Working on Eating

Yesterday we got to hold him for the first time since he was admitted to the NICU. Dr. Anderson ordered his central line to be taken out, therefore we were able to get him out of the incubator (that is what Brad calls it). All of the nurses keep commenting on what a big boy he is. I guess in the NICU they are used to small babies and Cohen is a very "dense" boy as one nurse put it. Others call him a chunker :)  He has back hair and it is so funny, because he does look like such a little man!

The afternoon nurse was unable to get a feeding tube down his nose, due to swelling from where he had the CPAP. So they put it in his mouth and started him on lipids (looks like straight fat) which he is doing really well with. While we were there visiting, he was playing with the tube in his mouth the whole time. He is using a pacifier and has the sucking reflex down. This is exciting to me, because it took Nora a while (due to being premature) to know how to suck, swallow, and breathe. They put another IV in his head in order to administer his antibiotics as well. His feeding tube is allowing him to get my milk which is very good for him at this point! (And it makes me feel like I am doing something that a mother should be doing)

Dr. Anderson ordered for his oxygen to be turned down even more (20%), and hopefully he will be on room air in the next 24 hours. His respiration (breathing rate) continues to be higher than we want at this point. But it is steadily going down, so that is good to know that improvement is taking place. Dr. Anderson said he is improving in every way, and still says all the "puzzle pieces" say some sort of infection was in his lungs even though we may never know what it was (thankfully the blood culture still is not showing any bacterial growth). Looking back at it all, I am so thankful that we were in the hospital and the doctors and nurses were able to catch this infection in Cohen's lungs. If we had been at home, we may have hesitated in taking him to the doctor thinking it was just him being a newborn. Again, I am reminded of how perfect God's timing is (even if I can't see it at the time)!

I got discharged today and got home about 2:00 p.m. It feels so good to be at home with Nora, who we have been missing terribly. Her and Brad are already back to playing and chasing each other around the house. Hearing her laugh and smile is the best medicine ever!

We still do not know when he will be coming home. I do not want him home too soon. I want him healthy in every way before he comes home; otherwise, I will be a nervous wreck. Prayers will continue for our sweet man to heal.

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. 

~ Jeremiah 1:5