NICU Diary Day 22

Saturday, October 28, 2000

Today is my three-week birthday!!!!!!

Fortunately, I had a pretty quiet day, although those darn doctors got a little too eager again. They decided to work on getting my feedings up and then try me off the ventilator once my food was staying down better. So, I was thinking great, “let’s get one system up to speed at a time.” But no, those docs got to thinking too much this afternoon and decided to take me off the ventilator for a couple of hours. Well, their timing wasn’t the best because I was getting a feeding when they decided to do this. I did pretty well for about 30 minutes but then started struggling quite a bit.

I mean, come on, here I am trying to digest more food and getting gassier by the minute, and now you want me to breathe all by myself too?! JEEEZZZ!!!!! When the nurse checked my blood gas after 30 minutes off the vent, it was the highest level it has been yet. Needless to say, I was put back on the ventilator immediately. Whew, that made me feel much better. I started to relax again and regain some of the color that I had lost while fighting for every breath.

The most fun we had today was when Daddy’s cousin Linda and her husband Skip came to visit. They brought more presents! Mommy and Daddy got some toffee, which won’t last very long, and I got some new books and music.

Linda and Skip gave me Pat the Bunny, Five Little Monkeys, and The Polar Express books and music. I can’t wait to read all of my new books when I get home! Linda and Skip also took Mommy and Daddy out for a late lunch in Ann Arbor.

I’m really outgrowing that ortho board in a hurry. I now weigh 3 pounds 15 ounces!