Day 84.....we think?

Last night Mason measured 17 3/8" in length and weighed 5 lbs 4 oz.  He is now getting fed whenever he is hungry instead of just every 3 hours.  Mason is also on nasal cannula full time and was weaned from 2 liters to 1 liter yesterday, he has been doing really well with it.  Our next big step will be to get his hernias fixed.  The surgeon came in this morning and decided to take Mason to surgery tomorrow morning at 7:30.  Big day for Mason, we all know how much he liked his breathing tube last time.  Hopefully they will be able to remove it the same day and he will be able to get back to eating as soon as possible.  This is a huge step towards going home! 

More Pictures of Mason

Bath time

Our current residence

 

Mason sleeping on mom

Another angle

Holding the pacifier

Suck suck sukaroo

New Pics

Day 77

Mason had a good weekend with dad and grandma Bonzi while mom was at work.  He drank an entire feeding from a bottle, which is a huge accomplishment.  Of course he would do this for dad while mom was at work!!  Otherwise he has been drinking about half of his feedings from a bottle and getting the other half through the NG tube he has in his nose.  He is still on CPAP three hours and cannula nine hours at a time.  He seems to be tolerating it well only requiring about 25-35% oxygen (room air is 21%).  He continues to grow at a good rate and was four pounds twelve ounces today.     

Day 73

Today was a big day for Mason.  He weighed in at 1970 grams, which is approximately 4 pounds 4 ounces.  The doctor increased his time on nasal cannula to 9 hours and then 3 hours of CPAP.  We could tell he was getting a little tired by the end of the 9 hours, but he did pretty good.  He was also allowed to try a bottle yesterday.  He wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first, but after a couple tries he is getting the hang of it.  They allow him to bottle feed while he is on nasal cannula and acting hungry.  Today they moved him out of the isolet and into a crib. He is getting to be such a big boy!  Pictures to come :) 

Day 70

Today marks 10 weeks in the NICU.  Mason weighs just over 4 pounds, and he has little rolls on his arms and legs and even a double chin!  The dietitian says he is doing great in weight gain and growth.  He is now 15 inches long.  He is still on CPAP for most of the day and we are doing nasal cannula two hours out of every six hours while mom or dad hold him. They are planning on increasing his nasal cannula time this week.  He is still in the isolet and they would like him to stay in that as long as possible.  The less he has to work to keep his temperature up the better he will grow because temperature control uses calories. 

Mom survived her first weekend at work away from Mason.  It was a busy one, but luckily it all came back after being gone since August.  Everyone that I worked with made the weekend much easier to handle. I was able to sneak away to have my lunch break at Mason's bedside.  I only called the nurses a couple times to check in.  Haha.  Joe got some father son time alone with Mason as well.  He did lots of holding since he has to be gone during the week at work and school. 

The big move

Mason made the big move to NICU 3 yesterday.  So far he has been doing very well down here.  Mom and dad are enjoying the larger space that we now have and the slower pace of the unit.  Last night Mason weighed 1680 grams or 3lbs 11.25oz.  Pray for mom tomorrow night.  It is her first night back at work and her longest time away from Mason since he was born.  Nothing else to report.  Good bye for now.