Day 2

Sorry these end up being out of order and you have to start with the one below it to get started...

Day 2 has been up and down. I went down to see Caleb around 8 am as I was not about to wait for anyone to get here to go see him. :) I have been blessed to be able to spend two days/nights here, since I have really not needed the second day, but thankfully they know his situation and did not kick me out of the hospital today.

This morning, Caleb was needing almost 100% oxygen in his helmet in order to keep his O2 level up, so that was hard to see. Otherwise, he was the same in all other areas. Today, he also had to be put under the photo therapy lights for jaundice. It is amazing how many wires and tubes they can fit on such a small body. Now we add some really cool "sunglasses" to protect his eyes from the photo therapy light and we have a really 'cool' spaceman!

At lunchtime, when we checked in on him, he had been given a feeding tube through his nose where they were slowly feeding him to help him feel comfortable as they called it. He is getting very little and it is pumped very slowly in, but it is something! :) So the latest picture of him for today has even more going on then yesterday! How many wires and tubes can they possible fit on such a small body?!

My last visit with him at 8 pm was encouraging. His helmet/hood was down to only providing 45-50% oxygen VS. the 90% he was being given this morning. His O2 level was doing okay staying in the range it needs or is expected to be in. So I was hopeful that meant he was turning the corner so to speak. Of course, when I spoke with the neonatologist he just had to pop this mom's bubble and remind me that his personal O2 level is just part of the puzzle. That we have to wait out the 7-10 days where a newborns body has to regulate their pulmonary and heart rates, where his heart rate could be fine, but the amount of blood flow going in and out of the lungs could be too much or too little, etc. So, I was once again reminded that we still have a long road ahead of us and wonder IF he will need surgery in the weeks to come and WHEN we will ever be able to bring him home. The trip to and from Fairfax Hospital is a long one and once I am released tomorrow it is NOT going to be easy to see him near as much as we would like. Although, we try to hold on to the day that we WILL be able to hold him. This momma has not been able to hold her baby yet...just too many wires and things that could get knocked loose. Not to mention, he has to be under the hood for his oxygen. Oh...one day...what an amazing feeling it will be. His initial cry after he was born was certainly something his daddy and I were holding our breath to hear. Most new parents do...but in Caleb's case, it was crucial for us to hear it!! :)

Thank you so much for the prayers and support. I do not look forward to coming home tomorrow without him and the days ahead where we will be traveling back and forth to see him. We appreciate your prayers in the upcoming days and pray that his little body will continue to grow and function the way it needs to, without surgery!

See you tomorrow. :)

Joanna