Chillin On Mom

This is a video of Jimmie chillin on his Supermomma! (-:

Jimmie lost 1 gram today. That's not too bad since he's been gaining so well. Keep those fat prayers coming.

He has his first eye exam on Wednesday afternoon. His eyes will be dilated and the doctor will be checking to make sure he is not developing Retinopathy of Prematurity. Below is a brief explanation:

"Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease that affects immature vasculature in the eyes of premature babies. It can be mild with no visual defects, or it may become aggressive with new blood vessel formation (neovascularization) and progress to retinal detachment and blindness. As smaller and younger babies are surviving, the incidence of ROP has increased."

Unfortunately this is pretty common in micro-preemies like Jimmie. So lets pray this is yet another area where Jimmie is exceptional.

Rachael said another thing to note is that with Jimmie's last brain scan they saw a Choroid Plexus Cyst. They assured Rachael these are completely harmless and absolutely nothing to worry about. Below is an explanation:

"The brain contains pockets or spaces called ventricles with a spongy layer of cells and blood vessels called the choroid plexus. This is in the middle of the fetal brain. The choroid plexus has the important function of producing a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid produced by the cells of the choroid plexus fills the ventricles and then flows around the brain and the spinal cord to provide a cushion of fluid around these structures. CPCs can form within this structure and come from fluid trapped within this spongy layer of cells, much like a soap bubble or a blister.

It is believed that many adults have one or more tiny CPCs. CPCs have no impact on an individual's health or development or learning. The fetal brain may create these cysts as a normal part of development. They are temporary and usually are gone by the 32nd week of pregnancy."

Anyway-- Rachael and our whole family is a bit jumpy at the word "cyst" understandably. ( Rachael's daughter Gracie Anne passed away from a Cystic Hygroma and my daughter McKenna has had two Cystic Hygroma's removed) However the doctors have assured us this is not uncommon in healthy babies even ones who are not born premature. Most are seen on ultrasounds of babies inutero. Jimmie is working on his 29th week. It'll be interesting to see if this cyst does indeed dissolve by the time he is in his 32nd week. FYI it is NOT visible any other way than by ultrasound. You can not see it by looking at his head.

Jimmie is doing really great with the low flow. In fact- they are already starting to tweak the flow downwards. He was at 1 liter and they took it down an 1/8 today. This apparatus is the last step in his respiratory support. After the low flow- it'll be NO FLOW! (-: Nothing! Totally breathing and oxygenating on his own. Go Jimmie go!

Rachael will bring me the latest pictures tomorrow. I can't wait to see them!

Love,
Amber