Lauren had a fine day today, according to everyone. She is not under the bili lights anymore and the eye shields have been removed. We can finally see her forehead and her eyes. She opened her eyes when Daddy spoke to her and she raised her eyebrows when Mommy reached under the Saran wrap, touched her foot, and started saying her name softly. The neonatologist spoke at length with us and was very positive. He let us know that her lungs are in excellent shape and that if it wasn't for the problem she had with her bowel, he would probably be extubating her, taking her off the vent, and letting her breathe on her own anytime now. He is going to wait until her gut starts working before he does that. He told us that the head ultrasound scan they did on Monday did not show any signs of bleeding in the brain. They started her TPN feeding today so she is getting a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats, etc... Her blood sugar levels are normal now with the TPN going in. Daddy discovered she had a wet diaper and we got to watch as the nurse changed her - boy was it full!!! Aunt Caroline is flying in from Texas later tonight and Daddy is going to bring her straight to the NICU. Grandpa Gilberto informed us that he will be going to the blood bank tomorrow to donate blood, and anyone that knows him can tell you how much of a sacrifice that is - he hates hospitals and needles, and all that stuff. Thank you Grandpa!!!
10/05/01 1:40AM:
Aunt Caroline got here OK and Daddy brought her straight to the NICU. Lauren just got her first toy - a cute Beanie Baby Kitten that now resides in the warmer at her feet. Lauren opened her eyes when Daddy spoke to her and sang "twinkle, twinkle little star" to her. It was time for her official weighing and sure enough her weigh has already dropped to 539 grams (1 lb, 3 oz). She looks a lot smaller now that most of the extra fluid is gone. She will probably drop some more before she slowly starts to gain weight. The TPN feedings are continuing without problems and her vital signs remain very stable. She has a few small spots of raw skin where there was some tape before. The tape just lifted the skin right off when it was removed since her skin is literally tissue-thin at this stage. She did not seem to be in pain, though. Thanks, God.
10/05/01 2:30AM:
Lauren just got extubated and she is now breathing on her own, getting a small amount of extra oxygen through a nasal cannula, a small tube with a tiny pair of prongs that go into her nostrils. The neonatologist felt she was "just doing too good on the vent" and decided to give her a chance to prove herself. If she gets tired or gets into respiratory distress she will have to be reintubated and placed back on the ventilator - let's hope she stays off!!!
10/05/01 9:30AM:
Lauren was doing fine on the nasal cannula, but there has been a setback. A while ago her heart started having bradycardic episodes where it slowed down. Typically that is a sign of respiratory distress, so the respiratory therapist placed her on a special set of nasal prongs (nasal CPAP) that hook up to the ventilator to give her a small amount of pressure to her upper airway, not directly to her lungs. If she does not improve soon she will have to be reintubated and probably sedated to let her rest.
10/05/01 11:30AM:
Lauren has been tolerating the nasal CPAP well and has not had any more bradycardic episodes. She is resting and is not as restless as before. Her skin is somewhat dry in spite of the heated humidity that is being administered, but the nurse said that was the least of Lauren's problems right now, since her skin will regenerate and grow even if it peels off. She started passing a small amount of stool, and indication that her bowels are starting to work. Dr. Bufo came in to check her surgery site and said that it looked healthy and that her stitches will dissolve on their own. She opens her eyes, makes bubbles with her saliva, and sucks on the tube going down her mouth into her stomach as if it were a pacifier.