She's Moving on Up

Wednesday was a big day for Addison. Mom and dad went to the NICU to visit in anticipation of daddy getting his chance to possibly hold his little girl, however this was not the case. Doctors decided that Addison needed to get her Repiration tube changed, and that she needed to try out another machine to assist her with breathing. Doctors advised that Addison's breathing tube had been in for 33 days (since she was born) and that it was now probably to small for her since she had grown. They also advised that this could be the only source for the yeast infection, so why not try to remove the source and see if we can clear up her yeast infection and lungs a little faster. It was clear to little Addison that it needed to be removed as she often "desatted" on her oxygen and even went brachiacardic (stopped breathing) a few times through the day. So much that one time while mom was by her side, little Addy stopped altogether, not even letting the machines do it for her and the Respiratory Therapists had to unhook Addison's machine and use the hand pump bag for oxygen. A very long and stressful 10-15 seconds for mom.

Around 6 pm that evening the doctors did their thing and Addison's original respiration tube was removed. A very kind fellow NICU mom took a picture for mom and dad of Little Addison with no tubes on her face. What a little angel. Doctors advised that this tube definitely needed to be removed as it was encrusted with Yeast and gunk and was actually causing Addison to breath through something similar to sucking a thick milkshake through a straw. Addison was then placed on to a SiPAP breathing machine, which she has responded to very well.

This machine is hooked up to Addison through two prongs in her nostrils, surrounded by a secure cup around the whole nose. Addison breathes through her nose anyway and this allows the machine to give her a constant air flow pressure through the nostrils equivalent to sticking your head out the window at about 60 km/hr. This allows the babies lungs to stay inflated as they are so immature growing wise at this stage that when they deflate they could stick together and not inflate again. The machine also gives Addison a breath about every 4 of her breaths or so just to remind her to keep breathing. Doctors were unsure if she would like the new machine and thought perhaps Addison would have to be reintubated through the nose. Addison so far (knock on wood) has managed to stay stable on this machine and seems to be breathing much better. She does look a little funny with this machine on (kind of like a little rhinoceraus) as the tubes stem out from her nose and then are further secured by a little hat strapped on to her head. We however, think she is still the most beautiful little thing created. Biased I know!!

Along with that Addison also graduated and got moved to the front nursery room of the NICU. This room is a little less busy, a little more quiet, and a little more private for parents to enjoy visits with their babies as well. Nurses attempt to keep this room a little darker and more conducive to the quiet environment that helps babies rest, sleep and grow. Parents have a bit less hectic environment to "kangaroo" with the babies, which daddy hopes to get in by this weekend. He is being as patient as he possibly can!!

Addison is also back up to eating her feeds of 10 cc of breastmilk every 2 hours, that is also being supplemented with a Human Milk Fortifier to help provide her with more calories and goodies to help her grow. Doctors have removed her from all the extra antibiotics and are now keeping her solely on the antifungal medication as they believe that the Respiration tube was the source of the problem. Addison may however, need antibiotics down the road again, if tests show something more later down the road, but none of the cultures taken have grown anything to date. Her temperatures have remained pretty stable and Addison got to wear her first little dress yesterday. She looked like such a little girl. It was still a little big, but the style of the dress was the key, as it was conducive for the nurses to be able to access all of Addison's tubes and IV as well as her diaper with minimal movement for Addison.

Mom and dad are very excited for today they get to take up a wonderful gift to help Addison, given to her by Aunt Steph, Uncle Ken and cousin Sidney. It is called a SNOEDEL and it is highly recommended by some of the staff at NICU, and is used frequently in NICU units in the United States. A SNOEDEL is a little organic cloth shaped doll blanket,

that can be placed into Addison's isolet for comfort and as a bonding aid. What happens is mom and dad sleep with the doll for a couple of nights and their scent is infused into the doll. The doll is then placed with the baby in the isolet and she gets comforted by the presence of mom and dad whom she has smelled while kangarooing and interacting with the parents. Thanks to Aunt Steph's knowledge and research, Addison can feel closer to mommy and daddy, even though she cannot be with them all the time. What a wonderful present for all us to enjoy and see the improvements in little Addy. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We truly are blessed with great family and friends.