The Highs are SO High!

I think what contributes to the NICU being such a roller coaster is not just that the lows are so very low, but that the highs are so high. Each time Ava moves forward, I am not only completely overjoyed and excited, but I become equally nervous because every step forward has potential to become steps backwards. Obviously we want her to move forward, but sometimes it can be just as scary at times.

Last night with Ava was amazing. She had our favorite nurse taking care of her, so she was already off to a good start. It really makes all the difference in the world to have nurses that you love and that love your baby...but that is an entirely separate post that I will be writing soon! When babies are on Sipap or CPAP, the head gear used to hold it on can cause reddness and breakdown on their skin, so every 12 hours an RT comes and removes all of that head gear, massages her head and gives her a little break. That is usually when she gets weighed and bathed also. Well last night, after they took her off the Sipap, she did AMAZING. She was actually doing better than while she was on it. She was not receiving any blow by oxygen or anything and was keeping her sats WAY up. It was so awesome to see. Because of this, the nurse and RT asked the doc if we could try her again on the high flow. He agreed! Ava was on NOTHING for about 45 minutes and did amazing the whole time! It was so exciting, and felt amazing to hold my little baby without so much attached to her! We also weighed her and she weighed in at 3lbs 11oz! She is getting SO big! So as of last night at about 9:30, she has been on 4 liters of high flow. She had one minor episode this morning but has otherwise done well. I am so hopeful that this lasts because if she can get her breathing figured out, then we just have to figure out eating, which I think she will be great at. At the same time, I am nervous to get too excited so we will just have to wait and see and hope and pray that she can do it!