1 month birthday

Today is Matthew's 1 month birthday.  When I cut the "1" out this morning it seemed like a good size.  Then I put it next to Matthew, and it clearly looks huge.  It is crazy to think that already a month has gone by.  He had a pretty stable day today, though both room 3 and room 4 were pretty crazy today.  I went out to the cafeteria for lunch around noon and in that time some sort of craziness happened.

Matthew and I got to do Kangaroo today (it's been almost 3 weeks since we have done it).  He seemed more comfortable the last time - it might be because of the NIPV in his nose, or the room being more chaotic today, or something else.  I felt bad because last time he really liked it and this time it was just so so.  I hope we find our balance with it, because it is nice to feel his little arms and feet.  It seems clear though that Matthew does not like a lot of noise/stimulation - at least not right now.

To help Matthew get on a more steady increase in weight the geneticist has changed his iValex formula ratio (this was after a conversation with Orly, who wasn't pleased with his lack of weight gain.  As I have said before, Orly means business).  He started the new combination later this afternoon.  They are also going to add in albuterol to two of his physical therapy sessions as he sounded a little wheezy this morning.

The Good

Matthew had a stable day overall.  He had his moments, but was breathing better today than yesterday.  Orly said she could hear his breath better this morning, which is how she could hear the wheezing.  He is up to 18cc of food, and may start an every 3 hour feeding soon, as opposed to every 2 hours.  Mary Katherine (MK), his nurse for the past two days, says that this usually causes babies to go up pretty dramatically in weight.  Orly agreed with my assessment that Matthew's weight gain of 100g in one night was "suspicious" but he weighed in at 3lb 2oz tonight.

The Bad

No change down in Matthew's pressure settings today, so he is still at the upper end.  Hopefully the albuterol helps, and Orly also said if his oxygen goes up too much that she may do Lasik again.  Orly's assessment is that Matthew is essentially suffering from "wimpy white boy" syndrome.  I actually said that and she agreed, saying she couldn't say it because it is not PC.  She had tried to hint at it saying something about boys just wanting their mommy - she may have even said white boys.


The Ugly

No Ugly for today for Matthew - fingers crossed it stays that way.