Baby Eagan - NICU Day 60

 Eagan has made it 60 whole days!! Honestly, there were days that we didn't think we would make it this far, but I couldn't be happier to be here with my little man! Yes, it really stinks to be stuck in the hospital, but I still have him and I WILL still go home with Eagan. Today, I had a pretty lengthy discussion with the neonatologist about Eagan and the future. Pretty much, the answer to all of my questions is "we just can't know yet." A ball-park idea would be nice, but that isn't really going to happen. He does have Chronic Lung Disease but that cannot be an , official diagnosis until he hits 36 weeks gestation. He has been on the ventilator so long, it is a definite. What this means for him, on the other hand, we have no idea. He will come home on an apnea/heart monitor, and possibly a feeding tube, but none of that matters because I will be taking him HOME. Until then, I will just hang out here, eat lots of cruddy cafeteria food, make way too many hats, and read far more novels than I can afford. Totally worth it for this little boy! Watching him grow and beat the odds over the last sixty days has been such a blessing. I would take it all away if I could, but honestly, I know out of all this that my little man is going to do something pretty incredible. As his July 19-25 "Aunts" would say, "Eagan for President!" 

Weight
3 lb 11.5oz

Breathing
Eagan is on the conventional ventilator. His settings are down to 26 breaths per minute. His oxygen rate has been around 24%. The pressure that the ventilator puts in his lungs is at 23. Also, he has fluid in his lungs so he is getting Atrovent breathing treatments every six hours. He still has the end-tidal to monitor is carbon dioxide levels.

Vein and Artery Access 
Eagan has an internal jugular line that was placed in surgery. Only one of the two lumens is usable now.

One IV in his leg.

Medications

Vancomycin and Gentamicin were discontinued, but may be restarted depending on his cultures.

An antibiotic, Oxicillin is being given every six hours. 

Hydrocortisone, for blood pressure and stress response, is down to 1.38 mg.

His Morphine drip was turned off and he is now on Morphine every two hours.

Caffeine has been started as a diuretic to try to speed up his kidney function.

He is also on Diflucan as a preventative measure.

Eagan also is back on the Synthroid for low thyroid.  

He is also on Zantac to help calm his tummy's acid levels since he isn't eating.

Albumen and Lasix are administered every 12 hours.

Nutrition
Up to 2 cc's of breast milk every 3 hours!! 

Output

Lots of pee and poop today.

Transfusions 

June 7 - Transfusion #26

Upcoming Tests

Another eye exam to check on the severity of his retinopathy of prematurity will be this upcoming week.

Cranial ultrasound at 36 weeks gestation.