Hello Low-Flow, Again!
Hello to everyone.
Xavier went to low-flow today! That means a smaller cannula and smaller tubes. It means room-temperature air (100% oxygen) at 0.06 liters/minute. It means no water vapor in the flow. It means a step closer to getting him home!
Xavier has been upped to 25 ml of 24 calorie per ounce milk every three hours. His bowels are moving food through like a train.
He has reached 1255 grams at his last weighing; that's 2 lb, 12.5 oz! He put 50 grams on yesterday. Three pounds is in sight, perhaps even this weekend!
Nursing on the breast today, Xavier pulled 3 ml even through the nipple shield. How do we know he suckled 3 ml? The nurse hooked up a syringe to his NG and drew out what he ate so she could adjust his feed accordingly (she pushed it back into his stomach, of course). We learned that breast milk digests much quicker than formula, so the nurse had to check out what he got fast.
His stools are much darker today. Allison, his day nurse today, and I had a discussion about what color it really was. Was it more green or more yellow? I suggested ochre. We both agreed it is the best color we have seen in weeks.
His hydrocele testis has gone down significantly, though it continues to fluctuate and is still the size of my number five distal phalanges (the smallest joint of my little finger). Even more exciting, his testicles have started descending into his scrotum. Gotta say, that is a little weird to see. Usually this occurs while in the womb at about week 34, so most people never see this migration.
Much good news to report today. Always, we give God glory for all He has done and is doing. We also thank all of you for your prayers and support.