Good stuff

Robbie is still off the vent. As of 7:15 tonight, he'd beat his previous record of 36 hours. I'm still not 100% convinced that we're done with the vent. They said his chest X-Ray before they extubated him wasn't really fantastic, but they wanted to try.
He had a pretty quiet day but tonight his O2 needs were up a fair bit and he was less stable than he's been the last few days. I've already told myself that even if they have to reintubate, it's okay. Obviously NOT needing it would be great, but any time off of it is good, so we're doing him a favor with every minute he's without it.

Other than that, there hasn't been much going on with him. He has his 1st eye exam tomorrow. He's at super high risk for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) but fortunately they usually outgrow it and it is treatable with laser surgery and such. So I'm trying not to be too concerned about it.

Kangarooing without the vent has been amazing, I have to say. To not have to move SUPER slowly, SUPER carefully is great. Being able to move his head a bit so I can really see his face (without the aid of a mirror) is amazing. Hearing his little voice is fantastic.

I do feel guarded, though. I've learned that reveling too much in the highs makes the lows especially crushing. But for now, things are going well.

In other good news, I got my hands on my MRI report today. It would seem I DON'T HAVE BRAIN CANCER.

Findings: The ventricles are normal in size & position. There is no midline shift, mass effect, hemorrhage or abnormal enhancements. Parenchymal signal is normal. Midline structures and posterior fossa are unremarkable. Vascular flow-voids are normal. Mastoid air cells and paranasal sinuses are well-aerated. There is prominent CSF along the coronal sutures bilaterally, slightly larger on the right. There is no associated signal abnormality or enhancement. This is presumably a normal anatomic variant and is unlikely to represent a focal pathologic process.

Impression:

1. Unremarkable brain MRI.

This, of course, doesn't explain the head numbness (which I really thought was improving, but tonight seems to be tingling weirdly again) but I'm celebrating no tumors. I just have a weird shaped head. I always knew my brain was a little twisted. Now I have medical proof.

And, in what I think some of YOU will call good news- I have pictures!



Robbies "home"


Pre-Extubation pictures:

Mommy & Daddy give me a bath:


Sleeping baby







No more vent:

Someone tell Mommy that 2lb babies can't have chubby cheeks. She doesn't believe me.


Snuggle time without vents & tape!



What is going ON?



I'm free!



Oops, I think I farted:


I think I like this thing they call a paci




--Trish