A better day...and more pictures!

Today was a better day for Henry!  They are thinking that the reason that there were problems the last few days is that there was just too much, too soon.  He made such great progress last week, that it may have seemed ok to take him off the meds, ventilator, etc. quickly....but that proved to be just a little too fast for Henry's body to handle at once. 
No infection is detected and his medications are SLOWLY (this time) being reduced.  His meds through the PICC line and midline are now primarily to reduce clotting, help the heart, prevent infection, an occasional dose of diuretic, and liquids and lipids for nourishment.  He is off the ventilator again and breathing on his own.  He is getting room-air oxygen through his nose, but the breaths are all Henry!  The staples & stitches are out!

He is having a precautionary test tomorrow to check out his digestive tract.  They'll put some "glow in the dark" stuff through his feeding tube, and if all looks good there, bottle feeding should start again tomorrow!  He has been taking a pacifier great, so that should hopefully be a good indication that he is ready to drink from a bottle.

And...David & Dana got to hold him today!  We are so happy for them to be getting that opportunity to bond with their son...and hoping they'll add bottle feeding to it tomorrow.  It is difficult to believe that tomorrow Henry will be four weeks old!   In so many ways October was the longest month ever lived, and yet it doesn't seem like an entire month could have passed since he was born.  We are so proud of David, Dana, and Henry for making it through this really rotten month...and are faithful that November will be better. 

And....PICTURES!!!

Dana feeding Henry (before the two day troubles). 

The hospital initially had an "expert" feeding Henry his bottle,

 but David swears Dana did a much better job. 

Something about a mother's touch!

Baby's first Halloween.  From the look on his face, I think

Henry was a little worried about getting tricked rather than treats. 

Unfortunately, that turned out to be true since Halloween

was the day things took a few steps back.

Henry all stapled up.  This gave David the idea that

Henry could be Frankenstein for Halloween.  Where are

the green face and bolts out the side of his head?

Another cute Halloween picture. 

Had anyone else noticed Dana's absence from the blog? 

I don't know if she was being camera shy, or if David just

forgot to take pictures...but she's back!

Henry getting a medication through the midline in his head.

I think a picture says a thousand words about how he

feels about this!