6w4d old

46 days old/days in NICU

Weight: 4 lbs 8.5 (+ 4 ounces)

Today is a *sigh* will this ever end? day. Ella didn't go down on her liters of pressure like we thought she would. She's needing around 50%, give or take a tiny bit, of O2 on the 2.5 liters so the doctor kept her on it. So, no breastfeeding. She also gained a lot last night so the doctor is putting her on the Lasiks (the diuretic) twice a day instead of once because she may be retaining water again. She is increasing her caffeine dosage from 10 ml to 20 ml in hopes it will help her O2. 

We also have an update on Saturday. The nurse and head nurse tested the cannula and nothing was wrong with it. The fact that it was changed and her O2 needs dropped was coincidental. I know what you're thinking, "yeah right". First of all, I trust this nurse as much as I trust anyone else and know she's not lying, plus she offered to test it in front of me and show me that it worked. Second of all, they explained what happened. Ella's hematocrit and red blood cells were extremely low. Dangerously low and she needed the transfusion, which we knew of course. The blood had been going in for a while and was nearing the end of going in at the same time that the cannula was changed. Plus, they discovered abnormal cell counts in her urine which indicated that she actually DID have a small bladder infection and the antibiotics had been going by that point. So the blood transfusion and the antibiotics were doing their job. The doctor said they don't always see such a fast improvement from a blood transfusion but it appears that was her major problem, was the major need for another transfusion. 

Today is prematurity awareness day and to show your support, the March of Dimes asked people to wear purple. Olivia and I are both dressed in purple. :)