Slow Progress

We had a scare about two weeks ago. Kai was acting sickly, so we had the nurse practitioner do some tests on him. She was informing James and I that RSV, a virus that is potentially deadly to premature infants, has been going around in the community. In adults and children, is shows as a mild cold, but for preemies, infants with chronic lung disease, and infants with heart disease (all of which Kai has) it can be devastating. Needless to say, James and I were upset by such news. We went home that night in disbelief that shit like this could still happen after he was doing so well, after talk of him returning home.

They started him on antibiotics immediately and awaited the test results. His CRP test came back showing that he had an inflammation somewhere, we had to find out where. After about 48 hours we got the news that none of the cultures had grown, which was a good sign. Then, after about 96 hours, nothing had grown. We still don't know what was wrong with him, but he got better within about two days of feeling sick and continued to trek along.

I have been staying at the hospital a lot, trying desperately to get him home soon. It seems all my hard work paid off. Kai is scheduled to come home on Friday, assuming there are no changes to his condition. I met with his nurse yesterday to discuss his meal plan. Preemies have a hard time gaining adequate weight, especially when complicated by chronic lung disease. This is due to the amount of energy that is required for him to breathe vs a term baby. According to his meal plan, he has to take four bottles a day, not something an aspiring breast feeding mom wants to hear, but he need a fortifier that will help him gain weight. In addition, he will be needed a fat supplement, such as coconut oil or palm oil. Both are high in saturated fats, which are easy to digest and lauric acid, which is present in high concentrations in breast milk. The nurse was explaining that most mothers of such an early preemie don't make it to discharge able to breast feed their babies, and being that this was a rare case, she had to do a lot of research. Luckily. I am also taking a random nutrition class and I plan to ask my professor about supplementation suggestions. I would much rather give Kai an animal based oil, but coconut will suffice for now.

Yesterday, I also went crib shopping with my mother. Walmart gave us the run around and we ended up visiting all three stores in Gainesville unintentionally. But it worked out for the better because at store number three, I found a great deal. So, aside from a mattress, He is all ready to come home! Friday can't come soon enough...