October 22, 2008

Amaree is no longer under the headbox. Since she is on the high flow cannula, it has the humidity so she doesn't need it. She had some growth labs done today. I am not sure what all that includes, and the nurse could only tell me the results of one of the tests, her hematocrit-or her red blood cells. She is a little low, but they are not going to give her blood just yet. Her body is having a hard time making red blood cells because she is so immature. She has some, but they are immature, and if they give her blood, then it takes over hers and so they want her to have a chance at making her own. (from what I understand)

She is also still having a few A's & B's. Mostly they are minor, either grade 0 or grade 1, but we really want her to stop having them. We are learning to recognize it before the alarms go off. When she does it when we are holding her, she goes completely limp, and then her skin goes a little blueish. You can tell she isn't breathing, and you start tickling her feet and saying her name, and what they tell us to do is to take a deep breath. This helps remind her body to breathe. Sometimes you have to rub her chest or her back and try to arouse her. This usually brings her back and her numbers back up. Andrew has started calling her a possum because it is like she plays dead. Sometimes she does it when she is so relaxed that she just stops breathing, and sometimes she does it when she gets upset. Supposedly she will grow out of it, I can't wait until she does!

My goodness, it seems like there is always some drama with her! I hope it isn't always going to be like this-I would like some peace and quiet! ;)