8-11-09

Our prayers have been answered, Kaelyn's oxygen needs have been substantially lower the last three days and she's been much more stable. They decided that she doesn't need the Nitric Oxide, so they have been weaning that down and it should be gone in a few days. She is still on CPAP, but she is hanging around 25-40% oxygen, which is much better! They talked about her at the Wednesday cardiology conference today and are deciding if they think she needs an inner chamber shunt put in. We should find out what they decided tomorrow.

Some of you were wondering if they had mentioned pulmonary hypertension. No they haven't, they are just thinking that she's not taking very deep breathes and so her lungs weren't expanding all the way. That's why they put her on CPAP and they said that her lungs have looked much better since they did. So hopefully that's all it is, and as she gets old/bigger she'll be able to do that on her own. At first she got even worse because she was so upset about the CPAP that she would really de-sat (her oxygen saturation goes down and so she would need a high oxygen percentage from her cannula) when she would scream and fuss. So she has been on some sedation medicine and that has helped her relax while she gets used to wearing it.

I forgot to mention the other day, her last day at Primaries, she took part of her feeding from a bottle for the first time! We were so excited, she can't drink from a bottle while she's on CPAP, but I know she'll just start right back up when its gone. She has been going to town on her binkie every night.

They also turned her isolette down to the lowest setting and we got to start dressing her for the first time yesterday! She could probably use extra-preemie outfits(ie. xxxxxs), but I don't think they make those, so she'll just have to do with what we have. Its so fun to dress and bundle her up. Today I took all her preemie out fits to the hospital so she can wear her own clothes and just be styling. She should be graduating to a crib any day.

Oh yea, did I mention...she is 4 POUNDS 1 OZ! We're pretty sure we won't even recognize her when the CPAP comes off because she's growing so much and her hair is getting so long! That will be an exciting day. Today while we held her she had her eyes wide open the whole time. She always does awesome when we hold her with keeping her oxygen and temperature up.

Thank you Kaelyn for showing us the way...one more time:)

Her very first OUTFIT!

The first out fit Mommy got to dress her in.

We had to spice up her CPAP.

Wearing her first outfit from home. Aunt Kay brought this to her yesterday.

Showing off her giraffe feetsies

We snuck some pictures while they were changing her equipment, yeah for her face!

It's nice to know what our baby looks like with all that stuff off her face, can't wait till its permanent!