NICU: Day 54

Tuesday we got the results from our latest head ultrasound.  They were much better this time!  His ventricles, which were previously enlarged, have decreased some and the blood clots that were left behind from the initial bleed have started to dissolve.  The nurse practitioner said the radiologist classified it as "normal" and they were calling it "slight ventricular megaly".  I just heard improvement, so I'm going to stick with that!  I cannot thank you enough for this news, because I know it is from ya'll prayers that this improved!  We will just keep praying that the clots keep dissolving and the swelling will continue to decrease.

Our head circumference is growing along its own curve with his weight, which is also wonderful.  Our weight as of Tuesday night was 4 pounds and 4 ounces.   They increased his feedings from 27 to 36 cc every 3 hours, which is almost 9 1/2 ounces each day.  We are still on CPAP and the oxygen fluctuates between 40-60% oxygen, depending on how much he needs.  Hopefully we can get that down just a tiny bit more and then move back to high flow.  A nurse told me today we would have to get around 30% oxygen or below for them to move us back to high flow, so we must pray very hard that we can get his oxygen and breathing under control.  We cannot progress forward with our NICU stay as long we are on such a large amount of oxygen.

The early interventionist did put something called "the zaky" in his box the other day.  These "hands" are made of fleece and are weighted like an actual hand and arm.  The purpose is to simulate the baby being held, so it will improve comfort of the baby, as well as help with his development and help decrease his "spells" of dropping his oxygen saturation.  The picture below shows him snuggled up with the zaky.  The nurse did tell me he has been doing better today, so lets keep hoping and praying that they continue to comfort David and keep him breathing well.

These pics are not the greatest of his darling face.  The CPAP mask makes his face and eyes swell up, so it is a little harder to see how cute as a button he is!

One another note, a sweet lady from my church and neighborhood came by to see me last night.  She shared with me a story of her own, and then we discussed the prophet David's role in the Bible.  She said many things that stood out, but one thing she reminded me of was the story of David and Goliath.  This story is such a staple in all Sunday school classes and children's books, and I'm not sure why it has not occurred to me before.  We all know the story...David was only a young man, carrying nothing but a slingshot and was about to fight the armored, 9 foot giant, Goliath.  David called upon his faith in God to help him fight the giant, and with one stone in his slingshot, he defeated Goliath with a hit to the forehead.  My point is, this stay in the NICU is my baby David's own Goliath.  David is fighting his fight inside his body, and in his little plastic box, but with God's help and our prayers, he will slay the giant.