Four Weeks Old and TWO POUNDS!

My little man is doing a great job growing!  He finally hit two pounds today, and his nutritionist, who left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth with the twins, even said she's proud of Lincoln and Mommy!  He's staying on his curve of about 35% for his gestational age (28 weeks tomorrow).  He was born at 95% in height and weight, but both are around 35% now.  That number is just fine as long as he continues to stay at or above that percentage.

Link was started on hydrocortisone last night, a steroid that doctors are using to bring his cell receptors to the cell's surface so when the dopa floats by, the cells grab hold.  He's had three doses so far and the results are really showing.  He's been able to come down on his dopa dose to 5 so far with a goal of 3 for today.  His blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate were all increased which is a sign that the dopa dose is too strong.

Link's also gone up to 8 cc's on his feeds.  David says one of the doctors said that 15 cc's would be considered a full feed at this age/size, so we're halfway there.

I headed up to the Ronald McDonald Room for coffee and a bagel a bit ago.  We've got a rough road ahead with lots of ups and downs, but being on the Ped's floor is still difficult.  As I walked down the hallway into the room (NICU is floor 5, Ped's and PICU is floor 11 along with RMR) there were parents on the phone discussing insurance, discussing their child's change in stool, one woman crying on her husband's shoulder.  The world seems to zoom by outside of the windows, but it is a completely different world inside this hospital.

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Here we are again, David and I, back at the hospital for the evening.  Lincoln is doing great on his hydrocortisone steroid treatment.  His dopamine is down to just 1.67 mcg!  They've weaned him as low as he can go and now we watch his blood pressure readings for a while.  Dr. DeCristafaro was just here and I said, "He looks good.  He's doing well, yes?" And Dr. D nodded and then knocked on wood.  LOL - none of the docs or nurses will say it out loud for fear of jinxing it!  We asked Dr. D what happens after Link's five days on the steroid.  He said if the cell receptors continue responding well, then great.  If not, they can do a maintenance round of the steroid.  Today is a good day, folks!