At 8:04pm, Ryan was born. 2 pounds 1 ounce, 14 inches long. 25 weeks and 4 days premature. Immediately he was put on a ventilator that breathes for him. It can also monitor the amount of oxygen, air pressure, and number of breaths he takes. An umbilical catheter and IV line were inserted through the umbilical cord to supply him the proper nutrients and medications.
February 8th, 2012
Ryan was under close watch by his nurses and doctors, but he
was doing great, and all his vital signs were stable.
February 9th, 2012
Ryan went down to 2 pounds. This is a normal reaction being
that he was now not eating everything that he was getting when in my belly--no
more Hooters or McDonalds for him for a little while. He is however now getting
1 milliliter (ml) of breast milk every 2 hours which means they inserted a
feeding tube. He is also now on phototherapy which helps break down the
bilirubin in the body. We call this Ryan's tanning bed, but in actuality, it’s
helping him from getting jaundice (yellowing of the skin).
February 10th, 2012
Ryan has been taken off the ventilator (first milestone).
His CO2 levels in his blood gases have been looking good, and the doctors made
the decision to try him on the C-PAP.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) – This method is
used for babies who can breathe on their own, but just need some help getting
air to their lungs.
The C-PAP doesn't bypass his vocal cords like the ventilator
does, so Ryan and I got to hear our little guy cry for the first time.
February 11th, 2012
Ryan is now 1 pound and 13 ounces. Although he is receiving
the 1ml of milk every 2 hours, it has not helped him gain any weight. The first
couple days of milk that a mother produces is what’s called colostrum--this has
no amount of fat it in, but instead has essential antibodies that help build a
babies immune system. Ryan's umbilical catheter was taken out today.
February 12th, 2012
No new news with Ryan progress. He is still remaining a
little fighter. Jen changed her first diaper of Ryan's today. Wasn't that messy
of a diaper, I just need more practice on a baby in an incubator (isolate). February 13th, 2012
First day we haven't seen Ryan since he was born. Grandma and Grandpa Gillespie got to fill us in on how he was--he is still doing great!
February 14th, 2012
Happy 1 week old Ryan! What a great Valentine’s Day it was!
Ryan's feedings have gone up to 3ml every 2 hours. I got to hold Ryan for the
very first time! It was a little scary having them move him with all these
wires in, but once he got comfortable on my chest, he was passed out sleeping
for a solid hour. Ryan got to change baby Ryan's diaper for the first time! And
finally, baby Ryan started opening his eyes to look at his mommy and daddy.
Needless to say, we had a very good night and couldn't have been any more
excited with how the day went!
February 15th, 2012
Ryan's feedings have gone up to 5ml every 2 hours. His
oxygen levels on the C-PAP are borderline switching back to the vent. Being on
the C-PAP, Ryan has to breathe on his own which may be too much on his tiny
body right now. They said not to think of it as a setback that he would be
going back on the vent, it would just give Ryan the break he needs to gain more
strength in his lungs. A PICC line was also inserted into his arm.
Central line (sometimes referred to as a PICC line) - This
is an intravenous line that is inserted into a vein, often in the arm which
allows use for a larger vein. This is normally used to deliver nutrients and
medicines that would otherwise irritate smaller veins.
The PICC line will be in his arm for a while until he does
not need any further nutrients or medications.
February 16th, 2012
Ryan's feedings have gone up to 7ml every 2 hours. They have
moved him back to the vent like they said that were going to. His heart and
digestive system seem to be in great condition, all we need is his lungs to
support his body and hopefully it will all be uphill from there. February 17th, 2012
Ryan's feedings are now at 9ml every 2 hours. The little man
is eating and pooping like a champ. Ryan’s final umbilical IV line has come
out, so the only tubes we need to be concerned with are from the neck-up. Now
back on the vent, his blood gases are looking way better and Ryan is looking a
lot more stable. If being on the vent is going to make him not struggle, I am
perfectly happy keeping him on it for a while.
February 18th, 2012
Ryan is now eating 11ml every 2 hours. It unbelievable how
much milk this little guy can tolerate! The nurses even admit since he is
eating a lot more, their changing his diaper way more because he keeps leaking
out. Haha. He is now weighing in at 2 pounds 1 ounce which means he is gaining
weight, and back to his birth weight! This was also a great day for daddy
because he was able to finally hold baby Ryan!
February 19th, 2012
Ryan’s feedings went up to 12ml every 2 hours. Ryan and I
got to experience changing our first super poopy diaper. We are still not
confident with changing his diaper in the isolate, so the fact that Ryan got
some poop on his finger was not a surprise. Baby Ryan's eyes were open the
whole time we changed him. I can only imagine what was going through his head
while watching us. Ryan is now 2 pounds and 3 ounces, which means he is now heavier
than his birth weight!
February 20th, 2012
Ryan’s feedings are now at 14ml every 2 hours. At 11:00AM
they decided to switch him back to the C-PAP and give him another try at it. He
has been doing very well on the vent and they do not want to deprive him of the
challenge of breathing on his own. At 9:30PM, they switched him back to the
vent (crazy day for baby Ryan). He was
struggling too much on the C-PAP and there is no reason for him to struggle
right now when he can have the vent help him. My only concern is what, if any,
kind of damage are all these tubes doing coming in and out of his throat? Humm,
something to definitely ask tomorrow morning. 
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