Avigail continues to have issues with her tummy and still has not had any bowel movements. The nurse spoke with us this evening about possibly doing an enema type procedure or saline flush to help. The last couple of times the nurses have listened to her stomach, they claim to hear rumbling noises which is a good thing. The surgeon monitors her daily and I'm sure it will be a last minute decision as to when they do the procedure.
She was back to her birth weight (1 lb 7 oz) tonight. She continues to suck on her pacifier and make many facial expressions! She still hasn't opened her eyes, but seems like she's close.
Deacon had his chest tube clamped today. They will monitor his breathing over the next day or two before they remove the tube. He seems fairly stable for today. His blood gas levels (ph, CO2, O2, and glucose) are getting better, although they are still not perfect. They are also going to be pretty conservative before they decide to take him off the respirator again since he's had so many problems with his breathing.
Deacon also had an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) done today because he has a heart murmur. The echocardiogram was done to see if the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel near the heart, which is supposed to close in the first few days of birth, remains open. If it hasn't yet closed, this increases his risk of lung damage and puts strain on his heart. If it hasn't closed, this could also be a reason as to why he's having trouble breathing on his own. They typically try to use medication first to see if that will close it. If not, they will have to do surgery.
They haven't weighed Deacon the past three nights because of the tube in his chest. They want to try and move him as little as possible so they don't make him any more uncomfortable than he probably already is. He has been quite the trooper and fighter!
