Daddy's Kangaroo Day 3 Weeks Old Today!

Today Lucas was doing well. Daddy arrived around 10 this morning to kangaroo him (mommy was having a party). His oxygen level was at 26% before they pulled him out of his bed. Once, they put him on Daddy's chest and Lucas got comfortable and relaxed. He breathing improved and the nurses had to turn down the oxygen to 21%, which is what we breathe as adults. After an hour into holding him, Lucas's oxygen level starting going down along with his heart rate. This has been happening during the past few days causing mommy, daddy, and grandma some concern. I was trying to stimulate Lucas by rubbing his feet, but his heart rate was at 91 and his oxygen level was at 58%. The two of the nurses in the NICU came over to assist in bringing his levels up by rubbing his back and head. This happened 2 other times while I was holding him, but the nurse explained to me that this can be caused by reflux. Adults get acid reflux. The nurse explained that Lucas has increased his feedings so much that he is getting 16ml every 3 hours, causing a full tummy and reflux. Every time he has the reflux it causes him to stop breathing, which is a natural reflex to keep food out of the lungs. So the nurse said Lucas will most likely go on a more staged feeding to reduce the reflux.

Lucas managed to last a full two hours during his kangaroo time with Daddy. His latest stats as of 10:30pm was 2lbs 15oz (almost 3lbs) and was at 26% oxygen doing well.

Thursday News

I spoke with the kids last night as they left the hospital. Lucas was doing well and lost a slight bit of weight after the monstrous gain he had. Not unexpected, especially after throwing such a crying fit getting his tube moved from his mouth to his nose. Amber said he had tears. That would make any mom cry.
Daddy tried to hold Lucas for his turn, but big brother Brayden wanted all the attention and was set to let everyone know. The hospital family room had quite an experience with Brayden jumping from all the walls. Guess other plans will be necessary when it is daddy's turn to hold baby and Brayden is there.
The kids got a chance to talk to Dr R regarding the latest ultrasound. The baby's blood clot is starting to recede and they doctors could see what some of the damage is for Lucas. Part of the parietal lobes on each side have died off due to the bleed and this scan revealed how it will impact Lucas's future. The area of loss is in Lucas's motor skills development. This means he might have trouble coordinating movements of his arms, hands, legs, and feet. He will be assigned a physical therapist who will work with Lucas to re-channel his limb movements. Fortunately the brain is capable of rerouting, over time, this learned activity. We won't know the long-term outcome for a while. The doctor will have the specialist talk with Josh and Amber next week sometime, where they will get more information. Grandma knows that extra stimulation to these areas of movement will allow the brain to rewire itself over time. Also, the latest data on brain development has change in the past 3 years and research is showing early intervention makes a big difference in outcome. Lucas is going to get plenty of help to catch up and develop his motor skills. The kids have pictures and should update more tonight.

What's Happening?

Well Tuesday grandma had to head home for a long over due medical appointment. See grandma has been off work from her normal duties of flying jets around the sky due to an injury while at work, so she had to come back to Calif. I spent the day packing and stopping by the hospital to see the little guy, who was spending a lazy afternoon snugged up with mommy. Yep, Amber got to hold him for the full 2 hours without any complications. I arrived just as he was been placed back in his bed. The nurse had turned up the room light so Lucas was under the covers, so to speak, with a cloth diaper placed over his face. Of course grandma had to peek and was delighted to see Lucas wrinkle up his face when the lights hit his eyes. He squinted and made it quite clear to grandma to turn off the lights. I was elated! See one of the more common problems for preemies is blindness so the fact that Lucas can sense brightness and darkness is fantastic. We won't know about his total eyesight for many months, but we know now he sees light and dark for now and we will take this accomplishment with joy. Keep praying!
Oh, Amber didn't get to have any of the scheduled Baby Shower's as planned. Peggy, from work, is having a mommy/baby party this coming Sunday. Part of the "games" will be to guess Lucas's weight so I have been instructed not to provide the actual weight gain by Lucas. Of course I can give clues. The doctors and nurses have discovered Lucas has quite an appetite now and have increased his food consumtion to 8 cc's every 3 hrs, as of Wednesday night. It seems like he is a little piggy now when it comes to eating. Way to go grandson! I can tell you he is gaining weight and beginning to fill in his wrinkles.
Last night the nurse got tired of having Lucas's feeding tube down his mouth, so he was switched to a more conventional method of down the nose. Let me tell you he was "extremely" mad at the nurse for that change. Lucas was so upset that mommy had to leave the room. Fortunately when it was all over mommy was able to go back in and comfort Lucas. He was really tired from the whole ordeal and just wanted to curl up and go to sleep, and he did. Later that night Lucas's big brother dropped in for a nighttime visit, where Brayden and daddy, with Amber were able to say goodnight to Lucas. Grandma misses you too, little buddy, but I will be back for the party. Keep going and beat the odds kid! We are all praying the brain ultrasound on Thursday hold positive news.

Memorial Day May 25th A Very Good Day.

Must You Wake Me UP

Mommy and Grandma had the afternoon with Lucas. We got to give him a bath and see him struggle to get his way. We found out he doesn't like getting soaped down, but he loves getting rinsed off. Also we woke him from a good nap to give him a bath and he let us know he was not please with our inconsiderate ways.

The good news he is gaining weight! Tonight he breaks the scale at 2lbs 8oz's YEAH WAY TO GO!!! Finally he is eating like a little piggy.

The doctors have increased him to 6cc. That is fantastic! He is still on the ventilator and we have found when he sleeps deeply he forgets to breath, otherwise he would be okay off the vent. Maybe a few more days. His bloodwork is looking good and there is no signs of the brain bleed causing any problems as of yet. Keep the prayers going folks, this is a long journey for this battle. We need them!

More Pictures from Saturday