Hi everyone! Here’s the newest update on our little Adam Larbi! Adam was getting doses of caffeine because of his apnea spells. Those doses have been cancelled because the apnea spells are now decreasing. Adam is keeping his food down well and is getting 25 cc’s every few hours. Adam is being fed through a tube still; however, just the other day he started being fed from a bottle twice a day. He’s doing so good taking from the bottle. He has now trained himself to be coordinated in sucking, swallowing, and breathing at the same time!! WAY TO GO ADAM!!!!
Adam’s eye medication has been discontinued, so that’s good as well!
Another ultrasound was done on Adam’s brain. There is no change and another ultrasound will be completed in two weeks. Adam’s second eye exam was given with no change – so everything is progressing as it should. His hearing exam will be in a few weeks.
Our little munchkin is now known as a “step down baby” (not real sick) thanks God, so he was moved to another location in NICU. :)
Little man weighs in at 3.3 pounds (pretty close to 1500 grams, but not quite there yet). Once he gets to 1500 grams, he is allowed to wear clothes from home as long as they open or zip in the front. His primary nurse said "almost time to play dress up"! :) I know momma is very happy about that!
Once Adam is 4 pounds he will be moved to an open crib; however, he must be able to maintain is body temperature with clothes, blanket, and hat on. He will be monitored every hour to make sure this is happening, but if he cannot maintain his temperature – then he will have to move back to the incubator again.
A lab on Adam’s blood was performed to check his red blood cells since his last transfusion. The numbers are looking great! Another lab will be checked again next week.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
02/13/2009
Suzie received a call from Adam's doctor recommending another blood transfusion. Adam's PCU and retic was better; however, Adam has not been gaining the weight that he should. His vitals were too high and his little heart had to work very hard to pump what little blood he had thru his body. Even though his calories have been increased with each feeding, this is a lot of the reason he was not gaining weight. Adam was just burning them off too fast.
The blood transfusion is given over the course of two days. It takes about four hours to put 11 milliliters into Adam for a total of 22 milliliters. The first day the transfusion went into a blood vessel in his scalp the second one was given thru his left foot. Little man looked exhausted. It has been two days since the blood transfusion and he is still so tired.
Adam now weighs 2.8 and 3/4th pound. His color looks a lot better now.
The antibiotic given in his eyes have been discontinued. Adam received the second round of his TB shoot today.
The blood transfusion is given over the course of two days. It takes about four hours to put 11 milliliters into Adam for a total of 22 milliliters. The first day the transfusion went into a blood vessel in his scalp the second one was given thru his left foot. Little man looked exhausted. It has been two days since the blood transfusion and he is still so tired.
Adam now weighs 2.8 and 3/4th pound. His color looks a lot better now.
The antibiotic given in his eyes have been discontinued. Adam received the second round of his TB shoot today.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
02.10.09
Adam weighs 2.4 and a quarter pounds and is eating 19 cc's every three hours and is getting 30 calories per feeding. He is still underweight for his age, so hopefully those calories will help him gain weight. It takes little Adam about 30 minutes to eat his 19 cc's. He gets two vitamins a day through his feeding tube as well. Included in those vitamins is iron, which helps him grown stronger and also ensures he will not become anemic.
Along with vitamins twice a day, Adam is also getting antibiotics in his eyes because an eye infection keeps occurring. He is also getting caffeine twice daily to help increase Adam's energy level in order to keep the amount of apnea to a minimum.
Suzie says, "Adams PCU went to 37 and his white blood cells rose. A few factors can cause this. One his bilaribbon was coming back. Another lab was taken to double check the PCU. Blood needs to be drawn for this and Adam did cry a little bit, it broke my heart. The doctor was preparing to order another blood transfusion, but wanted to double check the previous lab. Adam cannot produce his blood right now on his own, if the previous lab was correct Adams apnea spells would increase more and they had increased and also his getting sick after eating would have increased more and they also had increased but not to the amount that was so worrisome to the Dr or for his PCU to go to 37. The results came back and tested negative for the bilibribbon, they look for the retic and his was 6.6 , this is good and his PCU dropped back to 27. It was determined he was dehydrated, which caused the PCU test to go to 37. There are always increased risks involved with a blood transfusion, so thank God this did not have to happen. Adam will be tested again next week and if God bless the results will be okay where the blood transfusion will not be needed."
The results for the Ultra Sound on Adams brain scan are in. There is a 2 cm cyst on the left side where the grade 4 bleed occurred. Considering the size of Adam's little brain, this cyst is quite large. This cyst cannot be removed - at least this is what his doctor is saying now. This cyst is not normal or abnormal, being a brain bleed like Adam had, a cyst does usually form. So this is not abnormal to have happened. However, the doctor explained, "this is a wait and see" so the abnormal is we do not know what damage God forbid might occur. Adam has significant scarring on both the right and left side of his brain at the location where his brain controls his muscles. A brain bleed such as Adam had the percentage of having significant disabilities such as cerebral palsy is common. As with any disability there are varying degrees from minor to severe. The doctor told us that Adam has his age on his side. Being he is still developing, his brain has not "trained" itself. So, if a brain signal tries to go to a part of the brain that has the scarring and it can not send the signal it will "reroute" and send the signal some where else in his little brain. Suzie corrected the doctor, "No, Adam has God first and then his age on his side. Whatever his Creator wills for him, his Mommy and Daddy are here for him every step of the way, if God wills for it to be."
Thank you for all the continuous prayers.
Along with vitamins twice a day, Adam is also getting antibiotics in his eyes because an eye infection keeps occurring. He is also getting caffeine twice daily to help increase Adam's energy level in order to keep the amount of apnea to a minimum.
Suzie says, "Adams PCU went to 37 and his white blood cells rose. A few factors can cause this. One his bilaribbon was coming back. Another lab was taken to double check the PCU. Blood needs to be drawn for this and Adam did cry a little bit, it broke my heart. The doctor was preparing to order another blood transfusion, but wanted to double check the previous lab. Adam cannot produce his blood right now on his own, if the previous lab was correct Adams apnea spells would increase more and they had increased and also his getting sick after eating would have increased more and they also had increased but not to the amount that was so worrisome to the Dr or for his PCU to go to 37. The results came back and tested negative for the bilibribbon, they look for the retic and his was 6.6 , this is good and his PCU dropped back to 27. It was determined he was dehydrated, which caused the PCU test to go to 37. There are always increased risks involved with a blood transfusion, so thank God this did not have to happen. Adam will be tested again next week and if God bless the results will be okay where the blood transfusion will not be needed."
The results for the Ultra Sound on Adams brain scan are in. There is a 2 cm cyst on the left side where the grade 4 bleed occurred. Considering the size of Adam's little brain, this cyst is quite large. This cyst cannot be removed - at least this is what his doctor is saying now. This cyst is not normal or abnormal, being a brain bleed like Adam had, a cyst does usually form. So this is not abnormal to have happened. However, the doctor explained, "this is a wait and see" so the abnormal is we do not know what damage God forbid might occur. Adam has significant scarring on both the right and left side of his brain at the location where his brain controls his muscles. A brain bleed such as Adam had the percentage of having significant disabilities such as cerebral palsy is common. As with any disability there are varying degrees from minor to severe. The doctor told us that Adam has his age on his side. Being he is still developing, his brain has not "trained" itself. So, if a brain signal tries to go to a part of the brain that has the scarring and it can not send the signal it will "reroute" and send the signal some where else in his little brain. Suzie corrected the doctor, "No, Adam has God first and then his age on his side. Whatever his Creator wills for him, his Mommy and Daddy are here for him every step of the way, if God wills for it to be."
Thank you for all the continuous prayers.
Monday, February 2, 2009
02/02/2009
Hi everyone! Sorry that I've hardly been updating the blog. I haven't been going to see Adam because I've been sick. I'm finally starting to get over my cold but now my son is sick, so I'm not sure when this week I'll be able to go see little Adam. I miss him! :)
Suzie has been updating me with how he's doing and I've got some new updates.
Adam is now 2.2 pounds. He's eating well and is gaining some weight, which is great!
Adam had an eye exame and everything is developing like it should. His next exam will be in three weeks. Suzie wasn't able to hold Adam because the eye exam wore Adam out. What the doctor has to do is hold Adam's head straight and force his eyes to stay open. Then, eye drops go into his eye for the exam. Of course, Adam did not like it and was crying the whole time. But, this is just one of the exams he has to have done to make sure everything is progressing as it should.
Adam is still having some apnea spells where he stops breathing, but the nurses just rub his back and he's reminded to start breathing.
He is eating 18 cc's per feeding. Liquid vitamin is added once a day to one of his feedings.
Adams respiratory therapist had to switch out the tape on his face that helps hold his oxygen in place. So now, all he has is tape around his mouth so we can see those cute cheeks! :)
Suzie has been updating me with how he's doing and I've got some new updates.
Adam is now 2.2 pounds. He's eating well and is gaining some weight, which is great!
Adam had an eye exame and everything is developing like it should. His next exam will be in three weeks. Suzie wasn't able to hold Adam because the eye exam wore Adam out. What the doctor has to do is hold Adam's head straight and force his eyes to stay open. Then, eye drops go into his eye for the exam. Of course, Adam did not like it and was crying the whole time. But, this is just one of the exams he has to have done to make sure everything is progressing as it should.
Adam is still having some apnea spells where he stops breathing, but the nurses just rub his back and he's reminded to start breathing.
He is eating 18 cc's per feeding. Liquid vitamin is added once a day to one of his feedings.
Adams respiratory therapist had to switch out the tape on his face that helps hold his oxygen in place. So now, all he has is tape around his mouth so we can see those cute cheeks! :)
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