Things are busy this week - I'm back working, from home, thanks to the understanding of my boss. Considering that Charlie has tons of doctors' appointments, is still on his heart/lung monitor, and takes multiple medications, it would be hard to find a caregiver we trusted to keep track of all of that, so it's great to be home with him.We saw the apnea doctor on Monday, and Charlie will remain on the heart/lung monitor for at least the next 6 weeks. 
He's only had 3 real low heartrate or low breathing episodes since he's been home, but they want him to have several weeks with none before they discontinue the monitor. Charlie has BPD, or chronic lung disease, due to being born so early and requiring oxygen for so long. It's pretty much par for the course for a preemie as early as he was, but it reinforces the fact that we need to be really careful about not exposing him to kids or anyone not feeling 100% healthy. The best news for me at the appointment was that I can now drink caffeine again! As they wean Charlie off the caffeine he's getting in medicine form, they want him to be able to get a little from my milk. It's been so great to have real coffee the past couple of days, especially considering how little sleep I'm getting these days.
Today we saw the developmental specialist, and got good news - Charlie seems right on target for a newborn at the moment, which is basically what he is. His size (weight, length, and head circumference) is exactly average, and he reacted the way they expected to most of the reflex and reaction testing they did, so it was good to hear that he's on target. Because we volunteered Charlie for a brain study when he was first admitted to the NICU, we will continue to get follow-ups with a nationally renowned developmental specialist (something insurance most likely would not have paid for) who we met today - she impressed us already, and we're looking forward to the future appointments.
He's only had 3 real low heartrate or low breathing episodes since he's been home, but they want him to have several weeks with none before they discontinue the monitor. Charlie has BPD, or chronic lung disease, due to being born so early and requiring oxygen for so long. It's pretty much par for the course for a preemie as early as he was, but it reinforces the fact that we need to be really careful about not exposing him to kids or anyone not feeling 100% healthy. The best news for me at the appointment was that I can now drink caffeine again! As they wean Charlie off the caffeine he's getting in medicine form, they want him to be able to get a little from my milk. It's been so great to have real coffee the past couple of days, especially considering how little sleep I'm getting these days.
Today we saw the developmental specialist, and got good news - Charlie seems right on target for a newborn at the moment, which is basically what he is. His size (weight, length, and head circumference) is exactly average, and he reacted the way they expected to most of the reflex and reaction testing they did, so it was good to hear that he's on target. Because we volunteered Charlie for a brain study when he was first admitted to the NICU, we will continue to get follow-ups with a nationally renowned developmental specialist (something insurance most likely would not have paid for) who we met today - she impressed us already, and we're looking forward to the future appointments.On Friday we have a meeting with the cardiologist, so we're looking forward to learning how Charlie's little heart is doing. It seems to us that his body is cooperating pretty well at this point, considering how much he's eating and growing!
We had a nice visit from Pop and Libbie over the weekend, and Aunt Katie comes tomorrow for a couple of days to help out and see Charlie one more time before she's too pregnant to travel. It's really been great to get so much time with family! 
We also got to see the Bettags Sunday night, which was great. We're still enjoying the delicious lasagna they brought for dinner!
1 comment:
Marie and George,
Thanks for the progress report and good news. You must all be very busy and tired, what with returning to work, medical visits, etc., etc., etc. Except for good ole Charlie, of course, who seems to be sleeping through it all! Hang in!
Claire and Tom
Post a Comment