Merry Christmas!

Matt, Jack and I had a wonderful Christmas with Matt's family.  Jack didn't make it home yet- but he's done so well the last week, we've definitely seen some miracles!  On Christmas Eve, the doctor's decided to move Jack to the nasal cannula, so a big step there- and only after a few days on the CPAP!  He's on 1 liter of oxygen right now and once he's down to 3/4 of a liter, then he can hopefully bottle/breast feed if he's ready.  They are beginning to assess him at each feed today and if he meets certain criteria at each feed (awake, etc), then they'll see if he's ready for feeding.  The technique they use is called "cue-based feeding."  I'll write more about that once I learn more.  Very exciting!  We are so very proud of him- making such big strides the last week! 

Jack is up to 5 lbs, 13.5 oz as of last night- he gets to start wearing newborn size diapers today!  Big step up!

God is good- we're so thankful for the gift of a wonderful, beautiful son this Christmas.  We can't wait until we're able to bring this gift home  :)

Below are a few pics from Christmas- Matt and I in front of the tree at his mom's house, St Martin's on Christmas Eve (such a beautiful service!) and Jack in his "first Christmas" outfit on Christmas Day.

CPAP!

Wonderful news- Jack moved to the CPAP on Wednesday!  Praise God- progress!!  AND he's at 26% oxygen this AM (room air and goal is 21%), so he's doing so well!  He's also up to 5 lbs, 11 oz.  Getting so big and cute, if I do say so myself  ;)  He's still in Level III, but hopefully he'll go to the nasal cannula soon and then he'll move to Level II and get to start bottle/breast feeding. 

Jack got to meet Santa on Tuesday- one of the respiratory therapists dressed up and so Santa was able to hold him and get a professional picture.  Below are the ones that Matt and I took with our camera.  Cousin Miles let him borrow an outfit to wear to meet Santa and one of the nurse knit his Christmas hat. 

In other news, our sweet, white boxer, Tucker (below) had to have surgery on Thursday to remove two mast cell tumors that we found on his hip and his leg.  He's still in recovery- trying to keep him still so the wounds heal is not easy!  We sent the tumors off to be analyzed, so please pray that they got everything and that he recovers well.  We can't wait for Tucker and Jack to meet- we are sure they will become best buddies!

Update

A quick update from yesterday- just talked to the Dr and Jack's blood gas looked good this AM!  They are going to lower his breaths per minute from 35 to 30 and see how he does.  They'll do another blood gas on Wednesday to see how he's doing, but if all goes well they are going to start to wean him off the NIPPV so that he can go to the CPAP.  Great news!  Definitely an answer to prayers that we are seeing good progress!  Keep on praying  :)

XOXO- Christine

Two Months Old

Jack is two months old today - he'll be 9 weeks old on Tuesday.  His gestational age is 38 weeks this coming Thursday.  We can't believe it has already been that long.. we are so ready for him to come home!  He's still in Level 3 on the NIPPV for his lungs.  He has another blood gas tomorrow AM- praying that goes well and he can go to the CPAP.  He's up to 5 lbs, 5 oz- growing so fast.  He's taking 41mL of breastmilk, 8 times a day- which is about 11 ounces a day.   He's still taking all his feedings through an OG tube- we aren't able to start bottle or breast feeding until he's down to the nasal canula (which is after he's off the CPAP).

I decided in church today that I'm going to start praying everyday for a miracle- that Jack comes home by Christmas.  The doctors would probably think this was ludicrous, but I thought that I would try.  If God isn't ready for him to come home by then, then we'll be peaceful that He has a different plan.  It would truly be a miracle for him to come home by Christmas.  We will see!  

Praying for patience everyday for Jack's homecoming- "But if we look forward to something that we do not have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently."  Romans 8:25

Mommy and sweet Jack time- love my baby boy.

 

 Uncle Greg got to meet Jack for the first time Saturday!  Jack wore his Aggie hat for him

 We made Christmas onesies in the NICU Support Group-  "Jack Frost"

8 Weeks Old

Jack will be 8 weeks old tomorrow.  He's doing well on his growth curve- up to 4 lbs, 14 oz as of last night.  He was in the 3rd percentile in height, weight and head circumference when he was born, but he's inching towards the 10th percentile now.  The doctors' goal is for him is to hit the 50th percentile.

He's been pretty up and down with his lungs- we are having some good and some not so good days.  He's been fluctuating on the required oxygen- goal is 21% (room air), and he's at 30% this AM, which is much better.  He was up to 40-45% on Saturday, so he's been moving around alot.  They increased his diuretic on Saturday due to his increased weight, so that could have helped bring him down.  He had his weekly blood gas this AM and it looked better, so they are going down are a few of the NIPPV settings.  His lung x-ray from this AM looked about the same (hazy). 

Matt and I keep hoping and praying that all of his growth will help his lungs mature and grow- the doctor's say that they will, all on his timing.  Matt and I are definitely ready to bring him home- we've been at the hospital for over two months now and we can't wait until we're able to hold him and love on him at home.  I miss him so much when we aren't at the hospital- I pray hard everyday that he's home soon.

Here are a few pics from the last few days- Daddy gets to hold him on the weekends, as he's able to visit for longer (we have to hold him for at least an hour each time and can only hold him once a day.  We try to hold him for as long as the nurses will allow each time  :) 

Proud Daddy

 Daddy holding him and holding Mommy's finger there

 He loves to sleep on his hands or his arms- so cute  :)

4 lbs!

Jack is up to 4 lbs!  He hit the 4 lb mark last Thursday night- we were pretty excited!  He actually reached 4 lbs, 4 oz Saturday, but he lost the 4 oz yesterday... they think it could have been fluid in his lungs, so that is good thing he lost it.

He's doing okay on the oxygen- he's at 36% oxygen today- goal is 21% in order for him to move to the CPAP.  They say that his growth is really the only thing that can help his lungs develop right now, so each day he gets a little bigger is good.  We still have a number of things that have to happen for him to get home by his due date, so we're not sure if that is going to happen, but we're still praying that God works a little miracle for him to be home by January 3rd  :)

House divided!

Jack with his new Aggie hat

Jack with his Longhorn hat

Sweet baby boy