Holden Rapp - 3/30/13

Today Bronwyn was able to be at the hospital with Holden and she got some great pictures.  It was a big day for Captain America!  Here are some highlights:

• They took out Holden's bellybutton catheter/ feeding tube and he now has a feeding tube in his nose. Bronwyn watched them insert the tube and she said it looked painful. He squirmed and made faces, but handled it bravely. He is given 6 mL of breast milk every six hours and this feeding tube transports the milk into his stomach.  
• No more morphine! The doctor has ceased giving him morphine because Holden is demonstrating a little more strength and ability to begin to handle things on his own.  
• The nurses have stopped weighing his diapers. Holden's kidneys seem to be doing a great job of processing what he takes in.
• They have to continually clean out the secretions in his throat, which is common for cesarean babies. And perhaps the best news is that Holden is breathing better.  The ventilator is only having to give him about 5 breaths per minute.

I feel like I am standing on the sidelines of the Superbowl, it is half-time and my team is winning.  Not only that, but I'm dying to grab a jersey and get in the game to block for my boy who is running for a touchdown!!

Easter hats! The picture below shows the crocheted hat that a woman in the neonatal department made for all the babies in the NICU.  Sweet nurses are making Easter special for us!

A picture of mom and baby. Hopefully soon we will have pictures of Holden in our arms!

Wait, are those his eyes?  And is he smiling?!!!  Sweet hat, Holden.

The picture below shows the central line that was inserted into his neck. The tubes were taped to the side of his head - if you look closely you can see where they shaved some of his hair when they attempted the PICC line into his scalp.

The tube in his mouth is the breathing tube.  They do move the tube occasionally and they turn his body so that he isn't always lying in the same position.

Mom had to get a close-up.

"Hey guys! Do I have something goofy on top of my head?!"