Due to a mudslide blocking the highway on the way to the hospital, we didn't get to visit Connor yesterday. I did call a few times to check in though, and he did well overnight but still had a couple episodes of low oxygen/oxygen desaturation. They decided to extubate him in the morning and move him onto the CPAP ventilation instead because he was having some issues with the positioning or placement of his endotracheal tube. The CPAP is a less invasive form of ventilation and he would be switched to it eventually anyway, so they thought they would give it a try and see how he does.
We stayed for a long visit today. When we arrived, I noticed that Connor looked a little pale and the nurse said that he was recovering from a little episode of hypoxia (low oxygen). He was brought out for a cuddle because the skin on skin contact with me usually calms him and his heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure improves during this time. He did great for about a half hour and we got a really great video of him holding my thumb up to his face and sucking a soother vigorously. It was quite challenging to juggle holding him, his soother and fix his CPAP mask when he would wiggle slightly and the nasal prongs or piece of tubing would fall off but we managed. He was very alert with his eyes open and and looking at us the whole time. When Mike would lean over to talk to him, he would turn at the sound of his voice and look right at Mike.
About a half hour into our cuddle, his oxygen saturation started to drop to 70% so they increased the oxygen concentration to 100%. After a minute, his saturation had decreased to 60% so we quickly ended our cuddle and moved him back into his isolette to try to settle him. His mouth was suctioned. I couldn't do anything except help hook tubes back up and hold the nasal prongs over his nostrils. The saturation continued to drop to 34% and he was very pale and the respiratory therapist was called in. The back of his throat was suctioned again and some milk and saliva was sucked up from the back of his throat. They were getting ready to bag him when his saturation started to go back up. Even though I had witnessed an episode like this a few days ago, it was just as scary as before. I felt light-headed and realized I had been holding my breath for awhile, waiting for Connor to perk up again. Mike was worse than me, having not seen this happen before.
He was x-rayed right after this to take a look at his lungs to make sure he hadn't aspirated any milk into his lungs. His lungs looked fine and the pneumonia had also resolved. The RT and RN decided to try to give his milk feeds slowly over an hour to prevent any reflux. We asked how much he weighed now and he has gone up to 855 grams! That weight was from a couple days ago but they are weighing and measuring him again tonight so we were told to call back to check in later.
Sorry but the pictures are a little bit dark because the lights were turned off for Connor's comfort.
he's so precious
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