Breathing Better (all of us)

Caelan James Perry

Saturday, July 5

How awesome! Caelan was taken off the vent yesterday morning and is a much happier little guy. This is one of my favorite pictures from yesterday- he was just laying there with his eyes wide open, looking all around. I had just whispered his name to him and he looked up at me- WOW! Made my day for sure!

So many accomplishments yesterday- in addition to being off the vent, his weight is good at 6 pounds 2 ounces, he is alert, he is hungry for feedings, he is sucking extremely well (really works that pacifier)!

Today... I just hung up with Karen his nurse and she said he is a little 'crabby' today- some of that comes from still getting certain meds out of his system- but she also said he seemed to have a tummy ache. He is on his stomache right now- he seems to prefer laying that way; he breathes easier in that position too. And although his chest x-rays look better, the chest tubes do still have some drainage so they are not going to be coming out today. They are going to take the central lines out of his umbilical today, so that is progress. And we LOVE progress! I can't wait to see him today!

Karen

This was when we first got there yesterday- off that vent! Yay! It was so cute because his diaper is on backwards- just easier.

Feeding time- it goes through that tiny tube in his nose and straight into his stomach. You can see the nurse with the syringe full of formula- he was getting about 8cc at this point and they increase it by 1cc each feeding. He is on the 8,11,2,5 time schedule.

We got to help weigh him yesterday- this is Matt holding him (yes holding!) lifting him up to set the weigher thingie and then they lay him back on it to read his weight. It has been awesome watching Matt with Caelan- so sweet and tender. I love hearing him talk to him and telling him how much he loves him. Matt also changed his diaper yesterday.

I LOVED this moment! Had my hand on his head in that bundling manner and was holding the pacifier- he was squeezing my thumb really tight! Oh how my heart melts!

All tucked in for the night