Sunday, August 24, 2008

Extubated!

He's off the vent!

I checked on him about 6:30 this morning and the night nurse said he was doing pretty decently, definitely showing signs of waking up.

I checked again around 10 and the day nurse said he was showing more respiratory drive.

I got in before noon and they'd weaned his ventilator down to 30 breaths. Shortly thereafter, they moved it to 25.

Our RT (seen in the video below) said she'd get him off the vent by the evening.
Day nurse said the same thing.

A couple of hours later, day nurse asked RT to find the NP to see if they could wean his settings again. RT said she'd go "tell them we're weaning." Not ask- TELL. And that's why she's my favorite.

They turned him down to 20. I went out to pump and came back and they'd switched his vent to a mode that basically just monitored his breathing. If he went too long w/o a breath, it would give it to him, but that was it.

A few hours after that, RT came to check and saw that the vent hadn't had to give him very many breaths at all- mostly just when he was squirming and crying (times when a normal person would sort of hold their breath.)

Just before 7pm, they wheeled in a high humidity machine and the extubation was on.
Robbie was pretty pissed off about being messed with yet again, but he managed.

He's very raspy but is sleeping pretty peacefully right now.

One of his laparoscopy incision was leaking body fluid earlier. It freaked me right out, but they said it's normal. They think we opened it up a little bit messing with him. The site where his G Tube is was leaking just a teeny bit as well. They're keeping an eye on both.

No word yet on when we might head back to the now-old-to-us-but-is-still-new NICU, but I'm sort of hoping it's tomorrow.

It was pretty hectic in here earlier. They got a 24 weeker that is so small that even I'm amazed. I said a prayer for her when I heard them say the mom was being sectioned right then. I would appreciate it if you did the same. Even after all this time in the NICU, it amazes me that people go through all of this ALL. THE. TIME.
Thank goodness preemies are such little fighters.

--Trish

9 comments:

Two Hands said...

Yay! Robbie is off the vent again.
*happy dances all over my living room*

Macchiatto said...

SUCH great news. Praying for him to continue doing well (and to stop leaking!). Love you.

MissWeeza said...

GO ROBBIE GO!

Prayers said for the new family in the unit...I'm sure they'll need some more so I'll keep it up. Pretty soon I'll need to install a church in my backyard.

I'm so happy for Robbie! I don't know if this helps at all, but with all my surgeries, I leaked a ton of weird fluids too.

That's our little fighter! Your aunt Weeza (10,000 times removed0 loves you!

My love to you and hubby!

Kim said...

YAY for being off the vent!!

AngelsAmid said...

Yay! I'm so glad he's off the vent and will continue to pray he does well.

Oh dear about the 24 weeker :( I'm sending LOTS of prayers!!!

Mrs. Spit said...

You go tell that baby that he will never gain weight if he keeps leaking.

But otherwise, going to have a general animal sacrifice in jubilation!

Thanks for the update - you haven't been far from my thoughts all day.

silvashan said...

yay Robbie! so glad to hear you're doing so well!

Anonymous said...

Yay yay yay!!!

That is such good news!

Look at you, Robbie! Showing off!

-Megan

The Fearless Formula Feeder said...

Thinking about the new arrival in your unit... gosh. I'm nearly 25 weeks - I can't imagine having to go through what you and this new family is going through. You are all just so incredible.

Hope all the leaking stops, and big gentle hugs to Robbie!!