Day 4 in the NICU

Starting last night they had decided to continue his antibiotic.  We were confused why they were able to find some infection when the first blood culture came back negative.  They suggested that because I hadn't had the group B strep test given at 36 weeks at the OBGYN they gave me 3 doses of penicillin through my IV during labor and because his blood draw was only about 1 hour after birth that penicillin was in his blood and masking whatever infection may have showed up.

They turned down his Cpap from 7 to 6 and he maintained 25-30% oxygen.  His breaths continued to slow down to about 50 per minute average.

His biliruben had gone down so he got to be on a lower light setting.

He officially lost all the weight they needed him to shed, down to 6 lb 9 oz.  He looks a lot better with all the swelling and extra water off him.  They always comment that he is so big cause he is big for NICU but still so tiny!  They took the IV out because it was unnecessary to run 2 at this point.  Just needed 1 for antibiotic.

They have continued to increase his feeding amounts and he will be up to his full 68ml per feeding by the end of today.  He will still be receiving fluid through his feeding tube.  Makes me wonder if he will be hard to nurse because he is used to instant gratification of food in his tummy when he gets hungry.  He always roots on me when I hold him and chomps pretty hard on his binki so those are both good signs.

This morning when I went in and was holding him the nurse was trying to tape the syringe with milk up to my chair and spilled a whole 60ml of breast milk on the floor.  I felt like bawling.  So much harder to replace 2 oz of breast milk than formula!  He digests and holds the formula so much better too so it made me pretty sad.

Dustin got to change his first diaper. :)

Lincoln barfed pretty good on him while he was holding him tonight.  We only got to hold for about 30 minutes.  The nurse seemed to be fumbling a lot so we felt super uneasy that night.  Just praying for both Lincoln and the nurse. :)

Such a sweet little buddy!!

Emotions are so high.  Our family is so incomplete without this little guy home.  When Dustin came home for dinner tonight he just put his face in his hands and cried.  I told him to go to the bedroom so he didnt get the girls upset.  It's so tough to be strong for them.  Once he left I text our good friend Mike Hansen to come over and give him a blessing.  Within minutes good Mike and his father in law were at our doorstep.  Dustin was surprised and thankful.

 We were reminded that the Lord is very mindful of us and of Lincoln and family from the other side of the veil is standing by Lincoln when we cannot be there.  We are so blessed to have the gospel and just need to increase our faith.  He WILL come home.  We just need to turn it over to the Lord.