NICU week one- august 16 to august 22

during the first week, garron spent time resting under his sauna tent. the goal was to keep him as calm as possible so that he would conserve all his calories. he also got two doses of surfactant, a medicine to help keep the air sacs in his lungs open, allowing him to breathe effectively. he started on 2cc of breast milk through his feeding tube 6 times a day & luckily tolerated it very well!

justin & i spent most of the week sitting with garron. we could touch him with firm, even pressure. it was amazing how his heartrate would go down a little when we would touch him. that was really neat- we knew he knew us already! we also spent time reading to him (well, mostly justin reading because when i would try, it would make me cry!) we would also tell him what we had been doing, about patch & zoomer, about our house and his room, etc. talking to him & being able to touch him was really comforting.

a BIG surprise happened on wednesday-- i got to hold garron!!! i did not know this was going to happen, and it's a good thing because i would not have slept at all the night before if i had been given advanced warning! there are not words in this language to describe how it felt to hold our perfect son. it was the most joyful moment in my life so far. i could have sat there staring in amazement at the sweet little baby, my baby, in my arms. nurse lori was there to help get him & all his tubes & wires situated so that i could hold him. i will be greatful to her forever.

that was not the only surprise of the week. on thursday, garron got taken OFF his ventilator! what an amazing occurance! after only 5 days, his lungs were working well enough that he could be placed under the oxygen tent. one tube gone!!! a few to go!

during week one, we also got to start "kangaroo care." this is a time when we hold garron skin-to-skin. it helps his development & also promotes bonding with us. the neatest thing is that they say our body senses his temperature & either warms or cools in order to maintain him. he also hears our heartbeat & this helps regulate his little heart. it was another very special first.