progress

This past week and a half has been real interesting for Noah. The setbacks have become fewer and fewer apart and the progress has been very steady. While Noah continues to have a feeding tube in-place the volumes of food continue to grow with his weight. Noah is currently on what they consider full feeds. For his size and weight that is 10.5 milieters an hour, since he is on continuous feeds that’s about 1.2ounces in 4 hours. Noah’s weight is now 3 pounds, 9.6 ounces by next weekend we should have a 4-pound baby.

            Noah’s color is good and his apnea and bradycardia spells have reduces significantly his longest period without a spell has been 48 hours. Last night he decided to have one spell. Some of these spells seem to be related to his on going battle with acid reflux, which is completely normal at this stage of the game. I have had to remind myself several times that” he is not supposed to even be here yet” so anything done or gained is a bonus. His doctors seem to believe that the reflux is something that he will grow out of in time.

            Noah continues to be Mr. Popularity, he now has a team of neonatal gastroenterologist following his digestion and they have placed him on antibiotics for gut motility (erythromycin) if anyone is interested. Pediatric surgery continues to follow Noah related to his inguinal hernia. Noah is fortunate to be in Roanoke, there are two excellent pediatric surgeons both have made appearances to bedside.

            Noah successfully took his first bottle at the beginning of last week and has been working with speech therapy to learn hoe to nurse and latch on. His interest level fluctuates from day to day with the bottle but he is picking up that skill. Physical therapy is also working with Noah to strengthen his muscle movements and adapt him to Newtonian physics; apparently gravity is a foreign concept for premature babies.  

Katie and I are continuously blessed to have two excellent nurses provide the vast majority of Noah’s care. Noah would not be where he is today without the diligence of Lisa Bararra, of Sherry Elmore.

There will be another post tonight that will have few words and numerous pictures.

Apologies to ALL of our loved friends and family who have supported the Flynn family and continue to do so

Cautiously Optimistic

Noah continues to make good progress this week. We have been coasting along pretty well since our last update. Noah's oxygen flow rate has been weaned down from 2.75 to 2 with minimal spells. He is still on continuous feeds, but has gotten up to 10.5 ml's an hour, which is the maximum dose for his weight. The formula calorie count has also been increased from 20 to 22. Current weight is 3 pounds 9.4 ounces! We are hoping to get to the 4 pound mark by the beginning of next week. Noah has been experiencing some reflux issues with all the formula he is getting. NICU staff say this is very common with all babies, and do not seem to be worried.

Happy Boy

I like to Kangaroo with my Daddy!

It's been a long day. I'm exhausted!

First clothes! "Handsome Little Boy"

Outfit change. Newborn sized wrap shirt looks like a huge robe! Notice the rolled up sleeves.

My new bed!

My favorite nurse, Lisa, feeding me my 2nd bottle.

Snoozin'

Mommy's two favorite boys.

Big week for Noah

 Unsure about the bath

 Getting nice and clean

Bath complete...smells as fresh as a baby's you know what
Following the lower GI study and break from food, Noah is back eating food and this time it is on a constant basis. The NICU team has advanced his feedings slowly, and they are feeding him Elecare (formula that is fortified). Noah continues to do well on nasal cannula he is at 2.75 liters of oxygen and does not show many signs of slowing down. Noah has had a week of many firsts. Noah had his first bath, which he was unsure of at the start but turned out to love. Noah broke the three pound mark in weight. Now at 3 lb 1.6 ounces he is a heavy weight by NICU standards. Today was another first for Noah. So far he has been living in a diaper only. Today the nursing staff dressed the little guy up and he looked amazing.
Future pans consist of decreasing his oxygen, starting speech therapy to learn how to latch on to bottle and breast, starting physical therapy (for good measure) and moving into a new bed by the weekend. Enjoy the pictures and say tuned we will showcase Noah's wardrobe next time .

Trying something new...

Noah has been at a bit of a standstill this week. The NICU staff were giving Noah a chance to rest and recover from his latest belly blow-up. The barium enema test came back showing no bowel obstructions. This is a check off the probable causes list. Noah has been on a tube to suction air out of his belly, and has been off of food since Tuesday. The doctors have decided that the cause of the problems may be that his belly and bowels just aren't mature enough to properly push things through. Noah was put back on food last night, but we are doing things a bit differently. We are starting off with Pedialite, then going to a type of formula that has very basic proteins. We may then go to weaning him back on breast milk. All this feeding will be done very slowly- continuously getting 1 ml per hour throughout the day and night. Since these feedings are going so slowly, a PICC line had to be put back in to provide extra nutrients (proteins, lipids, and TPN).


The nasal cannula has been going very well. Noah went his first 24 hours on the cannula with only one spell! He is now averaging about 2 spells a day, and mostly when the nurses are messing with him, or when he is put back in bed after Kangaroo Care. These spells are less concerning than spells he has when he is by himself. The nurses think these spells could partly be caused by the suction tube and the feeding tube going into his mouth. These are causing an increase in thick oral secretions that collect in the back of his throat, causing him to somewhat choke on his own spit. The suction tube has been removed since they started feedins again, and the feeding tube has now been placed through his nose. Now, not only can we see his face and head more clearly, we can also see his mouth without any equipment in the way!

Despite all that has gone on this week, Noah has managed to gain weight! He now weighs 2 pounds 11 ounces! He is getting to be a big boy, and is looking more and more like his daddy every day!