing that you can do to make him better. Your prayers and support have helped keep us going and even though we have not really taken the time out to thank you please know how much you are appreciated.

Tough Little Guy

It is so hard to believe that Daniel is 3 weeks old. He has been through so much in the past 3 weeks, he is such a tough little man.

Daniel was moved into an isolette on Friday. He has been in a warming bed since he arrived. This bed provided heat and easy access so the nurses and doctors could provide care and start IVs, etc. Daniel's move is a step up for a few reasons. 1.) Daniel is not as critical and the doctors and nurses do not need "easy access" to start IVs, etc. 2.) Daniel is ready to learn how to control his own boddy temperature and the isolette will help him learn how to do this.

Daniel is being fed 8 ccs of fortified breast milk every 3 hours. (5 ccs equals a teaspoon) The breast milk is fortified to provide extra calories. We wish we could say that Daniel was handling all his feedings well but he has really been struggling to digest the milk. The doctor decided to keep trying because some babies seem to require a little more food to help push things through.

Daniel is still having a few Apnea spells and is still receiving medication. The doctor said that a lot of preemies "outgrow" Apnea spells around 34 weeks gestation, Daniel is 32 weeks gestation.


Daniel is being weighed more frequently now that he is not as critcal. He was weighed last night and we are happy to report the he has gained. His current weight is 2 pounds, 9 ounces.

Mommy Holds Daniel

Cool Slideshows!

Daniel is doing great for a preemie.

He has been off CPAP and on nasal cannula since Tuesday. He has been having Apnea spells which is very common in preemies. An Apnea spell is when a baby stops breathing for 20 seconds or more and is accompanied with a slow heart. He is being treated with medication and will probably be on the medication for a week.

Daniel turned 2 weeks old yesterday and recieved a wonderful birthday present...Mommy held Daniel for the first time.

Independence Day

When we arrived at the hospital today we were pleasantly surprised to see Daniel off the CPAP and on the nasal cannula. An even bigger suprise was Daniel was breathing room air through the cannula.

When we called to check on Daniel tonight he had been given his first bath. He is doing well on the nasal cannula although the O2 had to be be turned up.

Daniel will start his feds again tomorrow after a few days break. He will recieve 1 teaspoon every 6 hours.

Daniel has gained 5 ounces. His current weight is 2 pounds, 8 ounces.

We actually negelected to take pictures today. We promise more pictures tomorrow.

A Few Complications

Once again we apologize for the delay in posting

Daniel is doing pretty well.

A head ultrasound showed that Daniel has a grade 1 intraventricular hemorrrhage (IVF). IVF is bleeding in the brain and will hopefully resolve itself. The doctor said that grade 1 is very mild. He explained it to us in this way, if you put several children in one room, half born with a grade 1 bleed and the other have born with no bleed you would never know which children were the ones with the bleeds. Our prayer now is that the bleed will not increase. Another ultrasound will be done in a few days/weeks to see if the bleed has increased/decreased/stayed the same.

A chest x-ray was done on Saturday that showed that Daniel has very hazy lungs. This could be a sign of Chronis Lung Disease which is very similar to Asthma. The doctor said that it is too soon to make a disagnois, several more chest x-rays will be completed.

Daniel's feeds were stopped for a day due to residual in his stomach. The doctor feels like he just needs a break. Daniel's digestive system is very immature and may not be ready to handle food. This is a common problem in preemies.

Despite all the complications the past few days, Daniel is hanging in there.