Three Weeks

Jacob is now 3 weeks and 3 days old.  We're learning that facebook status updates are not sufficient and are not reaching all the right people who want to know how he's doing.  And text messages and phone calls to everyone concerned are not always practical for his tired and busy parents.  Jacob's status over the last week has been changing almost daily, which is very different from his first two weeks where status updates were not very necessary because he was doing so well.

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THREE WEEKS -

Well the good news is we found out why Jacob has been needing so much oxygen and respirator support.  Bad news, he has pneumonia, caused by bacterial infection.  He has been on antibiotics and has been back on the respirator since Friday.  His doctors expect this to resolve in about two weeks.  It is really hard to watch our little guy so sick when we can't help him feel better, but we know he is in good hands.  We are also frustrated that he contracted the bacterial infection in the NICU, but this is also pretty typical for the really young and tiny babies who are on the respirator.  The bacteria is very common and living everywhere, but his immune system was too weak to fight it.

Another positive is that Jacob has consistently been doing well with his feedings and they are increasing steadily.  We are doing better in this department than a lot of micro-preemies and premie moms.

Here are today's photos of Jacob:

@ 3 Wks on the ventilator with an IV in his arm

This is Jacob's favorite position

TWO WEEKS -

The good news at 2 weeks was that Jacob reached 2 lbs!  We bought a cookie cake for the NICU staff to celebrate.

Bad news at two weeks old - Jacob's PDA valve or duct between his lung and heart re-opened, causing breathing difficulties.  He was put on medication and back on the respirator for three days.  The duct closed and they are no longer hearing a heart murmur.  He never quite came back from this spell, and required high levels of oxygen when he was off the respirator.

The Titans visited for the second time.  This time 5 players including Vince Young and his entourage.

Jacob 2 Weeks Old and 2 Lbs!

ONE WEEK-

Jacob did so well his first 10 days.  He came off the respirator on day two and maintained low levels of oxygen (at mid-twenties vs room air at 21%) for most of the time.  His brain scan came back very good and we were so impressed that he was doing well and having few of the difficulties we had been warned about.

Jacob 1 Week

BIRTH DAY

Jacob was born at 1 lb 15 oz, at the gestational age of 25 weeks (15 weeks early, over 3 months).  His skin was very immature and his eyes were still fused shut.  He was born via emergency c-section and was resuscitated  by the NICU team.  

Jacob just a few hours old