"I don't trust this baby" - September 29, 2013

Today seems to be a pretty quiet day so far.  Owen hasn't made much progress today but at least he didn't lose any ground.  The doctor told the nurses that just because he is doing fine right now doesn't mean he won't cause the trouble later.  In his words "I don't trust this baby."  He is hilarious.

They are able to suction out some of the fluid in the lungs because of the enzymes he was given yesterday.  Owen was given a diuretic and has a catheter to help with his urinary tract.  He is still pretty swollen.  He gained about 6 1/2 ounces overnight!

They are taking all kinds of samples from that and from his blood and urine to see if any new infections are growing.  His last round of cultures is still negative!  They want to know if he is still infection free so they can start a 10 day course of steroids to help his lungs.  This will help a lot but it will decrease his immunities even more than they already are.  He will also have to have another ECHO on monday to see if his PDA is closed.  If its not, they will have to give one more round of medicine to close it before they can give the steroids.


Praying for:

• no new infections
• lungs to continue to develop
• PDA to close
• Urinary tract and kidneys to work correctly

Swelling and lung trouble - September 28, 2103

Owen had a rough night last night.  He couldn't keep his oxygen levels up and he was very picky about which way he was lying or how he was being touched.  He was still that way this morning.

The lung xrays were still showing expansion, but his right upper lung was very cloudy.  The doctor ordered up an enzyme to break up the stuff that was in that part of the lung.  He really wanted to take his tube out, see if it was clogged up, suction all the fluid out of that right upper lung, and then re-intubate him.  He decided to try the enzymes first, though.

Then Owen had a better idea.  He became very low on the oxygen levels before they tried the enzymes and the doctors started with the other plan.  They found a clogged tube and the doctor suctioned lots of fluid out of the lung!  Two hours later, the xray showed that the right side had already cleared up!  He started him on some nitric oxide to help get oxygen into the lungs even more!  They will also start the enzymes just to make sure everything gets out of there.

The xrays also showed that there was some gas in the stomach.  This is a sign that he is swallowing a little and that his digestive system is starting to work.

He has been back on the blood pressure medicine for a couple of days.  After his lungs started looking better, his blood pressure was better, too.  Now they are weening him off of that medicine.  He has to be completely off of the blood pressure medicine before they will think about feeding him breast milk.

He is still retaining fluids.  He is pretty swollen so I am not going to post any pictures today! ha!

Bath time - September 27, 2013

Owen had his first bath last night!  He looks alot better except for the fact the he is pretty swollen.  Some of the medications have made him retain water.  That probably explains why he weighs 3 pounds!

His lungs look like they are working better today.  He is being turned over more so the lungs can have a chance to open up on all sides.  This could also help to break up some of his lung fluid.

Owen 16 days old a little swollen

Start of prayer list - September 26, 2013

First of all, thank you to everyone who has been praying, texting, and calling to show your support!  It is very comforting to know that so many of you are thinking about us!  If we haven't called or texted back, its not because we aren't thankful.

Owen's lung X-rays started looking better today!  The new ECHO we got on the PDA shows that it has closed from about 4mm to 1mm.  These things are great news!

The pneumonia infection is currently being treated by two antibiotics.  Today there were signs of one of the antibiotics interfering with kidney function.  After the doctors look into this more, the one antibiotic may be discontinued.

He responded very well to the short term paralytic but will not be using it anymore.  Since he really needs to grow for a while, a long term paralytic will be used, which will allow the ventilator to work better by keeping him calm.  This will probably be for used for weeks and not days.  It should help him be able to start feedings with milk sooner!

The standard newborn screen detected abnormal thyroid levels on the first test.  The second test, done a week later, showed the abnormal thyroid levels and elevated immunoreactive trypsinogen (irt).  The thyroid levels are very common for premature babies and should get better as his original due date gets closer.  The first test did not show elevated irt but the second test did.  Elevated irt can be a sign of cystic fibrosis.  Considering that the first test was not elevated, but the second test was elevated, the doctor says that the fluid they are feeding, the transfusions, the antibiotics, the prematurity, and the overall stress could cause the elevated irt levels.  Those things along with the fact that cystic fibrosis does not run in either of our families has made the doctor to not be too concerned with this.


Praying for:

• Lungs to continue to develop
• PDA to completely close
• Lung infections to be cured
• Kidneys to function properly
• lowering of irt levels

Paralytic given - September 25, 2013

Things are kind of quiet today.  He is still given a paralytic every once in a while to keep him still.  His stats look better today and he hasn't been so sensitive to being touched or moved.  The last dose of the medicine to close the PDA will be given today.  Owen continues on antibiotics.

First infection - September 24, 2013

Owen has an infection in his lungs.  The infection turned out to be Ecoli, so they started a new antibiotic specifically for that.  He has been very sensitive for the last couple of days and has episodes where he will de-stat.  This is making things impossible for the ventilator to work correctly, so they had to put his muscles under temporary paralyses.  His PDA (gateway between the heart and lungs) is open wider now.  This also hinders lung development and can cause blood to get into the lungs.  A medicine to help this to close was started yesterday and will continue for a couple of days.

Owen Gandy introduction - September 23, 2013

Owen Gandy was born on September 10, 2013.  He wasn't supposed to be here until December 20, 2013 but Christmas came early this year!  There was no real reason for the pre-mature birth except he was ready to come out!  He went immediately to the neonatal intensive care unit (nicu) where he will spend the first few months of his life.  His estimated release from nicu is somewhere around the first of the year.

Things he experiences at nicu:

• Has had and will continue to get blood transfusions.  
• Is on a high frequency ventilator.  
• Is frequently on sedation medicine.
• Has had or has lines in his feet,hands, mouth, and head.
• Several courses of antibiotics have been started and will continue.
• All of these things occur with him under an incubator.

He weighed 2lbs 1oz  and was 13 inches long at birth.  His lungs aren't fully developed and his digestive system can't handle milk just yet.  His eyes weren't open at birth but opened a few days later.  

We have many requests for updates on how Owen is doing each day, so we decided to start this blog.  We will try to give updates at least once per day.  Pass the link for this site along to any others who may be wanting to know how Owen is doing.

Prayers for Owen and the two of us is something we need very much!

Owen at 3 days old with our wedding rings on!