Using SMS to write this entry in 150 character chunks would have been painful, so I'm trying to do it via a phone e-mail client.
Peanut started out life like most of us do...blue and not breathing. Unfortunately, even when he started breathing, he didn't turn pink very quickly and his arms and legs stayed blue longer than most babies. Christine had a fever while she was delivering and Peanut came out at 102.1 degtees. This combined with the fact that he wasn't breathing well (VO2=86%, Respiratory rate=59bpm) the doctor was concerned. Nothing conclusive, but enough items just below normal
(>90%, <54bpm, <99deg) to play it safe to make sure he didn't have an infection in his lungs and that his lungs would clear the residual fluid. Peanut was taken from us, first to the nursery for observation, and the to the level 2 neonatal intensive care unit where he was monitored and given glucose and antibiotic IVs and 100% O2 to breathe.
This was tough for both Christine and I - he was close to fine, but not quite where the docs wanted him. What was frustrating was he wasn't allowed to breast feed b/c it -might- cause a problem, but it felt like a thin excuse as he fef just fine just after he was born, but we had to trust the docs knew what was best.
Over yesterday, his vitals steadily improved, going from 100% to 85% to 38% to 32% to room air (21%) this morning. He is still on forced air, but even that may not be needed. His respiration is down to 44bpm. When he has been given his full antibiotic regimen, he can come home. Hopefully we will be able to stay as well until he is discharged, but that is one day beyond Christine's date to be discharged - it just depends if there are free rooms at the hospital.
Regardless, soon Peanut will be on his way home. And now it is time for me to say goodnight and see if I can't catch a few winks before the dawn.
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