Surpirse!

This morning was awesome!!! I found out Tuesday afternoon that NICU was going to open to siblings May 5th (today) at 7 am. So I had an idea. Last night I told Lexi and Julie that I was going to take them out to breakfast. They asked why and the only thing they could come up with was Cinco de Mayo, but didn't put too much inquiry into it. So this morning we were up and out the door early. I asked if they wanted to stop and peek at Pierson again really quick as we were driving past the hospital. They of course wanted to. So we went in and ordered some room service breakfast, then went to the NICU doors. I pulled out my video camera and the doors open for someone to go out. Lexi said, "I wish we could go in!" So I replied with, "you can today!" They were ecstatic! They scrubbed up, then we went back to his room. They touched him and admired him, then took turns holding him and checking out all his small parts-hands, feet, nose, mouth, eyelashes, etc. It was a wonderful morning! They voted to skip school and stay at the hospital all day and take turns holding him.

Pierson is doing good. He broke the 5 pound mark on Tuesday. Tuesday he also had a physical therapist come work with him. He needs to be "paced" as he takes his bottle. He will suck and suck until he has too much in his mouth, then swallow and then breathe, and his oxygen dips from how long he goes without breathing. So we give him 2-3 sucks and then tip the bottle so he can't get milk so he will swallow and breathe. When I arrived at the hospital yesterday to feed at 11, he was going downstairs to a suck study. I got to give him his bottle and they added something you can see on the X-ray, then we watched what happened as he swallowed. Some of the liquid did go into his airway, which is why he is having desaturations in his oxygen when he is bottle feeding, and a little when he nurses. They said that this is something he will outgrow, is related to his refluxing and more physical therapy will help. So this morning I heard the doctor said to stop oral feedings for now. What a roller coaster ride. He is 37 weeks today! So cute and fun that his siblings can now visit!