I should've wrote things daily because I forgot all the craziness when we get goods news.
I'm going to go based of pictures I took to remember what day things happened.
Thursday 12/14/17
They removed the ventilator. It was the first time I got to see his mouth, his little lips. He's so beautiful. I th tought I'd get to hold him but we have to wait until the chest tube comes out. He's on Vapotherm oxygen that will need to be weaned in order for him to go home. He's breathing on his own but the machine is set high to force him to take deeper breaths.
Most people don't like to hear a crying baby, but we hadn't heard our baby cry until today. The ventilator tube was inserted between his vocal chords. We could see it on his face that he was crying, but there was no sound. Hearing that sweet little cry, although raspy and weak because his throat is irritated, made us so happy.
Monday 12/18/18
The NICU called that they were able to remove the chest tube. I asked if I'd be able to hold him today and they said they couldn't promise anything but as long as he continued to do as good as he was that morning I might he able to.
As soon as we got there for the 5 PM care time they let me jump right in and change him, take his temperature and weigh him. Then they asked if I was ready to hold him. I was so ready. I teared up and felt so happy to finally nurture him.
Tuesday 12/19/17
We would usually go to the hospital for the 5 PM care time, where we'd get to assist. A little before we were getting ready to go Jose's mom invited us to bring Che over because Santa was going to stop by. It pushed our visiting time to the 8 PM care time. The Santa thing went really well, but man did I have a moment of deep sadness that something was missing.
Jose got to hold him for the first time today. I got to try breastfeeding him. He still has his feeding tube. The goal is he needs to eat by mouth for 48 hrs.
I spent all day, 8-6 at the hospital feeding on demand Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I was determined to help him get feeling better.
