Extubation

And he's off the ventilator. WOOP WOOP! 

I woke up today like a little kid on Christmas morning. I have my little babyface back! It feels like eternity since I could see his lips. His full set of lips! 

I know it's about the baby steps, but this is a HUGE step. HUGE! He still has to have the nasal canula for his pneumonia. He will get his feeding tube back in tomorrow and he will begin eating breast milk again. I'm so excited. Can you tell!? 

Eli was down to 2 meds. Heparin and Milrinonine. The heparin goes away tomorrow but gets replaced with injections of lovanox. Those will continue to be given twice a day til his Glen procedure. The other med is for his pneumonia which will go away in a few days. 

We still aren't able to hold Eli. This comes soon. He still has some IVs in that are in awkward places and just makes it uncomfortable for everyone. The last thing We want to do is maneuver one of those out and poor nugget has to have it stuck back in. So we're waiting til he's all clear of needles and we get the go ahead to squeeze him like a pimple! Because you know I will. He's gonna need oxygen when I get ahold of his little booty! 

WHAT'S NEXT you ask?! 

For Eli it's tolerating being fed through his NG Tube. He has only been fed for 2 days out of his nearly month of life. He has gotten nutrients through IV but it was at a slow pace and then taken away because of his blocked shunt and having to basically start over. Once he's able to prove he can eat and hold his own. Step down unit is in our sights. 

This step is a prep for going home. He will get all his IV lines out AND We can be parents! Change diapers, feed him, bath him, swaddle and dress him. Once he proves himself there and we pass our own test of being able to deal with him over 24 hours. He can go home! Finally! And yes, you read that right. We have to show we can take care of our baby! Sounds crazy but I'm thrilled. I can freak out if he feels too warm and not feel bad about it bc I'm allowed haha! This is where we will learn alot about signs and symptoms to look for with Eli. This is a very important part of Eli's recovery. We have to get ahead of his sickness, whatever it may be. A cold, an Upset belly, a bad day! This time is critical. Getting him to the next surgery is our focus! We have to keep him healthy! 

But let's not get ahead, right! ONE STEP AT A TIME! 

Look at this face. I'm so in love.