The ups and downs of a preemie

A lot has changed since our last Spencer update. When we last checked in, Spencer had been moved over to the progressive side and had his feeding tube taken out. He was on “ad-lib” feeding meaning he could eat as much as he wanted. The increased feedings were working great and Spencer reached 6 lbs on Monday.  However, on Tuesday morning we got word that he had to be moved back to the NICU because sometime on Monday he had aspirated, which means he sucked some fluid, most likely milk, into his lungs. It wasn’t a lot but enough to cause a few back-to-back ABDs (Apnea, Brady, DeSats). Back in the NICU, they suspended his bottle feeding for a few days and put him on an IV and CPAP.

We were told ahead of time so as not to be shocked that our darling child had gone from no tubes to have three (IV, CPAP, on a tube into his mouth to aid in exhaling). He seemed pretty healthy but wasn’t happy when care time came around and there was no bottle for him! We still got the hold him and love on him which seemed to soothe the savage Spencer.

Fortunately, Spencer only stayed on the CPAP for about a day. He stayed on the IV a little longer. They just took that out Friday afternoon.  He seems much better and actually a little stronger now. He was put back on bottle feedings again late last week and he’s quickly gone from 25 mL back up to ad-lib feeding agains.

When Joy and I visited today, he was still a very healthy 6 lbs. 3 oz. and back to his gorgeous tube-free state! So after his bath this morning, we dressed him up in a festive Fourth of July ensemble.

After a fantastic 4th of July dinner with our family, we went back up to the hospital and Spencer had been moved from his isolette to an open air “big boy” crib! He was also gnawing on anything he could get his hands on so the nurse prepared 75 mL for dinner and Spencer finished it all in about 20 minutes!! He’s definitely much better and taking the bottle now, probably because he doesn’t want to go without again. If he continues with these ad-lib feedings, he could really start to pack on the weight and being in an open-air crib like he is, we wouldn’t be surprised if he gets moved back to the progressive side again so he can be prepped for coming home!