Ramping It Up

Can I get a woooooah woooooah??? Jimmie is 4 pounds and then some...!!! Go Jimmie go! He has really started chunking up in the last few weeks.

I am so excited. I predict that in the NEXT few weeks the Doctors and Nurses will start saying the "H" word more often. "Home" is such a beautiful word! We'll see, Jimmie still has a few hurdles to overcome.

They told us when he was born that the goal would be to get him home sometime around his due date. His due date is May 28th. That is so UNBELIEVABLE to me. He is 2 months old and his due date is still over a month and a half away. When I think about that it just blows my mind. You really can't be born too much earlier than Jimmie and ever live to go home. Maybe 2 weeks earlier (at most) for a miraculous few.

So things are changing in Jimmie land this week! They are "ramping it up!"

Jimmie is going to start on a much more intensive schedule that will focus heavily on learning to eat by mouth. The NP (Nurse Practitioner) wrote and order today for Rachael to breastfeed him every other feeding during the day now. So Rach will be in the NICU from 9am to 9pm. This next phase of Jimmie's care and development will be a real marathon for Rachael because of her desire to breastfeed.

The NP also wrote a new order to have his feedings by tube go in over a 30 minute time period instead of 60 minutes. This will be a test to see how well his tummy can handle receiving milk at a faster rate. That is more true to how it is when being breastfed or even bottle fed. So keep praying those "happy tummy prayers"!

Jimmie's Hematocrit level is down to 28 which is not great. 40 is where they want him. But his Retic count is over 5 so they are very hopeful he'll bring his Hematocrit up on his own this time. If you are wondering(I was!)- "Retic" stands for "Reticulocyte". A Retic Count is the "number of reticulocytes (young red blood cells) circulating in blood, usually less than 1% of the total number of the red blood cells. Elevation of the reticulocyte count above 1% (reticulocytosis) is a sign of rapid red blood cell production."

Pray lots of crit prayers because we REALLY DO NOT WANT another blood transfusion.

So the grandparents are loving their new freedom to touch Jimmie. Grandpa Rod changed a diaper last night and Ma (Andrea) changed one today! Grandma Kathy said the Nurse made the comment that they were all going to fight over changing his diapers now, but later on it'll be the usual "thing you hope to avoid". LOL! I'll be shocked if my Dad changes Jimmie's diaper. If he does, I'll know for sure he's playing favorites. My kids are gonna be 4 and 2 this summer and somehow my Dad has managed to avoid changing either one of them! (-:

Here are 2 more shots from yesterday. He's just so CUTE!!





Love,
Amber