11:15pm: Kristen and I just got back from the NICU not too long ago. When we got there around 6:30p, he was sound asleep, but as soon as he woke up, we were able to experience what the rest of the NICU staff got to see all day - a baby that was full of smiles and laughs. It was almost surreal and feels like we hit the fast forward button and have a new Reid. We are pinching ourselves as we watch in amazement of how fun it is to have a baby that responds and laughs and coos to what you do. We know all too well that these moments don't last forever in the NICU, so we are going to take today for what it was worth and embrace it!

The NICU had taken some pictures and printed them out. Some were a little fuzzy, but the one below was probably the best one.


Kristen and I got to bathe Reid tonight. Afterwards, Kristen held him and read a book to him until he fell asleep. Keep in mind, the book was in Spanish... it almost put me to sleep as well. :)




The other news for today is that they increased his feedings to 28cc per hour (almost an ounce every hour). Anyway, bed time for us. We are praying hard tonight that Reid will have another good CO2 gas in the morning and continue to be a happy baby tomorrow. Grandma and Grandpa Elley (my parents) are coming in town to see Reid and to help celebrate Kristen's birthday (which is actually on Saturday).

11:45pm: Reid is still a happy camper today and is in his chair and asleep since 10am. The doctor was so excited with his CO2 last night that she decided to wean him further on the pressures/flow to 9 liters. Not that his lungs still don't need the support the pressures give, but his happiness may be attributed to the fact that he doesn't have quite as much flow going through his nose. I imagine this is quite uncomfortable and is starting to feel some relief as he has gone from 16 liter to 9 liter in about 3 weeks. So far, he seems to be tolerating the change from 10 to 9. Two pressure weans in two days!

On Friday, he is going to be weaned on his prednisone steroid. After a meeting with endocrinology, they expressed some concerns of keeping Reid on these heavy steroids for such a long period of time. His adrenal gland (which naturally produces hormones and corticosteroids) can actually stop or heavily reduce the amount of steroids that his body produces on it's own. The body is smart enough to know that when something is being given in abundance artificially, that it doesn't need to produce it as much naturally. I believe they want his body to start producing it on its own again.

On Monday, he will have another wean of his methadone.

6:45am: You know Reid had a good night when you call into the NICU and the person who answers the phone tells you that you are about to hear good news before she transfers you to his nurse. Reid was able to sleep uninterrupted from 10pm to 5am and has a CO2 gas of 49.5!! Our nurse said that all of the other nurses were huddled around looking at Reid as he is smiling so big, cooing and "laughing" when tickled. Unfortunately, we have to wait until this evening to go visit him, but we are ecstatic.