Aiden is 21 days old

Greetings from the 4th floor of St. Francis Medical Hospital via the NICU. Aiden turned 21 days old today. This is a miracle! What a blessing he is. He is still breathing on his own, no respirator. He is receiving oxygen from a canula, nose piece. Aiden is still residing in the isolette and doing ok in there. Its hard to take good pictures while he is in there, but I try often. We have had a couple hiccups this week that we have had to overcome and have been something we have to battle everyday. First was Aidens stomach and digestive system filled up and far lack of better terms: just stopped. So we had to stop feeding for a couple of days, we are back on schedule now with reduced amounts but increasing almost every feeding. We have also changed from a continuous feeding to a bolus (spelling???) method: they put the amount in his stomach over 30 minutes for the 3 hour feeding schedule, we are up to 14cc/hr. They are increasing the amount about every two feedings. Second part of the hiccup is apnea. This showed up Tuesday afternoon. He has had several episodes, some very minor: only showed on the monitors for a few seconds, some severe: they have had to put the bag on him to make him breath. With the minor ones they are just watching him to make sure he comes out of it himself, which he does on his own. When there is a severe episode, they have to massage his chest and lightly tap his chest, twice they have had to put the bag on him and pump air into his lungs. The staff does not have an answer to what is causing this to happen. Its either caused by the lungs of being a premie, the brain stopping sending the order, or by the feedings causing reflux. They are working on him diligently!!


The staff is going above and beyond for our little angel, we would like to thank them for all they are doing for him. They are working with him withthe goal of us being able to take him home. They have given us a little hope as to our goals of what we need to have in place so we can take our little man home. We want to be able to watch him sleep in his crib, swing in his swing, take a bottle with the family at the dinner table, hang out with the boys as they play. This is a big goal but one that we know is possible.


We would like to take this time to say thank you to all of our friends and family that has gone out of their comfort zones to help, visit and pray for our little miracle. We would like to thank you for the visits, phone calls, text, food, snacks, gifts for Aiden, and anything I have missed. Thank you B.H. for the wonderful food for Thanksgiving. Thank you S.S. for the visit to our house with all the stuff for us. That is going out of your comfort zone for someone else. That is a blessing! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Shane