Oliver Update

Oliver has been progressing well over the last couple of weeks, so I thought I'd post another update about what's new with him!

Since my last post, it was determined that the ventilator had contributed to a spell of pneumonia and he was pretty sick there for a while. It was really scary! But he finally pulled through and was strong enough to be extubated on March 17. He had the ventilator tube down his throat for a total of 32 days before moving to CPAP, a pressurized air flow. Unfortunately, the ventilator was a necessary evil which allowed him to breathe, but also caused quite a bit of lung 'disease.' It will be a while still before his lungs fully recover and he'll be able to breathe entirely on his own.

But, on to the positive news! He started growing really well once he got back up to his full feedings (fortified with extra calories, protein and vitamins), and now he's up to 4 pounds! He started regulating his body temperature really well, so he graduated from the enclosed isolette to an open-air crib last Friday. Now he wears tiny preemie clothes and gets wrapped in blankets! We were able to do the kangaroo hold several times with him (see the first photo below: skin to skin contact), and now we can hold him even more often since he's in the open crib. His lungs were finally strong enough to get off the extra pressure, and now he's on high-flow oxygen instead. He started on a volume of 5 L per minute about a week ago, and has weaned down to 3 1/2...once he gets down to 2 L, we'll be able to start trying to bottle feed!

So overall, we're pleased with how he's doing...he has definitely had a rough beginning, but hopefully all that is behind us now. He'll still be in the NICU for at least 3 or 4 more weeks, likely more...and we can't wait to bring him home!

Kate has been handling the transition well so far...it's tough that we go to the hospital so often, but she always has fun while we're gone. Hopefully the hospital will lift the RSV restriction soon, and she'll be able to go inside to finally meet him in person. :)

Kangaroo hold with his eyes open (also with the CPAP breathing apparatus)

In his new open crib with new tiny PJs

His first sponge bath (he didn't love it...)

Sleeping sweetheart...