Another Rough Day

Yesterdays post ended up dated today (the one with the photos)...I guess because I posted after midnight.

Today, Brady had a rough day. He was quite pale this morning so the doctor ordered more blood for him. Brady also had several episodes of apnea today. They did put him on a different oxygen cannula called a high-flow oxygen cannula. He still was having episodes of desaturation (low oxygen in the blood) and apnea. He actually had one incident this evening while Dave and I were there and it scared me so much. The nurse kept patting him and sitting him up to try to get him to bring his heart rate back up. She did this for about a minute (which seemed like forever). I started to panic...it was very difficult. I am not understanding why he is having trouble when he was doing so well. The nurses keep telling me it is just his prematurity and I know they are the experienced ones, but I am scared. Please continue praying for our baby...we are so thankful for you all.
Karissa

29 Weeks (Gestational Age)

Here are some photos from today...



Brady is 29 weeks today. He weighed 2 lbs. 4 oz. I was able to hold Brady for an hour today. He was very content and slept the whole time:) The nurse told us he will remain on continuous feeding of 6ml/hr until he reaches approximately 3 lbs. Then, he will be fed on a schedule every 3 hours. Brady was also taken off all extra meds for blood pressure, etc. He is doing well. So tiny and so precious:)

4 Weeks Old

Today, Brady is 4 weeks old. I can hardly believe a month has gone by since the night he was born. I think back and it is hard for me not to cry because everything happened so quickly and it was very scary. Definitely not how one imagines and plans for the birth of their baby. I feel sad sometimes because I would have had such a close bond with my baby by now like I did with David and Delaney, but the circumstances are too difficult for Brady and I to have that just yet. We will though...we just need some time and patience:) He seems to know my voice and responds to me when he is awake and looking at me. I just want to hold him all day every day:)
Brady weighed 2 lbs. 3 oz. this afternoon. He received his last dose of Tamiflu today and the doctors are confident that none of the babies in the NICU have been infected by the Swine Flu. This evening, Dave and I spoke with Dr. Wimmer (the neonatologist that took care of Brady the first night) and we asked him how he thought Brady was doing. He told us Brady is doing great and he explained a few other things going on with Brady that have been hard for us to understand. We felt a lot better after speaking with him. This is truly a long and difficult road...we still have a very long way to go. Please continue to pray for Brady...we really are grateful to all our family and friends.
Karissa

Brady is doing well. He weighed 2 lbs. 2 oz. again today. It is hard to imagine a baby so small until you hold him. I was holding him today and his entire body fits in my hand with his head resting on my fingertips. I have pretty small hands too. Brady fits more comfortably in one of Dave's hands. It is so amazing to me to see this tiny human being so perfectly formed when he still needed 16 more weeks to grow inside his mommy. I can't help but stare at him. I know other moms can relate.
He had his PICC line removed today. Brady cried and fussed while they were taking the tape off the line that was holding it in place, but didn't make a sound when they actually removed the line. I started talking to him when he was crying. He gripped onto my pinky finger (he is surprisingly strong too) and I gave him his binkie. Then, he was happy:)
Thank you all for continued support and prayers. We are truly blessed!
Karissa

Brady had a good day today. He weighed 2 lbs. 2 oz. He was having some issues with oxygen saturation earlier in the day while I was there, but it improved this evening when Dave and I visited. Brady will have the PICC line removed from his arm tomorrow. It is the IV line that was giving him fluids. He is able to have it removed because he is getting all his nourishment from breast milk now. Soon, he will be put on scheduled feedings via the feeding line. He won't be able to drink from a bottle or breast for a while yet. I continue to pray for his well-being. Thank you all for your continued prayers for Brady.
Karissa

Brady is doing well. He weighed 2 lbs. 1.4 oz. Today, I was able to hold him and change his diapers:) It has been 9 days since I held him last due to my illness. He was more alert today for a longer period of time. I think I spent the entire time staring at his little face. I rocked him for a bit and he seemed to enjoy it:)
We are blessed.
Karissa

Brady had a good day today. He weighed 2 lbs. 1 oz. He was wide awake when I went to see him today. Oh, and he was giving his binkie a workout...again:) It is so funny how much he enjoys that thing. Brady definitely knows when I am there because as soon as I begin talking to him or one of the nurses he perks right up. It is so cute. He doesn't want to miss anything. I love his spunk!
This evening when Dave and I went back to the hospital to see Brady he was resting comfortably...until he heard Dave's voice. Then, he opened his eyes to see his daddy. He finally decided to call it a night and go to sleep around 9:15pm...LOL
We continue to be thankful for all of you and your prayers for Brady.
Karissa