My Miracle Baby Update - Sunday

I can't believe it's been a week since we had Dylan. It seems more like a month. Days are busy and filled with visits and milestones but tiring with recovery for me and pumping to keep up with Dylan.


To update on his status, he's come off of all IV's as of Friday. They have been able to take blood via his foot and give medicines orally. He really started opening his eyes and looking alert on Thursday/Friday. He was able to try and breastfeed on his own on Thursday, but was too sleepy with meds to really try. Friday we tried again and he latched on but didn't last long when he found out the bottle was much easier. Saturday was also frustrating with little interest in breastfeeding, but a lot of interest in the bottle. I was beginning to see my future of pumping and bottle feeding which would be nearly impossible with a 2 year old at home. This morning he "made me happy" (as Zach would say) b/c he took the breast for 20 mins (just like a typical newborn) and THEN finished his bottle of 2 1/2 oz. I keep saying, "He didn't get to be 8lbs 11oz by being shy about eating." He has a great appetite just like his big brother did. Feeding is going great. The Neonatologist said that the most complex thing a baby does is suck and swallow. He's doing that really well so that's a great sign for his overall health.


MRI was done Thursday and we just found out the results yesterday afternoon. It showed only swelling. Which is good. There were no signs of stroke or any major concerns at this time. Whew! He will need a follow-up EEG on Monday to evaluate improvement from last week. The doctor that examined him on Saturday said that if you didn't know his history you wouldn't know there were any concerns. He's acting just like a typical newborn. Double Whew!

The best news, we received this morning. He's being fed by bottle/breast 100% of the time starting this morning. They took out his feeding tube and his oxygen came off too. No more tubes! He only has some monitors that are just stuck on like stickers. If the EEG goes well and he continues to feed orally and no oxygen problems, he can come home on TUESDAY! That's much earlier than Craig and I had ever expected! We are so thrilled to be able to take him home and start our new family together. Part of me will be very nervous to have him without monitors to tell me he's breathing fine and his heart is at the right rate, etc. But I'm sure we'll be just fine once we get settled into our little routine. :)


I'm posting two videos with this posting. The 1st video Craig took the evening after he was born. I wasn't able to get to the NICU b/c of my recovery and he took video so I could see him again for myself. He has on the ear muffs to keep out noise, the intubation to help him breath and his head has an ice pack on it to keep the swelling down. He's also swollen from all the fluids they needed to give him. His hands are clenched unnaturally too. Craig also calls him Zach in the video. He's quit doing that now. :) The 2nd one we took today and it's Dylan looking absolutely fabulous. The videos next to each other are quite remarkable.



The nurses really do call him a miracle baby. None of them thought he'd do as well as he has done. Amen! Look for another post of all my thank you's for all the prayers, emails, etc!