Leaps and Bounds

This morning we arrived at the hospital in time for the 9am feeding. Carter was very eager to eat and did a great job breastfeeding. We decided to only give him 1/2 of his bottle (but by feeding tube). It's hard to figure out how much to give him because we really have no idea how much he got from me. But, it seems like our estimation worked because he slept until his next feeding 3 hours later without getting upset/hungry.

The doctor had come in to visit while Carter was eating, and told us that since he was gaining so much weight and all of his temps except the ONE yesterday were fine - they were going to start weaning him back off the heat/into the crib. He also said to expect 1-1.5 more weeks. They gradually turned down the heat, and finally turned off the heat in his incubator throughout the day. Also, since he was out from the heat, we were able to put one of Carter's new outfits on him. It fit PERFECT. Check out the little frog feet!

Mike's mom came to visit Carter because she took the day off for her birthday, and she gave us the travel system so we can bring Carter home when he is ready! Sorry, this is the photo from the internet for now - we will have a real pic in the next day or two when we get it put together.

Oh - I forgot to mention yesterday that his umbilical cord fell off! HOORAY!

At 3pm I fed Carter again - and after breastfeeding for 20 minutes, I was able to get him to finish all but 5ml of his food via bottle. We figure he was probably very full, because he was still wide awake and alert - but the nurse gave him the last 5ml via feeding tube. We were all SO impressed, going from not knowing what to do AT ALL yesterday - to getting ALMOST a complete feeding without the feeding tube. We are hoping that tomorrow is more of the same and they will up his feedings from 2 to 3 or 4 in the next day or so.

This evening we worked on the nursery some more. The wall stickers look SO cute. Check back for pics later!

UGH - 2 Steps Back....sorta

When we returned to the nicu tonight for Carter's 9pm feeding, this is what we saw...

He's back in the incubator because apparently his temp was too low. However, I doubt it was. All day, if you used the thermometer in his drawer (a cheap-o digital) it was 1 degree lower than their good digital...which makes a huge difference. His temp is supposed to be between 36.5 and 37.4 or so. Well, his temp was 36.2. So add a degree and that's 37.2 - perfect! When i mentioned this to the night nurse, she completely ignored me.

Then, they always weigh him just before the 9pm feeding. So the nurse took his temp (with the good therm) and it read 37. She asked if i wanted to change his diaper...i said yes, but asked if she was going to weigh him first. She said no, because he was still too cold. Ummm....what? So now i don't have his weight for tonight.

Finally i went to feed him, and he was warm and really sleepy - he wouldn't open his eyes, much less nurse. He is NEVER like this when it's time to feed. I usually change his diaper and that makes him so mad he's wide awake, mouth open wide, arms reaching out. After 15-20min. we put him back in his incubator and he was tube fed. Any other nurse would have tried to help, etc.

I'm not worried that he's back in the incubator. I want what is best for him...and he still needs to learn to eat, so no rush. I just think this nurse is too lazy. Tomorrow we may request that she never work with Carter again.

5 Star Hotel

Carter has upgraded his NICU accomodations to an open crib! I was so excited to see that when we walked in this morning. The feeding is still a very SLOW work in progress, but he'll get there eventually. The nurse and OT (occupational therapist) were both very impressed with his good start though.

The Magic Number 4

This morning when we arrived in the Special Care Unit to see Carter, he was screaming his lungs out. I KNEW he had a good set of lungs that he was just waiting to use! We were going to leave him in the incubator awhile to save his energy, etc. but we took him out and he calmed down pretty quickly. I then changed his diaper and was able to attempt feeding again. He started off very slowly, so I was worried that it would be another day of frustration. However, he quickly got the hang of it and, while no where near perfect, he was feeding 100 times better than he did yesterday!

When he got tired, the nurse showed us how to bottle feed. (I've bottle fed a TON of babies before, but none quite so small. Rather than regular cradle hold, she had us hold him more on his side - to support his neck, and make it easier to "suck-breathe-swallow". He took about 18oz via bottle (which was great compared to the 10 he took two days ago, especially considering he breast fed a bit first) - then finished with tube feeding. He quickly fell asleep after that and Aunt Cheryl stopped by for a visit (sorry you had to wait in the family room for awhile!) .

This afternoon Laura came to visit Carter, and FINALLY got to see him! She's one of our most frequent visitors, but had always come at a "bad time". During the 6pm feeding Carter decided he was done showing off and just would not wake up for anything. Finally the nurse gave him a bottle and he was able to drink 18ml before using the gavage (feeing tube). We came home after the 6pm feeding and began cleaniung and decorating the nursery. I'll have pics soon. A little after midnight I finallly slowed down and called the hospital to check on Carter. The nurse told me he weighed 4 pounds!!! HOORAY!!! If he can keep that weight up one more day he'll be in the open crib!

**If any of this entry has major typos or doesn't make sense it is due to finishing the blog at 2:30am

Moving On Down...

And that's a good thing!!! This morning we were told that by the time we returned for the night time feeding, Carter would be downstairs in the 2nd floor Special Care Unit. It is still special care, with all of the same staff and same procedures, but it is really for the babies who are almost ready to go home. Right now there are 6 babies in the room with 2 nurses.

Today we met with a lactation specialist to get some tips on feeding since that is Carter's last hurdle to overcome. He's still being very lazy and waiting to be fed instead of working for it. We used a supplemental feeder today - which basically is like his feeding tube (but it only goes into his mouth, not stomach) - it works by using gravity, no sucking required. When I put my finger in his mouth he sucks like crazy...so we attached the tube to my finger, making him think that sucking=food. Let's pray for some improvement tomorrow on the real deal! At least he has no problem withe the whole "suck, breathe, swallow" routine!

According to the sheet we received as we entered the 2nd Floor Unit today, it is time to start really getting things in order for Carter to come home. We need to get/install our car seat (we have to actually bring the seat in a couple days prior to discharge so he can do the "carseat challenge"), and watch several safety videos. We picked up a few items at Babies R Us and Target that we will need before the homecoming.

Mike and I decided that tomorrow we will get to the hospital as early as possible (well...after he fills out some paperwork for the new job, so probably like 10) - but only stay until 6:30 so that we can get the rest of the nursery organized. I can't be tripping over things with a new baby! We have been at the hospital until almost 11pm every single night, so it makes me sad to miss out on some of this tomorrow, but once he's home there won't be time to do the stuff we need to. Not to mention, I need some sleep! Yes, I know..."Sleep? What is that?"....Dont worry, I'm already up every 2-3 hours...I just meant SOME sleep!

One Week Old....Notice Anything Different?

NO MORE CONTROLLED TEMPERATURE ON THE INCUBATOR!! When we walked in the room today I noticed Carter had an extra blanket on. Mike said "look at that" - pointing to the temperature monitor on the front of the incubator...it was off. That's right...Carter is now maintaining his own body temperature. With the help of an extra blanket, he was actually a bit warm today without added heat. They still won't move him to an open crib for a few days, but several doors on the incubator are left open. We can also technically hold him anytime we want, but we still want to be careful because the more we keep him awake, the more energy he is using and he needs all of his energy to gain weight.

We were also told that he is the next baby on the list to move to the step-down special care unit. Basically it's still special care, with the same group of nurses, etc. but instead of small rooms with only a few babies in each room - it is one large room. However, they currently have some extra space in the small rooms, so unless a bunch of new babies come in, he may not move.

Finally - Carter is also starting 2 bottle/breast feedings a day and is up to 34ml of 24 calorie formula...they're trying to fatten him up! The nurse gave him a bottle at one of his morning feedings, but it took him 10 min. to eat 10ml (so he probably used more calories than he gained) - so the rest was given to him via feeding tube. At 9:30pm I got to breastfeed for the very first time. He did ok for such a little guy, but let's just say...he's lazy! haha. Again, he had to finish with the feeding tube. Tomorrow at 12:30 we meet with the lactation specialist to help out a bit. I keep whispering to Carter that this is really all he needs in order to go home...so eat up!

Thank You ~ Baby Shower

Today was a wonderful day! Carter was doing great and we had a short morning visit. I was able to kangaroo with him for an hour, but was not able to "fake feed" due to timing. I convinced Mike to change Carter's diaper. He wasn't too excited because the entire time I was kangarooing I kept commenting how Carter was passing gas or pooping. In the end Mike did a good job!

We then returned home for the baby shower. It was a bit strange having a baby shower but no longer being pregnant...yet not having baby home. It was so nice to have everyone there and we are very thankful for everyone's generosity! Carter has many books to add to his library, will be the best dressed baby in town and is off to a great start with what we will need to bring him home. When we returned to the hospital, I told Carter all about the party. An extra special thanks to my sis for all of her work planning the shower from games to favors, etc. and mom and Grandma Rose for helping her as well as dad for helping with the set-up. (Though I have to say, I told Jen when she was first talking dates for the shower to make sure it was early enough that I would have time to get things ready and finish shopping after the shower before Carter arrived - she assured me he would be late if anything....OOPS)



"Mom, is this a real baby?"

When we returned to the hospital, I was so excited when the nurse told me that she talked to the doctor and got permission for me to do another hour of kangaroo and "fake feed" tonight since I didn't get to this morning. She is by far my favorite NICU nurse! She always goes out of her way to do whatever she can for Carter/us without us asking.

Carter also gained a LOT of weight today (2 ounces!!!). This means he is getting closer and closer to moving from the incubator/isolette to an open crib. They have been turning down the temperature in the isolette because he has actually been getting TOO warm. He is definitely making progress at maintaining his temperature.


I better rest up, tomorrow is our first full day of visiting Carter as an "out patient".