Latest update on Welton

If he can't go for the Falcons, he might as well go for Daddy's team!  Go Pack Go!

Baby Welton is growing so fast!  He's up to 4 lbs. 15 oz. and today the doctors increased his feedings.  He is only recieving 18x his body weight instead of 20x because they're hoping his lungs will work better with less fluids.  He is on full preemie formula now (since I couldn't pump because of my medication) and is being supplemented for slightly low sodium and potassium.  He is having weekly eye exams with the opthalmalogist to check his eyes for ROP ( retinopathy of prematurity).  This week they found he's in the very  beginning stages, but fortunately, even if it progresses, it's easily manageble.  Welton aslo has an inguinal and an abdominal hernia, but both are very common is baby's born as early as he was.  He will have surgery a few weeks before he comes home to take care of both of those.  The surgery is minimally invasive and the docs say it's nothing to really worry about.  He's in an open crib now, which is awesome because he is keeping his temperature up where it needs to be.  His lungs are progressing, albeit slowly.  On the 10th of January, he was extibated and started on the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.  It no longer breathed for the baby, but gave him the sir pressure he needed to breath on his own.  On the 25th, he graduated to the big boy breather!  He's on a high flow cannula, which is only one step away from breathing on his own.  He's on 4 liters per minute of oxygen, and 25%.  We breathe 21% around 2 liters per minute, so he's getting close!!!!  Once he is breathing completely on his own, he will start bottle feeding, which will hopefully be easy because he loves taking his binky when being fed through the OG tube.

So, health-wise things aren't perfect, but par for the course with a 24 weeker!  In other news, he is beautiful!  His chubby little cheeks and dimples are the light of my life!  His poops stink to high heaven, but hey...at least he poops!  Since they extibated him, he's been so vocal!  His hiccups are adorable, and although it breaks my heart, I LOVE to hear him cry.  It's very tiny and quiet, but he's getting louder by the day.

It's definitely challenging, but we're making it through.  He should be home in 4-6 weeks, and we can't wait!!!