Suffice it to say that today (Friday) was a very good day, and not just because the sun was shining in Akron, Ohio. Though Eleanor is luxuriating at 98 degrees and 70 percent humidity on a regular basis, the rest of us will take what we can get.
Kim and Alex were able to return home together Thursday evening, and Kim got to take a shower at home and sleep in her own bed for the first time in weeks. Mom and Dad received NO calls from the hospital in the middle of the night, meaning that Eleanor had a good night, too.
Because she did not soil her diaper yesterday evening, she was catheterized in the morning. As it turned out, she indeed had a full bladder, but just didn't want to go, apparently, the silly girl.
This morning, the nurses placed a blanket beside Eleanor that Kim had carried on her, so that baby can sense her mother's presence. She also had her eye mask removed following yesterday's bilirubin treatment, and her grandparents we were able to meet her for the first time! It was a day full of visits and basking in Eleanor's limelight. Nurse Karen reported that Eleanor's nitric oxide is turned down and she is tolerating a normal room oxygen level. Her continued tolerance of this will help her lungs develop normally.
Today's brain scan also read clear, which means that her high blood sugar levels are not indicative of a brain bleed (yay!). To get her sugar down, they changed the frequency of one of her steroids and decreased her dopamine, and are keeping her on the same insulin dosage. Tomorrow, if necessary, doctors can do a test for sepsis as a precaution. Though she is not agitated and does not show signs of infection, sometimes extremely elevated blood sugar can be an indication of a larger issue. However, her hourly readings showed consistently dropping levels, and by the time Mom and Dad left the hospital for the evening, she was down to 290 (from the 500-range)! She is past the 72-hour mark!
Continued prayers and good vibrations for sweet, tiny Eleanor Jane.
-Pam
Kim and Alex were able to return home together Thursday evening, and Kim got to take a shower at home and sleep in her own bed for the first time in weeks. Mom and Dad received NO calls from the hospital in the middle of the night, meaning that Eleanor had a good night, too.
Because she did not soil her diaper yesterday evening, she was catheterized in the morning. As it turned out, she indeed had a full bladder, but just didn't want to go, apparently, the silly girl.
This morning, the nurses placed a blanket beside Eleanor that Kim had carried on her, so that baby can sense her mother's presence. She also had her eye mask removed following yesterday's bilirubin treatment, and her grandparents we were able to meet her for the first time! It was a day full of visits and basking in Eleanor's limelight. Nurse Karen reported that Eleanor's nitric oxide is turned down and she is tolerating a normal room oxygen level. Her continued tolerance of this will help her lungs develop normally.
Today's brain scan also read clear, which means that her high blood sugar levels are not indicative of a brain bleed (yay!). To get her sugar down, they changed the frequency of one of her steroids and decreased her dopamine, and are keeping her on the same insulin dosage. Tomorrow, if necessary, doctors can do a test for sepsis as a precaution. Though she is not agitated and does not show signs of infection, sometimes extremely elevated blood sugar can be an indication of a larger issue. However, her hourly readings showed consistently dropping levels, and by the time Mom and Dad left the hospital for the evening, she was down to 290 (from the 500-range)! She is past the 72-hour mark!
Continued prayers and good vibrations for sweet, tiny Eleanor Jane.
-Pam
Such good news. Sherry and I will visit tomorrow if all is well. Much love is sent to Eleanor from Grandma Rose.
ReplyDeleteChamp she is. Love you all. Tell Kimmie we are thinking about her,Alex and baby E. Healing vibes to Momma n baby.
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