We were able to be with him for this 2 month birthday - and cuddle him a bit. He was doing okay but wasn't very alert when we were there. The weekend was rough for our little man. While he continues to gain - up to 4 lbs 11 oz as of January 17 - he still struggles with his lungs. Wednesday he was doing so well with his breathing that he was able to step up to the next vent, which gives him bigger breaths that he initiates. He did well for a couple days and then had a couple steps back. On Saturday his stats were all over the place and that evening he was put back on his original vent, which does more of the work for him.
Sunday was full of tests to ensure he didn't have an infection. He was all drugged up on morphine when Pete came to see him. (Pete got to be in Iowa City to see our Hawkeyes win! What a fun season so far!) His tests have come back clean so far, but he's on antibiotics just the same until they can make sure. He's begun to retain more fluid, which is very hard because it goes to his lungs. So, he's also started on diuretics.
Alexander also started physical therapy this past week. This is often done in premies as they need to adapt to people touching them since their nerves are more sensitive. It was thought that Alex was having a hard time with touch and with his cares. After working with the physical therapist for the week, she was very pleased with how he's doing and said she has no worries with how he's handling things at this time. It was another one of those celebratory moments!!
Alexander should be progressing faster than he is, which shows how truly devastating his lung disease is. The nurse practitioner thought this would make his journey in the NICU even longer. She said that these babies can always surprise you but she would bet he would stay several weeks past his due date. Of course this news is hard to hear, but we have faith in his caretakers and understand that to bring home a healthy baby, it may take a little longer. We know it's a miracle that he's here - and we thank God every day for that.
We made light of Alexander's potential longer stay in the NICU by hoping that we may find a new home by the time he joins our family in the Quad Cities. Yes, you heard it right, we said good-bye to our dear River Drive on Friday. We are all moved into storage and are at home now at Pete's parents - God bless them for taking us all in, including our crazy dog and even the cat! We hope to find our next family home soon to begin our next chapter of a family of 4 (or 6 with our animals!)!
Doing physical therapy.
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