Westfall Web

Well last night Greyson’s c02 number was a little better, down to 64.  We are happy about that.  I have been talking to Greyson everyday about how he needs to blow off all that gas.  I think maybe he heard me although I don’t think he really understands exactly what I mean because during his care time he was definately blowing off some gas, but not the kind that helps with his c02 numbers! 

We got to hold him on the nasal canula for two hours today, but didn’t get any good pictures so this is after he went back on the cpap.  He got his nasal treatment (inhaler) and got his nose bulbed before I held him and they got some nasty stuff out of his mouth.  Then after I’d been holding him awhile we could tell he was pretty plugged up so super mom (Stacy) got the bulb and started sucking.  This went on for awhile and it seemed she was sucking to his toes but she finally worked out a HUGE slimy booger thingamajig.  We should have taken a picture of that!  I am very proud of her abilities and Greyson breathed better for a short time.  After about 15 minutes the nurse bulbed him again and got some more goobers out of the same nostril.  That kid is a factory!

All in all it was a good visit although Stacy and I have both felt this week the weariness of going there everyday.  God continues to give us the grace and strength we need, and it is always good to see Greyson.  We can only imagine how amazing it is going to be to have him home with us everyday.

Well if you’ve been following along for very long you know that Greyson has been packing on the pounds.  Well today we saw how he’s been doing it.  Apparently he went to the gym and learned how all the body builders were drinking protein shakes, so he said, “sign me up!”.  Along with his milk Greyson gets this wonderful cocktail that includes extra protein, iron, milk fortifier, and of course mom made milk which he thinks is the best part of the drink.

When we walked in today we were astonished to see Greyson sitting up in bed.  We thought babies had to be much older in order to do that. Turns out we were right and he was being held up by his bed which can be raised.  They were hoping this would help with his eating, breathing, gas, and irritation level.

Greyson didn’t get to spend time on the nasal canula today since he’s had bad gasses lately.  They also wrote an order that says he can only be on the nasal canula once a day for a max of 2 hours.  This is down from the order that said he could be on it up to 4 hours a day.  Kind of a bummer but if it helps his gasses get better we are all for it.  Last night his c02 was down to 66 which is a relief, although we need them to get back in the 50’s again.

As a final progress note Greyson went to the eye Dr. today, well actually he stayed in his crib and the Dr. came to him.  His eyes are still at stage 1 which means he is doing well.  The Dr. will see him again in a month and if they are still doing well he will not have to have another exam for a year.  So it looks like Greyson’s vision will not be impacted by his prematurity which we are praising God for.

Well if you didn’t catch the post before this you may have missed that today didn’t start off too well.  Greyson’s c02 is still way too high at 79.  The plan is to simply hold steady and give him, and the steroids, some more time to see if it will come down tonight.  Unfortunately that means we won’t know until tomorrow morning (unless I find myself awake in the wee hours of the morning).

While it didn’t start great with his gas news, it was a pretty good visit with him today.  He was not requiring as much oxygen as yesterday and was much less labile.  Hopefully these are indicators that his gas will in fact be better tonight but again we will have to wait and see.

On a positive note Greyson helped us celebrate his 100th day celebration by purchasing some doughnuts for the NICU staff.  It’s amazing to realize that his is 100 days old today!

Greyson got a present from his Grandma Terry but was a little confused, he thought he was a Crusader! 

His c02 is still 79 so we are heading down to be with him.  He was crying so loud when I called this morning I could hear him in the background (well at least that’s good for the lungs!).  The plan is to wait and see if another day allows the DEX to kick in and get him back on track.  Lord willing that’s what is going to happen.

Today was a good, but long day.  Greyson’s Grandma Terry flew in early this morning to spend some quality New Years Day time with Greyson.  He enjoyed her holding him and we all had a great time hanging out with our little guy.  Unfortunately just as fast as it started it was time to take her back to the airport as she only flew in for the day.   Greyson was very alert for a lot of the time which always makes for a great visit.

Apparently all was not well in Greyson’s life prior to our visit however.  His gas last night was bad, c02 of 79, and apparantly he had at least two significant episodes where he de-satted, one of which included a bardy (when his heart rate drops too low).  The Dr. wasn’t to concerned about all that but did feel that his blood gas indicated that Greyson is not able to skip a day of DEX at this point so he is back to getting it once a day.  Hopefully this will help him get back on track.  Can I just tell you how excited we will be to have these issues behind us!??

Greyson is now the size of a newborn (hard to believe!) and is weighing in at 6 pounds 11 ounces.  Last night at a New Years Eve party one of our friends heard how big he was and said, “why don’t you bring him home if he’s that big!”  “Well, he can’t breath!”  was our reply.  Of course he can breath, he just needs quite a bit of help right now.  Anyway Stacy and I ended the day after dropping of my mom by beginning his baby shower registery at Target.  We are scrambling to be ready for the baby shower that the church is throwing for us January 15.  In the midst of all the de-sats and poor gas numbers it was fun to spend some time planning for him to come home.

Today Greyson and I tried out our new hats that Stacy made for us.  Greyson thought it was pretty cool having a matching hat with his dad.  Don’t get to excited by not seeing anything on Greyson’s nose, this was a special picture so we had him on blow by for the photo shoot.  Then he went on the Nasal canula for about three hours while Stacy and I held him.  We are praying for his lungs as his c02 was up again last night, not up too high but it needs to stay where it is or go lower as it came back at 68, too close to the 70’s for his dad to feel good about!

While we didn’t get to see it, Greyson tried out a swing today.  Apparently he was quite upset this morning so after they changed him and made sure his food was going they put him in a swing.  From what we hear he really liked it.  He was pretty labile today, much more than he has been for awhile.  We are not really sure what is up with that but hope that tomorrow being a new year he will start it off right by having a great day. 

Happy new year everyone!

Today Greyson got a visit from his grandma and really enjoyed being held by her.  He slept almost the entire time but decided to wake up at the end of the visit so everyone could look at his big eyes.  He continues to do well on the nasal canula and we are hoping that soon he will be able to be on it even longer.  At the end of four hours he gets so upset when they have to put the cpap back on him. 

Today when I came in I was shocked to find a towell rolled up and held around his face.  I just couldn’t imagine what the problem would have been that caused them to put that there.  Upon further inspection though I realized that it was there as a make shift mechanism to hold his pacifier in place so he could suck on it.  Usually when he sucks he actually spits out his pacifier unless you are holding it in place, well the nurse had taped the pacifier to the towel and wrapped it around his head in a way that held it right up to his mouth so he could suck whenever he wanted to.  He really seemed to like that!

So here is a picture of Greyson with his first ever toy taken on October 25, one month after he was born, as well as one taken by the same toy today.  I think you get the idea that he has grown a lot!  Not much to report today other than Greyson continues to do well.  His c02 at midnight last night was 55 and he has now received several new orders (all positive). 

1.  Only one gas a day, at midnight.  2.  He can be on the nasal canula for 2 to 4 hours a day (the old order said 1 to 2 hours but he has been on it each day for 3 hours while we held him, guess we weren’t following the orders correctly but he has tolerated it all very well!)  3.  They have further compressed his feeds so he receives 3 hours worth of food in 1 1/2 hours.  We think he gets cranky when the 3 hours is up and his stomach is empty which is good because it seems he is starting to know when he’s hungry!  4.  Today will be Greyson’s last day of DEX for the next 48 hours.  So every other day he will get a dose.

I really enjoyed holding Greyson today and was amazed at just how quite it is in room E.  Due to the fact that the babies are not as sick in that room they have the alarms turned down so even when they do set them off (which is far less often than in the other rooms) it is still much quieter.  Well it’s late and that’s all I have for today.

Today Greyson figured out that Christmas was over and he didn’t get a wii.  He likes his mp3 player but was pretty upset that we tried to make him believe it was a wii.   Greyson continues to do pretty well.  His c02 last night was 60 and at noon it was 58.  These are numbers we can live with!  While they are a little bit higher as long as they stay this low it will be OK.  Yesterday they started weening him off the DEX so he only gets it once a day now. 

Today he also took yet another step towards moving upstairs, he moved out of room C and into room E.  For those who might not be tracking with all these room changes, basically the NICU has rooms from A to E.  Room B, where Greyson has been up till yesterday, is where most of the new admits come and where the sickest babies usually reside.  They also have two isolation rooms off of room A that are used when a baby has surgery.  Anyway all the rooms are connected, just seperated by walls with windows in them so you can literally see from one end to the other.  At least with all the rooms except E, E is across the hall by itself and is where the babies who are doing well go as they wait to be doing well enough to go upstairs to the ICN (intermediate care nursery).  So this is a very positive step for Greyson.  In order to move upstairs he has to be on the Nasal canula full time, right now he is only on it for 3 hours a day while we hold him.  Today was his third day which was how long he made it last time before the canula trials had to be stopped because his blood gas numbers started climbing.  Hopefully he will continue with good gasses and be able to spend more and more time on the canula!