I was able to do kangaroo care with my sweet boy for two amazing hours this afternoon. Eagan slept extremely well and did not get agitated even one time.
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| My favorite part of the day. |
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| When he lays on my chest, he looks like a little tree frog. |
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| Some of the gear in Eagan's room. |
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| A new, comfy resting position for my boy. |
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| He is such a hairy little monkey. |
Here is a run-down of his current status:
Weight
1 lb 15 oz - Eagan is down 2 ounces but that is just part of the NICU, ups and downs.
Length
12.5" - We aren't measuring his length yet, so this is birth length.
Breathing
Eagan is on an oscillator and doing well. He is still breathing room air (21% oxygen).
His most recent blood gas test was good in all areas!
Vitals
Eagan's vitals have been stable overall.
Vein Access
Eagan also has a PICC line in his right arm.
He also has an IV in his leg. He really gets irritated by this one because his leg has to be on a foam board to keep the line stabilized.
Medications
Indomethacin has been started to close the PDA. Three doses will be given.
Eagan's CRP, C-reactive protein, was elevated today. This is a protein found in the blood. A normal result is .1, but Eagan's result was 4. An elevated CRP can be a sign of infection. Vancomycin and Gentamicin have been started until his blood cultures come back in 24 hours.
His white blood cell count was down today. His doctor no longer thinks he has an infection, but that his body was preparing to get the infection that I had due to the premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Zithromax has been added just in case.
Eags is getting Diflucan because he now has a yeast infection in his throat, most likely from the intubation tube.
His thyroid blood test came back low. He is now on Sythroid for low thyroid.
Caffeine has been added to his medications. Caffeine has multiple benefits for Eagan such as reducing his risk for cerebral palsy. The main purpose of the caffeine is to help Eagan to remember to breathe, preventing spells of apnea. He gets caffeine once a day.
He will be getting a glycerin suppository every 12 hours depending on how often he is having bowel movements. It seems odd to be so excited about dirty diapers, but he is peeing and pooping great which means his body is functioning well!
Nutrition
Because of the Indomethacin, Eagan's feedings are cancelled until he has received all three doses of this medication. This medicine can slow down his intestines so giving him breastmilk during this time would be dangerous and could lead to a serious problem called NEC.
Eagan is still getting vitamins through his PICC and lipids (a healthy fat).
Transfusions
Eagan had transfusion #5 today to make up for the blood he lost due to the pulmonary hemorrhage.
April 19 - Transfusion #3 and Transfusion #4 of plasma
April 18 - Transfusion #2
April 15 - Eagan got his first blood transfusion tonight. This will be the first of many transfusions Eagan will need. His hematocrit (the amount of red blood cells in the blood) has been low, which is just one of the many reasons he needs a transfusion. His blood is also drawn for tests quite often. Even a tiny amount of blood is a lot of blood coming from such a tiny baby. The transfusion will also help Eagan maintain proper oxygenation.
Jaundice
Eagan's jaundice levels were down today. He was on the bili lights in the morning
Upcoming Tests
The cardiologist will do another echocardiogram to find out if the PDA closed.
Next week, the head ultrasound will be repeated.
Thank you for all your love, support and prayers.
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