YAY!

I got to hold him again! Steven will hold him tomorrow... so look for more pics then! :)

Another doctor said he has heard nothing but good reports about Noah today. He's doing fine. He is eating again and keeping most of it down. They're giving him medicine for acid reflux. His oxygen was a bit better today.
I made a sign to hang by his crib with a list of things that he likes. So, the nurses who have never had him can know what makes his stats stay high. The nurse I gave it to said it was a good idea.
We're taking a class on Wednesday so we can hold him again! I can't wait!
Oh, he's 2lbs 7.5oz.

He pulled his breathing tube out today. So, they put him on the c-pap. That is a good thing! We are praying that he'll stay on the c-pap.
He's having some trouble with eating still. He's not keeping it down all of the time and some of the residual is discolored. So, they're going to give him a break from eating and then try again.
Well, that's about it. :)

Prayer Works

Last night I was upset about it being so noisy in the NICU, and frustrated that I couldn't get a straight answer about his head ultrasound. So, when I came home, I prayed about it. I prayed this morning that his lungs would grow strong so they would put him in an isolette, also known as an incubator. It is quieter for him and would allow to him to rest easier. One of the nurses said he would be in one when he got off the ventilator. This afternoon when I walked in to see Noah, he was in an isolette! He wasn't off the ventilator, but that's ok. Now he will be able to rest easier.
He is throwing up his food every now and then. While he was doing it today, he pulled his feeding tube out. He's feisty!
My friend Jessica's pastor came to pray for him tonight. I was very thankful for that. I could feel God's power moving while we were praying.
Oh, the nurse practitioner talked to us about his brain scan. She said it was stable, no dilation of the ventricles, and no fluid except for residue. So that's good!
Well, I could type more but I'm so tired! Thank you for your continuous prayers!

Count our blessings.

Noah is doing well. Our favorite doctor told us we should count our blessings because out of all of the babies in the NICU with a bleed, Noah is doing the best! He’s eating well again. His oxygen level is still pretty high but they want him to come down on his own, no help from steroids. So, we have to help as much as we can to be comfortable. When he gets upset, he starts to desat, which in turn causes him to need more oxygen. Here is a link that pretty much explains the protocol on what the protocol is we are supposed to follow. http://geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/8623/touch.html

I know many want to see him. Please understand that we are trying to do what’s best for him so he can come home healthy and healed! Then we can all hold him and squeeze him all of the time! (after mom and dad, of course! J ) He can still have visitors, but not often. We’ll keep taking pictures though!

Thank you for your prayers!

Weigh-In

So, Steven and I had a bet going as to how much Noah would weigh at his weekly Sunday weigh-in. His weight last time was 2lb and .(point)2 oz. Steven said he would weigh 2lb 3oz. Jenny said he would weigh 2lb 4.5oz. Steven said, "no, you've over bid." Well, this evening the nurse said that he now weighs 2lb and 4.5oz! hehe, I won! :)
The doctor also talked to us. She said she was very pleased with how he was doing. He's eating everything they give him (10 ml now). His brain scan looked good last week so she wasn't sure if the neurosurgeon was going to do another this week. She said she wanted him to gain more weight before she put him on the c-pap so he wouldn't fail again. Tomorrow is the last day of his antibiotics. He's coughing a lot of that stuff in his lungs up still. (I know that sounds gross, but we're really thankful for it).
When we were there tonight he was so feisty he decided to scoot about 3 inches on his own. He's such a wiggle-worm when he's feeling good. :)
So, we're thankful that he is doing so good now and we're praying God will continue to heal him. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!!

Weight: 2lb, .2oz

Noah is doing fine. He's eating again. 5ml every 3 hours to start off. His oxygen is improving and the antibiotics they gave him are helping a lot. He's getting so much bigger! I love to just look at him. He's also opening his eyes more these days. As I was singing to him last night he was looking at me. He's so cute! :)
When we were there tonight he was really fussy. After a bit he started getting really mad. So, the respiratory therapist came and suctioned his lungs. He was very calm after that. The nurse said it was good that he is getting that stuff out of his lungs.
That is about all that's happening right now. Please be patient with our posts, we are soooo busy! Thanks for your continuous prayers!

Tiny Setback

Noah had to have his breathing tube put back in yesterday. He stopped breathing several times. The nurse calls it premature apnea. He's not neurologically ready to breath so he just forgets, especially when he's tired from fighting an infection. He does have fluid and bacteria in his lungs, which they are giving him medicine for. He also received more blood today and caffeine.
His head ultrasound came back ok. There were no changes, so it's stable.
The nurse told me today that he looked like he was feeling better. I'm praying his lungs will be healed quickly. (I want to hold him again!) :)

Ups and Downs

Well... this day wasn't as good as yesterday. They think he has an infection again. His blood pressure was really low, he was pale, and not moving. So, they started him on antibiotics, took more blood and some other tests. They also gave him some liquid volume. He looked much better after that, even opened his eyes for me! :) I could tell he just didn't feel good. I saw him right after work and he looked ok. When I went back he wasn't moving at all. I hate moments like that. I walk in and the nurse has to tell me bad news and I have to see him hurting. It seems like I'm always alone when that happens.
I'm also having a hard time with the doctor situation. I had requested if we could switch to another doctor that we really like. He informs us often and has a more aggressive approach of treatment. Anyway, I can never get a straight answer as to if we can switch. I found out tonight that he is leaving in a month. So, I don't know what we're going to do. Just keep praying that we'll hear everything we need to hear from his doctor and that God will guide her as to what to do.

Priceless

I finally get to hold him.

Squeaker

Our new nickname for Noah is "squeaker." No, not really. When he tries to cry he squeeks. It really sounds cute. We heard him sneeze for the first time yesterday. It's funny how you find joy in the smallest things.
I know the picture is blurry. We were just so amazed at how big he is getting. I had to ask the nurse if there was anything wrong with his belly because I thought it was so much bigger than the day before! But nothing was wrong, he's just eating and getting stronger.
Everything is going well so far. He's eating 12ml, 3 times a day. His head isn't getting bigger and he's still not showing signs that the hydrocephalus is bothering him. I pray that he keeps getting stronger and healthier!!

Patience?

I'm wondering what it is that God is teaching us. Is it patience? I think part of it is. I do know that whatever the lesson is, God will be glorified. I do believe Noah will be ok and that God will make him well.
When I arrived at the hospital tonight the neurosurgeon was ready to talk to me. Noah's bleed is worse than it was. He now has hydrocephalus. Which means he has spinal fluid built up in the ventricles in his brain. The ventricles are swelling and causing pressure. He is too small to be operated on and the doctor said he is showing no sign that it is bothering him. The signs would be breathing problems and rapid decrease in heart rate. So, he is going to watch him every day and continue to do scans every week. Sometimes the condition can go away, especially since his skull is soft. The fluid can be reabsorbed. If not, they can drain the fluid or put a shunt in when he is bigger. So, we'll just have to see how he does and continue to pray for healing.

Big Baby

Sorry we haven't posted in a few days. We've been busy! :)
Well, Noah is now on a C-pap, which is a mask on his nose that blows oxygen in. He doesn't have the tube in his throat anymore! He is eating a lot, 7ml every 3 hours and taking it well.
We were standing there when the nurse was changing his diaper tonight. Once she took it off, she said, "oh! a hernia." The respiratory therapist said, "oh yeah, it's been there, it does look bigger now." Steven and I both had a look of complete shock and/or horror on our faces. So, the nurse immediately calmed us down by saying it was normal (we hear that a lot) and that it could go away or they can fix it. They wouldn't repair until he is ready to come home. However, if it caused complications, they would have to repair it immediately. Another thing to pray about. (and of course worry)
We did get the opportunity to hear him cry for the first time and see his cute little face with no breathing tube. He is THE cutest baby I have ever seen! :)
He had a brain scan today but we won't know the results until the doctor can read it. I'm calling tomorrow morning to talk to a doctor about it and ask about the hernia. Hopefully there will be a doctor available to talk to!
Thanks again for your continued prayers. And thanks for all of the posts! We love to read them!

Good Day

The nurse said he had a good day today. The doctor called again to just give me an update. He said his lungs are still not where he wants them to be. They're going to do another x-ray on them tomorrow. They did other tests to check his bones, liver, kidneys, etc... and the doctor said they came back great. He said he is focusing on his bleed and his lungs. I like this doctor. He is filling in for the other doctor while she is on vacation. But, he seems like he is more aggressive in his treatment and really wants to get him better. So, I talked to the social worker that helps parents of preemies and asked her if we could switch. She really understood but wasn't quite sure it was possible. However, she said she would talk to him and see. I pray we will be able to switch.
I went back to work this week. I was glad to be back. Everyone there is very helpful, they are a blessing.
Noah gained 1/2 an oz since Sunday. He's getting fatter! The doctor wants to start feeding him more.
He really is doing well, I just have to remember that it is going to take time for him to be a "normal" baby.