Seven Quick Takes: Pollyanna Does Not Live Here

You know it's bad when the guy at the quick lube place gives you a discount on labor. This week has had it's fair share of ups and downs. Let's start with some ups, shall we?

1. Saturday night is bath night in the NICU and Isaac did so well breathing on his own for the 30 minute duration that the nurse obtained orders to discontinue CPAP and switch to a nasal cannula. One step closer to breathing on his own, and so much more comfortable.

Right after bath time, sans accoutrements

2. The next day, he was moved into a less fancy isolette, which usually signals that the baby will be ready to move out of the level 3 pod and into a step down pod sometime soon (aka closer to going home)

 

This looks so much more comfortable, doesn't it?

 3. Monday, he was having a little bit more of a hard time breathing, but an extra dose of caffeine (all NICU babies are given caffeine, so just go ahead and have some if you're worried while gestating) and he was back to his usual self.

4. Wednesday was Isaac's 1 month birthday. When I held him that night, they swaddled him for the first time. Skin to skin has more benefits, but it was nice to be able to see his face, especially since he is awake more often now, as opposed to practically never just a few weeks ago.

Low lighting in hopes he'd open his eyes. He didn't take the bait.

5. And then yesterday, not so much. After multiple apneas and bradycardias, or A's and B's if you're down with the lingo (which he has had before) the doctor made the call to put him back on CPAP and ordered a full blood work up. You know how veteran moms can pretty much make the call that their child has an ear infection or strep throat? Well, I'm that way about anemia. As soon as I learned about the changes in his condition, I just knew Isaac was anemic. It's happened before and that's what the blood work showed. Of course, he could still have an infection, and there really isn't time to wait the 48 to see what the blood culture says on that one, so his feeds were discontinued (again) and he was started on antibiotics (also again) and given a blood transfusion for the anemia (I'm gonna let you say it this time). Is any of this atypical of a preemie? Nope not really. Especially since he's a white boy. Seriously, the nurses call it "wimpy white boy syndrome". We can't be too hard on him though, after all, it's hard to have good blood oxygen saturation when you don't have enough red blood cells to oxygenate. After two rounds of blood, he's feeling much better.

6. On top of that, I spent 3+ hours getting the car's oil changed and tires rotated. Easy enough right? But they couldn't get the tires off because among things stolen in our two-for-one car/apartment break-in back in February was the wheel lock key. I got a discount on labor just for telling them about the theft. Who knows how much money I could have saved if had whipped out a picture of Isaac. $170 later, that's all sorted.

7. And the icing on the cake is that Mark's been out of town since Wednesday, coming back tonight. The cat threw up. And I'm having my gall bladder removed on December 4th.

Saturday Evening

Thursday Evening

Even if he did have to go back onto CPAP, he's getting chubbier before our very eyes. Look at that double chin! How many will he have when he's more that 5 pounds? Currently hovering around 3 lbs. 10 oz.

How was your week? See more quick takes at Jen's

P.S. If you're worried about me after reading this, know that I'm actually ok. Bluebell Ice Cream and a nap tend to have that effect on me.