One Step Back

Yesterday was a very rough day. Cooper was still having trouble breathing, but his x rays and blood work all looked good, no infection. So they decided he was just tired from working so hard for two weeks and just needed a break from breathing. It was clear even to me that he was exhausted. He didn't perk up during his care times like he used to. They put him back on the ventilator with breathing tube at about noon.

Nurse K said that as soon as they got it set up he looked relaxed and took a break allowed the machine to breathe for him. I didn't realize how much it would affect me. It is so hard to see a machine breathing for your baby. But I have to remind myself that he hasn't even reached 32 weeks gestation yet. His lungs are not supposed to be working yet. He is still small and he needed a break to regain his strength.

He is still very tired today, but has only had a few episodes of dropping his blood oxygen level. Much better than yesterday and his color looks better too. He will probably be on the ventilator for a few more days. That rest must be doing him good because he gain again yesterday. He's up to 2 lbs 10 oz! Maybe the calories he will conserve by not having to breathe will help him reach 3 lbs soon!

I only have one photo of him with his new breathing tube and is not a great picture, but it shows how his face looks without the nose cannula. I'm sure he is also enjoying a break from having that cannula up his nose!