Second Extubation

Dr Egner extubated me again at 09h00 this morning...I was put on CPAP for the second time...the nurse looking after me was happy with me during the day, she said I was calm and did well...later I became restless...The respiration monitor keeps alarming and saying apnea although I am breathing, everyone can see it...the probes were replaced but the monitor alarm continued to beep...after my evening physio and a good suctioning I was fine again...

Morning before being taken off the ventilator for the 2nd time

Morning before being taken off the ventilator for the 2nd time

Morning before being taken off the ventilator for the 2nd time

Morning before being taken off the ventilator for the 2nd time

Second time on CPAP

25cm

The circumference of my head was measured today and it was 25cm...Dr Egner turned the ventilator down to 16 bpm...he said he will be extubating again tomorrow...

My leg compared to mommy's pinky

Busted!

Dr Egner turned the ventilator down to 20 bpm...he said he is impressed with how I am breathing...I spent a lot of time trying to pull the ET tube out of my nose today and got busted by aunty Silindile...

Compared to an A4 page

Trying to pull the ET tube out - photo by Silindile Mthembu

One month and one day old!

One Month Old!!

I am one month old today!  Dr Egner said I am doing very well...but he decided not to decrease any of the ventilator settings today...I somehow managed to move the green Resp/ECG probe from the side of my chest to my arm...I also pulled out my feeding tube...

Masked

I have a chest infection so everyone has had to wear gowns and masks around me to prevent cross-infection...

Third Blood Transfusion

Dr Egner said I seem stronger today...he turned the ventilator down to 25 bpm and the FiO2 was set to 22%...I was weighed today for the first time since I was born - 555grams, only 35grams more...I had my third blood transfusion today...

During my third blood transfusion - 555g

During my third blood transfusion - 555g 

During my third blood transfusion - 555g

A Whiter Shade Of Pale...

This morning Dr Egner turned the ventilator settings down to 35 bpm and then down to 30 bpm in the evening...my FiO2 is on 24% again...I'll probably be getting another blood transfusion tomorrow...

First Extubation...Re-intubated

 Today I was extubated for the first time at 07h30...I was put onto CPAP mommy got to see my whole face for the very first time when aunty Silindile was busy adjusting the CPAP mask...Mommy and I did KMC for the first time for about 10 minutes...daddy also got a chance to hold me close to him for the first time...after about 9 hours I became too tired and had to be re-intubated with slightly raised ventilator settings...I was very tired...

First time mommy saw my face

CPAP

CPAP

CPAP

KMC

A cuddle from daddy

Tube Obstructed

Dr Egner was happy with everything today...he said he might take me off the ventilator tomorrow!  The ventilator keeps beeping and saying tube obstructed...I am rather restless this evening...

90% leak!

Dr Roos is looking after me while Dr Egner is away today...he turned the ventilator down to 29bpm...the ventilator is beeping like crazy today...mommy and daddy noticed that the ventilator displayed a very high leak percentage which was mostly above 90% and that the ET tube seemed to have come out of my nose by 1cm...they were assured by the nurse on duty that everything was fine...the ventilator repeated displayed "mv low", "apnoea" and "tube obstructed" messages...later mommy and daddy heard me make a sound - something that shouldn't happen while ventilated.  Mommy quickly called Gervais (who was not the nurse looking after me today but he was nearest at the time) he quickly noticed that the tube had come out and re-secured it...  

Happy?

Dr Egner decreased the ventilator settings some more today...its now on 35bpm...he said I am doing quite a bit of breathing on my own now...he was also happy with the blood gas this morning....

My leg compared to mommy's pinky finger

Belly Button

My umbilical cord came off today...aunty Silindile saved it for mommy to keep...mommy and daddy held me again...Dr Egner is happy with everything and he decreased the ventilator settings some more...

Hold me in your hands...

Today an x-ray showed that the ET tube needed to be pulled out a bit as it was a bit too deep...mommy and daddy each had a turn to hold me in their hands for the first time...we were all so happy, I was relaxed...mommy kissed my forehead a million times :)

In daddy's hands...

Mommy's First time...

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Dr Manikkam came to check my heart for a PDA...he said it is hard to do a thorough check using the hospital's equipment as it is not designed for babies as small as I am...he would like to see me again at his rooms at St. Augustine's hospital so that he can use his own specialised equipment...

Compared to daddy's hand at 22 days old...

Me and daddy ❤

Watch this...

Dr Egner is happy with everything...I handled the decreased ventilator settings well...Dr Egner said I am quite healthy and that I have nice skin for a preemie...My granny from England sent me a little outfit...but I am not allowed to wear it in the NICU...mommy and daddy compared me to daddy's watch...

22%

Today my FiO2 was turned down to 22%!  Dr Egner is happy with everything today :)

B- (Second Blood Transfusion)

I got my second blood transfusion today...my blood type is B-

My new blood

Mommy have a look during the blood transfusion

Immature Bone Marrow

Dr Egner said I will probably be getting another blood transfusion tomorrow because my bone marrow is too small to produce enough blood to keep up with how much is being taken for testing etc...

New ET Tube!

My ventilator tube was replaced with a thicker one today!!  My FiO2 is on 30%...my left leg is a bit swollen from the drip, but it has been changed to the other leg now...

Me and Gervais 

My new thicker tube!

No Blood!

I was given a break from having blood taken from me :)

Two weeks old!

The probes on my chest were lifted slightly as they have not been moved since they were put on...my chest is bruised underneath them...

Bruises on my chest

Bruises on my chest

You Suck!

Today mommy and daddy gave me my first dummy! A MAM size 1 silicone dummy, especially for preemie babies :) but I could hardly keep it in my mouth because my mouth is so small...the arterial line came out of my belly button during the night...

That's alarming...

My machines are very noisy today...lots of alarms going off in my room...I had a little vomit this morning...I have been put on an antibiotic because Dr Egner says there is some "muck" on my chest...

First Blood Transfusion

Today Dr Egner took the usual blood for the blood gas as well as blood to crossmatch for a blood transfusion...I had my first blood transfusion this afternoon...I received 8ml of blood over a four hour period...

If The Nappy Fits...

Today I started wearing "Little Miracle" nappies for babies weighing 0 to 1.2kg...much better...

Nappy in mommy's hand... 

Nappy Measurements