INCREMENTALITY (REVISED UPDATE)

Our little man's health over the last few days could be described as incrementally better. Hour by hour, day by day, he is making slight improvements. Over the last two days:

• Generally, he looks more at peace and struggling less.
• His lungs have remained open which allowed the doctors to remove the ventilator;
• The specialized UV lights were removed because the jaundice has decreased (but we were told it is not uncommon for it to return);
• He is breathing on his own with no additional oxygen (though he still requires the cpap);
• Increased his feeding of breast milk from 3 mL every 6-hours to 3 mL every 3-hours, which he is digesting well (Mommy has been successful with pumping);
• His weight loss has slowed; and,

UPDATE: He is now temporarily off the cpap machine and breathing completely on his own. He has also made his first weight gain since his birth.

REVISED UPDATE: Adrien is now back on the cpap machine to provide him a break with a little assistance with his breathing. The medical staff is however continuing to increase the volume of milk for each feeding (every three-hours).

Mommy and Daddy have been able to be involved with the handling times, which happen every three hours. This typically involves us changing his diapers, taking his temperature, and lifting him off his bed to allow the nurses to change the blankets (...sometimes he likes to pretend he is a firefighter with a big hose, which needs containing...and all the sheets then have to be changed). During these times the nurses feed him his portion of milk, change the cpap, measure weight, and listen to his chest and organs with the tiniest stethoscope.

Adrien loves to have his hands, feet and legs held as though he is still in the womb. He also loves hearing Karyne’s voice and moves his head in her direction whenever she is present. Now that his Spiderman goggles are off, we can watch his beautiful eyes look around and find all the shadows that match the voices he has heard over the past few days.

On Wednesday our big, little man, Gabriel, came to spend the day with us (Mommy and Daddy were ecstatic to have him around!). He brought a special little Zebra for his little brother. Gabriel was amazing in the NICU where he patiently watched and talked to his little brother, held/stroked his legs and asked more questions about how Adrien was doing. Gabriel also helped Mommy move from her hospital room to the “courtesy room", as it was also the same day that she was discharged from hospital. Then we went for a lunch together, outside the hospital. Gabriel is coming back to Victoria on Saturday for his next visit and moving in with Daddy at the Easter Seals House.

(On Friday, Mommy and Daddy will be stealing away for a small date, in between pumping since we have the absolute most qualified (and most expensive) babysitting we’ll ever have. )

Thank you again for all of your prayers and blessings, we have felt incredibly supported during these initial days.

(more pictures/videos to come)