Waiting

Chance yesterday and today

Chance opening his eyes for the first time

Chance was re-intubated and put back on the respirator this morning after breathing on the CPAP for almost 19 hours.  His doctor said that this would happen.  He will go back and forth between CPAP and the respirator while his lungs develop and his chest strengthens.  He did very well, much better than was expected of him.  He looked good all day, much better than yesterday.  His color was better and he was getting more oxygen on the respirator now that his little lungs didn't have to work so hard to breathe.  He also started to open his eyes a tiny bit.  He did seem very tired though and moved a lot less than he usually does.  We just chalked that up to all of the hard work that he had done breathing on his own and agreed that he deserved his well earned rest.  His hematocrit was a bit low this morning and he received his 3rd blood transfusion and some insulin for his high blood sugar. 

Everyone was happy with his appearance all day until his midnight cares when Karin and his nurse noticed that his belly was swollen and discolored.  The doctor ordered X-rays but they didn't show anything clearly.  He said right now it isn't very bad and it isn't very good or it would have shown up on his X-ray.  He could be very sick and he may need surgery to remove part of his intestine because of a condition called Necrotizing Enterocolitis which is common in pre-term babies because of their underdeveloped digestive system.  It causes part of the intestinal wall to die.  He is being monitored and will have another X-Ray in the morning.

Now all we can do is wait...and hope.