Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I have neglected the blog for the past few days but I want to update.  Teegan is still doing really good.  He is on a nasal cannula for his oxygen.  Yesterday they moved us to a private room so that is nice.  The doctor let him try a bottle yesterday and he took 8 cc's before it just completely pooped him out.  This morning he took 8 cc's from a bottle again.  They say that babies generally learn the whole suck, swallow, breathe process of taking a bottle between 32 and 36 weeks.  Teegan is 6 weeks (34) old today!  He weighs 4 lb. 11 oz. and is 17.5 inches long!

Blessed

All I can think of tonight is how blessed Tim and I are.  The list of things we're thankful for gets longer every day.  I have spent days sitting at Teegan's bedside asking myself why Tim and I have been chosen to fight this battle. . . .not once but twice.  And why is the second time around even tougher than the first?  Why us?  What did we do wrong?  Were we not meant to have children?  What did we do to deserve this?  Is God testing us?  But He never gives you more than you can handle.  Right?  Right????  I have asked myself that a billion times! 

Today Timbree came to spend the afternoon with us.  We had decided before she got here that we wanted her to hold Teegan if she wished.  At first she wasn't very sure.  She seemed somewhat nervous about the whole situation.  She wouldn't even touch him.  But by the time we were finished snapping a few pictures she was crying because she wanted to take Teegan home with her.  It was just like she knew she had to talk softly, be gentle and sit still while she was holding him.  It was so sweet the way she held him and looked at him.  He got several kisses from her too.  Now, I'm sure the talking softly, being gentle and sitting still while holding him won't last long once we get him home but today she was a natural at being a big sister.

Even though we have been given two beautiful soon to be healthy babies, I still can't help but to ask myself why.  But I do know that God is good and I see that every time I look at Timbree and Teegan.  What would we ever do without them?  We wouldn't trade them for the world. 



We Love CPAP!!

Teegan is still loving the CPAP!  They checked his blood gases at 5:00 this evening and they were good enough to be moved to a high flow nasal cannula but the doctor wants to leave him on CPAP through the night.  She said we would be brave tomorrow!  So tomorrow should be another big day for the little man.  He is doing so well he got to wear clothes for the first time today.  They popped the top on his isolette and wrapped him in a blanket this afternoon and he has maintained his body temperature too!  Our prayers are being answered each and every day.  Please keep them coming!

Oh Happy Day!!

They just finished moving Teegan from the ventilator to CPAP!  So far, so good!  It was awesome to hear him CRY!!  And it was so nice to see his face without all the added tubes.  He is so darned handsome!  The nurses got a kick out of his double chin.  He doesn't particularly like his new gear but they gave him a pacifier with some sugar drops on it and he is sucking it like it's a sucker.  His nurse told him that was his treat for being such a good boy and she feels sorry for him because they are holding his feedings to make sure he adjusts okay.  They will check his blood gas in an  hour and see how it looks.  Hopefully he is tube free for good!  :)

Lots of pictures. . . .

God is so good!!!

Patience

I'm trying to be patient this morning.  I've been sitting here since about 6:30 waiting for the big moment and the doctor just checked him over and said his pressures are too high.  She doesn't want to set him up for failure.  His pressure is at 25.  They decreased it to 22 and will check his blood gas at 10:00.  If it is still good they will decrease it to 20 and then check his gas again at 2:00.  At that point they will make the switch as long as his gases are still good.  Ugh!!!  So I guess we'll just hang out for a little while longer.  They just started Teegan's breakfast so I think I'll go find something to eat myself.

Ventilator, Ventilator, Please Go Away!

They will check Teegan's blood gases early tomorrow morning.  If they are still as good as they've been today they will take him off the ventilator and put him on CPAP.  All the head gear he will have to wear won't be fun but it has to be better than the tube he's had down his throat.  He has had a really good day again today!  Please pray that the transition tomorrow morning is smooth and successful.

Stylin' Dude

Teegan's respiratory therapist today decided he needed his hair styled.  She started with a mohawk but decided that was a little too much for him.  But his hairdo sure goes well with his personality!  He has had another awesome day.  His vent has been turned down to 15 but they just checked his blood gases again and they are perfect.  We're waiting to see if the doctor wants to turn him down some more for the night or just leave it til morning.  They've started him on caffeine to prepare him for going off the ventilator!  We're getting sooooo close.


UPDATE:  The doctor just turned the ventilator down to 12 breaths per minute!!  Yippee!!!  :)

WooHoo!!!!!

Teegan's vent settings are down to 18 breaths per minute this morning!!!  Hopefully we're getting really close to being rid of that thing!!!

I think this picture says it all.  We've had a good day today!  Teegan is feeling much better so we are too.

Mr. Teegan

Teegan is a different baby this evening.  The doctor said he is back to his usual fiesty self!  That's how we like him best.  The culture they took yesterday from his ventilator tube did start growing bacteria this afternoon.  So they started him on antibiotics and he already feels and acts so much better.  He was actually wide eyed and awake for about 30 minutes this evening.  Tomorrow morning they will replace his ventilator tube so he can start over with a new sterile one.  It has turned out to be an awesome day between Timbree coming down to spend her birthday and Teegan feeling much better!  God is so good!!  :)

Happy Birthday Timbree!!

Today Timbree turned 2 years old!  She came down to spend the day with us.  And she got to see baby Teegan for the first time.  She wanted to get in his "bed" with him and hold him.  The only thing she really said about him was that he was nice and his hair is fuzzy.  I just can't wait. . .she is going to be such a helpful big sister!

Happy birthday sweet girl!  You have brought so much joy to our lives!  We love you!  :)

What a Day

It's been a long day.  Teegan has improved thoughout the day.  They have checked his blood gases every three hours today and have seen improvement each time.  The bloodwork and culture ruled out infection.  His lungs are just still full of fluid.  He is on medicine to help that and so far it is doing the trick.  Tonight they have to redo his PIC line because it has moved from where it was originally located.  Poor guy has had quite a day.  Hopefully tonight will be better and we'll have a good day tomorrow.  We appreciate all of the prayers and concern.  Please keep the prayers coming!

Please Pray!

Teegan had a rough night last night.  They have done a bunch of extra blood work this morning and a culture from his vent tube.  The doctor feels like there is something going on in addition to his lung problems.  They will check his blood gas again any minute now, do another chest x-ray at noon and we're waiting on the results from the culture.  Please pray!!