Weekend Update

I don't have a whole lot to update about today.  This weekend has been pretty low key and Rowan is doing about the same as he was on Friday.  His oxygen levels have remained kind of high.  John and I think this is in part because he just doesn't like the oscillator because he can't breath on his own like he does on the conventional ventilator.  Rowan is also very sensitive to sound and noises and we have had some very noisey nurses tending to our roommate the last couple of days.  I guess John and I aren't the only ones who got spoiled with the private NICU rooms in Topeka.  Rowan's carbon dioxide levels have gotten a lot lower and are now in the acceptable range for him.  The oscillator really helps him get rid of the co2 and his blood gases have looked good.

Today, Rowan's abdominal and chest X-rays looked really good.  Dr. Sharma said that his lungs were expanding well (something he's had trouble with) and his bowel looked good.  Because of this, they were able to start feeding Rowan again.  He is getting 1mL every 3 hours.  He seems to be tolerating it pretty well, but the real test will be if he can continue to poop like he has been the last week now that he has food in his stomach.

They did their weekly height and head measurements last night and he is currently 13 inches long (up from 12.5 inches at birth) and his head is 10 inches in diameter (up from 8.5 at birth). Tonight his weight is 1060 grams which is 2 pounds 5 ounces. We're pretty excited to be in the more than 1 kilo club! 😊

We hope that Rowan can continue to have good expansion in his lungs and hopefully be switched back to the conventional ventilator.  We also need him to tolerate and digest his feedings well.  This has all been a huge test of John and I's patience because we can only move forward as fast as Rowan will allow.


Today on Memorial Day, we also remember all of those who gave their lives fighting for our freedom.  It is also a day to remember family and friends who have gone before us.  John and I thought about our sweet girl, Hope, a lot today.  We had hoped to be able to make it to Riley to visit her grave, but thought it was more important to stay in KC with her baby brother.  We know that she is always here with us watching over Rowan.  💗💗