Sorry For The Delay!!!!

Sorry for the gap in updates this past week. Austin has been doing well these past few days. Sunday morning he was taken off the breathing tube and is doing great! His heart murmur is less noticeable which means that it is closing up as it should. He was given a second echocardiogram because Dr. G. was still hearing what he thought could be an open PDA valve. (the valve that connects the left and right side of the heart, it’s supposed to close before babies are born) The second echo showed a slightly open PDA so he was given medication to close it and it has been working as it should. Dr. G. says that it’s barely noticeable and that his medicine is working well so he will probably not have to have heart surgery. His lungs are also continuing to develop well. He was given a breathable and intravenous steroid to help them along. His progress is going well enough to discontinue his breathable steroid so that is a huge encouragement. He is also continuing to show no signs of bowel distress as of yet. Last Saturday when he was put back on his breathing tube they had to discontinue his feedings so he was put back on an i.v. drip of protein, fat, and other nutrients. This helps him maintain weight while receiving calories and nutrients. Anytime Austin’s intestines show signs of not functioning properly or he has to be put back on his breathing tube his feedings are postponed. He has been doing so well this week that Dr. G. has decided to start his feedings back up today so we will see how he does processing real food. Austin has also passed his birth weight! He lost a few ounces after he was born but has been slowly regaining it back. He was born at 2 pounds 4 ounces and is now at 2 pounds 5 ounces! We were told today that provided Austin continues to do well I can start holding him again. Since he was so unstable last week we weren’t even allowed to touch him let alone hold him. Yesterday morning was the first time I touched my son in over a week. I was able to reach my hand in and place it on his back, it felt SO nice to be able to connect with him!! Please don’t ever take for granted being able to kiss your kids!

These past few days have been a huge rollercoaster for Austin, Ryan, and me. Austin was struggling at the beginning of last week and then made very slow progress the rest of the week. It was extremely difficult for Ryan and I to stand by and not be able to do anything but look at him. On top of that it was really hard for me not being able to hold him anymore. I know that it’s in his best interest and I would willingly not hold him until he could come home if I knew it would help him get stronger but it still is really hard having just had a baby and not be allowed to touch him. Ryan went back to work last week so it was an adjustment for him getting back into the swing of things and dealing with everything else on top of that. I’m going back to work this week but will only be working Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I’m actually looking forward to doing something normal and having a distraction. It’s nice because I’m only working 3 six hour days so I’m not going to be overwhelmed trying to work full time and go to the hospital regularly too. When Austin is ready to come home I’ll be able to take the rest of my maternity leave to spend at home with him. Ryan will also be able to take a week of vacation time so we can both spend lots of time with our new guy.

When Austin is able to come home, Ryan and I will have to make a big effort to keep him from getting sick and away from germs as much as possible. For the first two years if he catches a cold, because of his lungs he could end up back in the hospital on a breathing tube again. So for at least the first two years we will not be taking him to the mall or grocery shopping. (Ryan’s not exactly sad about that, this is his ticket out of grocery shopping!) We won’t be able to have large groups of people over to see Austin right away, people will have to come in smaller groups. In addition to having only a few visitors at a time, we will have hand sanitizer right next to the door so people can sanitize right when they walk in. Ryan and I are supposed to wash our hands frequently as well. Also, since his lungs will still be quite sensitive we won’t have any candles burning or wear perfume or cologne. There are a few smokers on both mine and Ryan’s side so when they hold Austin they will have to change their shirts so he is not exposed to the smoke.

There are many precautions that Ryan and I will have to take to make sure Austin stays well. While we are thinking ahead and making plans for when he comes home, we are still concentrating on each day as it comes. Austin has made quite a lot of progress but still has a long way to go. It has meant so much to Ryan and I that so many people have been praying for Austin and for us as well. He has made good progress, please continue to pray that he will keep moving forward.