Oliver's update

Today is Oliver's 77th day of life!!!

His mother and father are very proud of their little fighter.

Status
Oliver currently weighs 4 pounds 14 ounces.
He breathes on his own. (that's right...no machines, no tubes...no anything!)
He eats all of his feedings from either a bottle or his momma. (no more feeding tube)
He no longer needs diuretics or iron supplements.
He has battled reflux all his life but finally graduated to a flat bed.

Oliver passed his hearing screening and scored "normal" on his latest brain scan.

Goals:
Oliver has another vision screening next week...this will be number 4.
He poops one his own occasionally, but he needs to become independent of the sepositories. 


Thank you all for the continued prayers...pictures to come!

For Now...

It is fascinating how the purpose for what we do changes over time, even though it might not be our initial intent that it will.  Writing started out for me as a way to work through some difficult emotions during a period of my life when I could think of no other way.  Then, I gradually transformed my words into a style that was telling a story, informing and connecting with the many out there who chose to care so much about Oliver and our family.  In recent days, it has become clear to me that my purpose for writing is no longer identifiable.  I feel that my energy is better directed towards my son, Oliver, who has blessed all of our lives so much throughout his short but influential time here on earth.  Today marks the day where my writing will come to an end.  I am sad, yet at the same time relieved.  There may be an occasional weekly update or picture, but my consistent daily posts will cease…. for now.

Yesterday, I was sitting in the NICU surrounded by nothing but silence.  I had just spent 64 of the last 72 hours next to my only child’s crib, supporting him with my presence, the only way I knew how.  The young warrior had previously received three vaccinations in three straight days, quite a challenge for a child in his relatively difficult situation.  Having not left his side for fear that he would follow suit with the many other preemies who struggle through immunizations, I was exhausted yet reassured.  He handled them like a champ.  The lights surrounding us were off, Oliver’s alarms hadn’t made a sound in quite some time, and as I sat there, a thought suddenly struck me.  “This” particular moment was the first time since June 8^th of this year that I actually “believed”. 

During the past 72 days, my wife and I have witnessed some horrific events as well as experienced some unnerving feelings that will forever be burned deep into my being.  Throughout this seemingly endless period of time, no matter how hard I tried to talk myself out of it, I was living in constant worry that my child would never get an opportunity to come home with us.  Even though I don’t believe that we are completely out of the water yet, deep inside me, without a doubt, I now know that Oliver has crested the peak of the mountain.  I am not saying it will be an easy next month, but I am proud to say that Oliver Moses Book is on the homeward stretch.

Oliver is officially four pounds now, which still places him well below the 3rd percentile mark in nearly every category of size.  Even so, he has proven his strength through his survival of 65 difficult days in a neonatal intensive care unit.  Recently, his crib was moved to a different area of the NICU, and while the battle is far from over, it is quite clear that this simple move signifies that our son is considered by everyone here in the hospital to be stable.  As he grows and matures, his mother and I are getting more and more opportunities to interact with him on a more personal and humanistic level.  He is consistently going to bottle and breast at least once a day, and in addition to this, showing many appropriate developmental cues for a baby of his gestation.

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I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has participated in this journey with us so far, in whatever capacity it may have been.  In humble return for your perpetual thoughts, prayers, and love, I am confident that young Oliver has found a way to impart upon you some lesson of value during the course of the last few months.  I have no doubt that if you are reading this today, this extraordinary child has earned himself a special place in your heart.  And Annie, a beautiful mother in every sense of the word, you will always remain in my mind the soul reason for our son’s existence today.  I thank you for continued strength... from the bottom of my heart.  I will forever be in your debt.

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As a final gift, I wish to leave with you the knowledge that one day soon, my son, Oliver Moses Book, will be sitting next to me in a field in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, experiencing a spectacle of nature that my father and I have shared together for as long as I can remember.  I look forward to passing along the heritage, passion, and love of the outdoors that my family holds dear to our heart.  As generation gives way to generation, we as humans will continue our existence.  Thank you all.  I truly believe that it does take a village.

Grrrrrr!

My new favorite towel to cuddle up in after Mom and Dad clean me up in the bathtub!  Grrrr!!

My first bottle!

That's right... I did it.  Yesterday I took my first bottle.  I drank down 14 ml of momma's milk, which is almost half of my feeding.  This was my first attempt at bottle feeding and I guess 14 mls is a lot for the first go around.  My parents and the nurses were quite surprised, and very proud of me!

Graduation

Oliver continues his forward progress in the areas of breathing, eating, and growing almost daily.  He remains on a high flow nasal cannula at a rate of 1.5 liters/min, he increases the amount of food he eats by small amounts each day, and he is slowly closing in on the 4 pound mark in weight.  All of this is quite encouraging news, but the biggest accomplishment Oliver has made in the last week is truly cause for celebration.

Oliver has finally graduated from his enclosed isolet and moved into a real baby crib.  He no longer needs external heat to stay warm, and he has also become accustomed to tolerating light and sounds at greater intensities.  For these reasons and many more, Oliver now spends his days and nights exposed to open air, just like the big boys do.

Being able to watch him sleep without the plastic barrier is very comforting.  The opportunity to hear all of the little sounds he makes is so soothing to the ear.  The fact that he is accessible to us all the time personalizes the experience just that much more.  Congratulations son!

Like Father Like Son

Oliver is starting to spend more time awake each day.  Mom and I are here often enough that we usually catch him during these 30 minute periods of awareness.  When he is awake, Oliver is very alert and shows us quite clearly that he recognizes us as his parents by becoming very calm with our presence.  We whisper to him, put our faces close to his, and give him more kisses than he probably wants.  He doesn't take his eyes off of us.  This is one of my favorite times each day.

Change of Pace

Life in the NICU has drastically changed.  The long hours of sitting and staring at numbers on monitors have given way to activities more suited to parenting.  The basic routine is still quite similar to what it once was; diaper changes, oral cares, and kangarooing young Oliver, but during the last few days, new and more developmentally appropriate occurrences have increased in frequency.

First, we have created a bathing routine for Oliver that involves a complete tub bath every 4-5 days.  He tolerates these cleanings well and at times, even seems to be relaxed as he sits in the warm water.  Momma and I also massage Oliver's arms, legs, head, or belly at least once a day, which helps stimulate the blood flow throughout his body.  Among other benefits, this massage increases muscle and bone growth as well as improves his respiratory capacity.  In addition, Oliver has started to regulate his own temperature, so the nurses have turned off the warmer in his isolet.  This lack of an external source of heat requires him to wear clothes to stay warm, so Mom and Dad spend a bit of extra time during his cares putting on the smallest button-up outfits we have ever seen.  Lastly, Oliver has begun to show some interest in breastfeeding.  Although he is too young to latch, he does get to lick and play for about 20-30 minutes everyday.  He shows signs that he really likes this time with Momma.

Oliver is still on high flow air via a nasal cannula, but more often than not, the air is not oxygenated beyond 21% (equivalent to the room air that we breathe).  He initially was receiving this air at a flow of 5 Liters/minute, but during the last week, the doctors and nurses have slowly weaned him down to a flow of 2 Liters/minute.  With each incremental reduction of flow, Oliver has shown no signs that he even notices.  He still saturates high, and breathes at a normal rate.

Finally, Oliver has had some substantial weight gain in the last couple of days.  He currently weighs 3.5 lbs, which is an increase from what he weighed just a few days ago.  The medicine he is on, which is used to drain liquid from his lungs and body, really took it's toll on him.  This was proof that much of the weight that he had previously gained was water weight.  Now, knowing that he has lost most of the liquid from his system due to this medicine, it can be concluded that his current weight is considered valid (not water but muscle, bone, and fat).

Oliver continues to grow and mature each day.  It is wonderful to be with him and watch him progress.  He is beautiful, and his mother and I love him so very much.  It is great to be a father.

Faith

What a Difference a Week Makes

This picture of Oliver was taken on July 25th.

Contrast that with these pictures taken today....

I know I am biased, but he is absolutely beautiful!

50 days...

I sit here at his bedside and look around me, tired and worn after another long night.  Things have since calmed now, and in the NICU, I am blessed with peace in these early hours of the day.  All the lights are dim.  No one is moving and no one is talking.  Even the babies seem to sense it.  They lay still and silent in their isolets and cribs.  The night nurses go off shift in another a half hour, and many of them finish their day by just sitting at their computers, charting, and preparing for the upcoming transfer.  The new day is about to begin.

Yesterday Oliver celebrated his fiftieth day of life.  A part of me knows how long that time period really is, and I can't fathom how my family has made it this far.  50 days of hospitals, 50 days of life on hold, and 50 days of worry about what the future holds for the newest member of our clan.  There exists another part of me though, that can't see a single thing behind me.  It is like the past is blur of details, created only by the speed in which the events took place.  I know it all happened, but I can't seem to remember it.  Is it true that the last 50 days passed by that quickly?  Has it really been that long?  It seems like just yesterday I was whispering to Moses as he kicked at the sides of his mother's tummy.

Oliver weighs just under 1600 grams now, somewhere near the 3 and a half pound mark.  He had been gaining weight at quite a rapid pace for awhile, but since being placed on a medication that will help him pee out the liquid in his body, and most importantly, his lungs, this weight gain has slowed down for the time being.

Oliver has also matured quite a bit in his ability to breathe.  Since ridding himself of the CPAP sometime last week, he is a much happier baby.  His current breathing apparatus is a high flow nasal cannula.  This consists simply of a tube with two nasal prongs that deliver oxygen to his system.  The amount of air the device puts out is measured in Liters per minute.  He started out on a 5 L/min setting and quickly outgrew it.  He now receives his oxygen at 4 L/min and appears to be progressing with it quite nicely.

Oliver's other accomplishments in the last week are quite numerous.  He has begun to show some interest in his mothers chest, and when placed there, he makes sucking movements with his lips.  Secondly, Oliver's parents have also recently taken an infant massage class.  Now that Mom and Dad are "certified", Oliver is the proud recipient of arm, leg, head and tummy massages daily.  We know he really loves these because his body goes into a complete state of relaxation each time we touch him.  Finally, with the CPAP and all the headgear that comes along with it being distant memories in the past, Oliver's head and face have become easily accessible at all times of the day.  Mom gives him a pacifier when he is restless, and kisses whenever she can.  He makes faces and furrows his eyebrows when he is disturbed, and purses his lips when he is hungry.

Oliver is so precious.  He spends more time each day now awake, and has started engaging in more "bigger baby" type activities.  No one knows what today will bring, but as my wife always says...each day is a blessing, and we will soon find out.  One by one, the lights come on around me.  Activity in the NICU slowly increases with the dawning of a new day.  Babies are crying and nurses start to shift about.  Day number 51 is upon us, and even though it will be another long one, I know from experience, it will be gone in the blink of an eye.