Tuesday 31st July 2007

Daddy took a day off work to spend more time with me today. He came in this afternoon, and gave me a cuddle and then a bath, and then my 5pm feed, and he's even coming back to the hospital after his tea to give me my 9pm feed and my goodnight cuddle. Guess what? I did 5 out of 6 sucking feeds yesterday. I was supposed to have 3 tube feeds, but I only had 1. I kicked up a big stink when they tried to feed me with a tube - I want to suck! Mummy went home early to carry on getting my nursery ready today. It sounds lovely, with lots of colourful jungle animals, I can't wait to see it. We had 2 very good breastfeeds today. We're really getting the hang of it, and we don't need to top up with a tube any more. I am officially full term today - 37 weeks gestation, and just over 7 weeks old!

Monday 30th July 2007

Well, it's all about feeding and growing isn't it? Last night I was weighed, and I had put on another ounce. I am now 4lb 1oz. So I busied myself today feeding with mummy, and drank and drank until I was sick - quite literally. I haven't quite learned when to stop eating when I'm full yet - mummy thinks I get that from her! My gaviscon is helping with my wind, so I am getting less indigestion than before, and I am still having dalavit - which is a multi vitamin that I am going to have to take for a whole year, because I was born prematurely. I'm also taking phosphate and iron. Mummy says that looking at my drugs chart is like looking at the periodic table! I was also taking sodium, but my sodium levels have stabilised, so I don't need that any more. My haemoglobin levels are lovely and high now. They are supposed to be higher than 8, and now they are 13.6, so no more blood transfusions for me hopefully! I have had a lot less desaturations since my blood transfusion and since I have started taking gaviscon. I need to go for a 3 or 4 day period without any desats or 'bradys' (when my heart rate drops), before the nurses can take me off my Sats monitor. When that happens I'll be put on an aponea mattress, which will beep if I stop breathing, and then I need to come off that too in order to go home. I've got lots of hard work to do before I can go home, but I know I'll get there eventually.

Sunday 29th July 2007

Today has been very relaxing. Mummy sat with me all day, and I fed and slept and grizzled! The nurses told mummy that during the night I had been waking up an hour before my feed was due, and whinging. I did this today as well, so mummy had to hold me a lot, and let me suck my dummy. I burped well though, so I think I drank more milk with each feed today. I am being weighed tonight, but I think I have probably lost a few grams, because of breast feeding. This is because mummy and the nurses can't be sure how much I am having with each feed, so I may not be getting as much as when I'm tube fed. Also the milk I have through the tube is fortified, so when I'm tube fed I put on more weight. When I'm getting it direct from mummy, it doesn't have so many calories. I need to be putting on weight to be able to go home, so I need to make sure I drink enough every time I feed with mummy, so that I can get fatter and be allowed home. I also need to be having all my feeds as sucking feeds, so I will be working hard on that this week - I'm doing about 50% at the moment. I was taken off the 'hot cot' today, as they had turned the heat down a lot, and I had still been managing to maintain my temperature. This is something else I need to do before I am allowed home - 'maintain my temperature in a cot without a hat'. So I'm getting there with my 'go home' criteria. Daddy gave me a lovely cuddle to warm me up before he left and then wrapped me up snugly in my cot to make sure that I kept warm over night, so I don't need my heated mattress back.

Saturday 28th July 2007

Today I look a lot pinker after my transfusion yesterday. I had visits from Neil and Deborah, and I breast fed 3 times. I fooled mummy into thinking that I was full, but really I as full of wind, so I whinged all afternoon, as I was still hungry. I will have a rest and have tube feeds this evening and through the night, so I'm ready to try sucking again tomorrow. I had my first bath today. Jo the nurse showed mummy how to lower me in, and I had my first proper wash. Wow, 7 weeks old today and I've managed to avoid having a bath up to now! The bath was quite nice actually, hopefully I can have another one in a couple of days if I manage to keep going with a good temperature. My blood cultures came back nagetive again, so I had the cannula removed from my foot, as I won't need any more antibiotics. I have also started taking gaviscon today to try and improve my wind! Mummy and Jo gave me an extra 20ml of milk down my tube after my last feed to make sure I was full, and so I slept soundly, with a belly full of milk. Yummy. Hopefully now that my cannula has gone from my leg I can be winded properly, and I'll feed better tomorrow. The cannula really got in the way, so I couldn't get in the right position to be burped effectively. See you tomorrow.

Friday 27th July 2007

Look at me! Don't I look pink and glowing. This is because I have had a blood transfusion today. 27ml of O positive blood to boost my haemoglobin levels and get me back on track. I was very pale this morning and the oxygen levels in my blood were very low, but after my transfusion my oxygen saturation was close to 100% for a lot of the time, which means I don't have to use up so much energy breathing and pumping blood round my body. Lets hope I start to produce my own red blood cells now. I did really well with my feeding today. I breastfed twice with mummy and didn't need any topups. I like breastfeeding a lot better than bottle feeding. I'm not that good with bottles, I suck too hard and then all the milk goes up my nose! I want to learn to do both though, so that daddy can feed me too, and so that we can use up all the expressed milk that is in the freezer at home. I am hoping I can progress to 100% sucking feeds very quickly - that will mean that I am a step closer to being allowed home. I am also putting on weight well - I now weigh 4lb - hooray!

Thursday 26th July 2007

Hello! Today's been pretty quiet to be honest. Granny Judy was supposed to visit, but had to turn back because of the floods. I had blood taken this morning to check my haemoglobin, as I have been struggling to maintain my temperature. It was still lower than it should be, so Sue the Nurse Practitioner put a cannula into my foot, as I may have to have a blood transfusion tomorrow to boost my red blood cells. We'll see what the consultant says. In the meantime I am still taking my iron supplement, and I have been put in a 'hot cot'. This means I've got a heated mattress to keep me warm. Maintaining my temperature without a hat on is one of the main criteria for me to go home, so this is something I need to work on. Luckily everything else in my blood is fine, which is great news. It's just my red blood cells which I need to sort out. I breastfed twice today, and topped it up with milk down my tube and from the bottle to make sure that I got enough. Mummy and I need to work on our positioning, so that I can feed for longer, and do without the top ups. But I am sucking well, so I am very proud of myself.

Wednesday 25th July

I had my ears tested today, and the nice lady who tested them said they were perfect. Here is a picture of me wearing the thingie she used to test my ears with. Mummy says it makes me look like princess Leah out of Starwars - whoever that is! Mummy introduced me to a friend of hers called Harry Potter today - in fact she sat by my bedside and read a book about him. I didn't like that as it meant she wasn't paying as much attention to me as usual, so I decided to be naughty and cried a lot, so she couldn't read it - he he. I was put on to 4 hourly feeds today, and so my feeding regime has now changed again. It is now :

• 09.00am - breast feed
• 13.00pm - breast feed
• 17.00pm - tube feed
• 21.00pm - bottle feed
• 01.00am - tube feed
• 05.00am - tube feed

I was very naughty at my second breast feed, and although I fed well, I wouldn't settle, and mummy had to breast feed me again twice before I would be quiet - I think it's called demand feeding, and I love it, although I'm not sure mummy feels the same....

Tuesday 24th July 2007

Well, today was the first full day of my new feeding regime, and I have done well so far. I breast fed 3 times with mummy and had a bit of a top up with the bottle too. I am using new bottles which are the ones I'll be using at home, and they are much better than the one I had yesterday. I don't seem to be holding my temperature very well. Every time the nurse takes it, it's lower than it should be, despite the fact that I am wrapped up like it's Winter! I now have 4 blankets over me, as well as a sheet and the fleece. I also have a cardigan over my babygro and vest, and the nurses put this wooly hat on me as well. I don't like being all swaddled up like that, I can't move my arms - so I whinged a bit! The nurses think that I'm cold because of my low haemoglobin. They may put me into a heated cot if my temperature doesn't pick up. Anyway, I'll have a good sleep tonight, so that I'm ready for my sucking feeds again tomorrow.

Monday 23rd July 2007

Today mummy and Sue the nurse practitioner worked out a feeding plan for me to get me moving towards 100% sucking feeds which is the main criteria for me to go home. The plan is as follows :

• 12.00am - tube feed


• 03.00am - tube feed


• 06.00am - tube feed


• 09.00am - breast feed


• 12.00pm - breast feed


• 15.00pm - tube feed


• 18.00pm - breast feed


• 21.00pm - bottle feed

I started trying to stick to my plan this evening, and I breast fed with mummy for nearly 40 minutes, and then had a top up from a bottle. I sucked really well, and mummy was very pleased. Unfortunately when daddy tried to give me a bottle feed it was a bit overwhelming, and I didn't manage it. The milk came out too quickly, my heart rate dropped, and I wasn't very happy, in fact I went a bit mad for about 15 minutes! I think I've just done a bit too much today, what with feeding plans, eye tests, guthries and blood being taken. Oscar's mummy Kate came to visit me today. She smells of milk just like mummy, so I enjoyed her cuddling me. I wore a natty babygro and hat that Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris bought for me. I think I look very cool. I had some blood taken today to check my haemoglobin levels. It turns out it is 7, which is lower than it should be, but my retix levels are good, and show that my body appears to be generating red blood cells well, so they are going to keep an eye on me and check my levels again later in the week, before they decide whether to give me a transfusion to boost my red blood cells. In the mean time I have started to take an iron supplement to try and help it along. I am putting on weight well, and not too quickly, so no diet for me! The swelling on my legs from yesterday is just a bit of fluid that will disperse by itself. Anyway I now weigh 1790g which is 3lb 151/2oz, so next time I am weighed, I should have hit 4lb, a milestone I am very proud of.

Sunday 22nd July 2007

Well, the floods in Oxford did not deter mummy and daddy from getting in to see me. Some of the nurses couldn't get into the hospital last night and today though. I'm doing well in my cot, and beginning to get used to life outside the incubator. I'm not having many desats (when the oxygen saturation levels in my blood drop), and virtually no 'bradys' (when my heart rate drops too low). I was a bit cold today though, so on top of all the blankets, sheets and fleeces covering me up, I'm also wearing a fleecey jacket on top of my babygrow and vest! I think it's because of the air conditioning in the Special Care Unit to the honest. Mummy and daddy were chilly too! Sue one of the Nurse Practitioners sat down with mummy and daddy today and talked them through all the health issues that I have had since I was born - it was a very long list! But luckily there was nothing there that they weren't aware of, and there was nothing that was unusual, or that should be a lasting problem. She told mummy and daddy that I will have my eyes tested tomorrow, and that I will have another head scan this week. I am also due for my guthrie test tomorrow - this is to check for a metabolic imbalance. It's something all newborn babies have done apparently. Sue also said that I will be due my first immunisations soon - I think that means more needles. Mummy is sitting down with Sue tomorrow to work out a feeding programme for me. I have to be on 100% sucking feeds and gaining weight in order to go home, so that is what mummy, daddy and I need to work towards now. I'm not even doing 1 sucking feed per day yet, so I 've got a long way to go. Wish me luck! Sue also examined me today. She found a cute little birth mark on the back of my neck, and also noticed that the tops of my legs and my groin seemed a little swollen - she said I may be putting on weight too quickly, but they will keep an eye on the swelling and decide what to do later - they may need to stop putting the fortifier in my milk - my first diet!

Saturday 21st July 2007

What a lovely day I had today with mummy and daddy. I really like it when they hold me, infact when they don't hold me I cry a lot and then they pick me up again - it's a great game! I am having problems with wind today which means that it is taking me ages to have my milk through my tube, and then I can often be quite sick. When Mummy breastfed me today though I was much less windy, so I need to practice doing that more, so that I can get rid of the wind. I like my new cot. It's quite hard to get used to though. I have to lie on my back which makes it more difficult to breathe and to digest my food properly, and I have to have all these blankets on to keep me warm, so that I can't move my arms and legs around like I could in my incubator. But on balance it's better than being inside the incubator. I can look around and see everything a lot clearer, and it's easier for mummy and daddy to lift me up for cuddles - hurrah. I am still quite pale and my haemoglobin levels are still low, so the nurse practitioner says she may start to give me iron, or I may even need another blood transfusion to boost my red blood cells. We'll find out tomorrow. I breast fed very well today. I sucked for about 20 minutes. Mummy was very pleased with me.

Friday 20th July 2007

Well my official brithday is just a month away. That's right - I was supposed to be born on 20th August, and instead I came on 9th June. So much has happened since then. In fact I reached another big milestone today - I was moved into a cot. You'll see pictures of that tomorrow, as it didn't happen until the afternoon, and mummy had to go early yesterday, as she is not very well. She's got a sore boob from all that milk expressing she does for me. Get well soon mummy! She brought her friend Kate to see me though, who is also expecting another little friend for me. Kate helped mummy feed, change and dress me before they went home. Daddy came early to see me in my cot though, and gave me lots of cuddles. He stayed for ages and fed me and put me in new clothes. I have grown out of most of my current clothes, so mummy and daddy will bring the next size up tomorrow. How exciting - lots of trendy new outfits that all mummy and daddy's friends have bought for me. I'm very grateful - I'm going to be the best dressed baby around! The reason I need my new clothes is that I now weigh 1,705g which is about 3lb 13oz. I need a lot of clothes because I need to be wrapped up really warm in my new cot. Yesterday I needed a vest, a babygrow, a sheet, 2 blankets, a fleece and my fleecey rabbit! Wow - lots of washing for mummy to do! I do hope that mummy and daddy make it to see me tomorrow. It's been raining a lot, and lots of the roads are flooded. Daddy had to practically drive through a river to get home from the hospital tonight. I'll miss them if they don't come. I missed breastfeeding with mummy today and I was hoping for another go tomorrow.....

Thursday 19th July 2007

I've had a really busy day today. I feel very tired, but very happy. I had 2 breastfeeding lessons with mummy and tried really hard. I managed to suck well, and so mummy and nurse Sarah decided to reduce my tube feed a little bit, because they thought I was managing to get extra milk direct from mummy. I didn't do it for every feed, so I'm still being mainly tube fed, but this is good progress. It's quite tiring though, I can't suck for very long. I had my last dose of antibiotics tonight through my feeding tube, so if the blood cultures come back negative tomorrow then I can kiss them goodbye for good. My CRP levels are down to 2, which is excellent, so I am hopeful that the nasty bug has finally gone. Now that I am off my antibiotics I may be able to move out of my incubator into a cot, jsut like my friend Oscar. This would be very exciting. It will be strange, as I am used to being in my incubator, but it is a big step forward towards going home. Daddy and I had a lovely cuddle last night whilst mummy fed me through my tube. I was very chilled out.

Wednesday 18th July 2007

You won't be able to tell from these photos, but I don't have any cannulas in my body anymore. I was supposed to be having intravenous antibiotics until tomorrow, but my cannula stopped working again at lunchtime, so the doctors and nurses decided that it wouldn't hurt if I missed the last dose. I think they thought it would really upset me if they tried to put another one in - I'm glad they decided to stop the antibiotics - I've been on them since the 20th June, when I first got the infection. I've got to carry on taking the nasty orange antibiotic until tomorrow, but i'm now having that through my feeding tube, so that's okay. Mummy came in bright and early to see me today as my feed was due at 9am. Mummy and I tried breastfeeding, so I had my tube feed of 37ml, plus some extra! We did this again at 3pm. I am getting quite good at breastfeeding, but I can only do it a little bit as I get tired quickly, because I am still so little. I am a lot less little than I used to be though - I now weigh 3lb 12oz! I had two visitors today. The first one was Jayne. Jayne had baby Isobel a few days after I was born. Isobel weighed 3lb 14oz and was also in the Special Care Nursery for a few days. Jayne and Isobel came to visit mummy for lunch and Jayne came to see me. She thinks I'm lovely. Then Oscar's mum came to visit me. I sent her back to Oscar with lots of love and kisses for him. Daddy is coming to see me for cuddles tonight, so I put on a special outfit which says 'I love Daddy' on the front. We had two lovely cuddles last night, I cried when he put me back into my incubator, so he had to take me out again for more! My hair looks very orange today - it isn't really orange, it's just that horrid antibiotic dying my head a funny colour!

Tuesday 17th July 2007

Well, for those of you who were wandering, they managed to get a cannula in last night. It's now in my left hand, and is working okay so far. I don't hold out much hope for it working until Thursday, but you never know! Anyway, it didn't put me out of sorts as much as mummy and daddy expected, and I was very settled today. Mummy called the hospital to find out how I was this morning, as she was going to be in late due to a doctor's appointment. Kathy the nice nurse told mummy that I was behaving myself, and that I was tolerating my milk so well that she was going to put me onto 3 hourly feeds. This is a big step, as it takes me closer to a normal feeding pattern. The 3 hourly feeds worked well. It meant that when mummy took me out for a breastfeeding lesson, I was really hungry, so I sucked hard. I think that I got a lot of extra milk on top of the 37ml that I'm having every 3 hours through my feeding tube. I sucked on and off for about an hour, so mummy and the nurses were all very pleased with my progress. One nurse said she'd never seen a little baby like me latch on so quickly. Daddy will be very proud of me when I tell him. All this yummy milk means that I am putting on weight well - I am now 3lb 10oz! I am hoping that daddy will cuddle me when he comes to see me tonight. I haven't had a cuddle with him for ages, and I feel very relaxed when he cuddles me, so fingers crossed. Mummy tells me that my friend Oscar has been moved into an open cot, so I am very jealous. I hope that I can move into an open cot soon too. That will mean that mummy and daddy won't have to change my nappy through the holes in the incubator any more. Oscar is now breathing air, so I'm hoping he'll be moved into the Special Care Nursery to be with me soon.

Monday 16th July 2007

When I woke up this morning, the cannula in my scalp was still working, but as usual it didn't last the day. The doctors have started giving me one of my antibiotics orally, to try and make the cannulas work for longer, but when they tried to give me my main antibiotic tonight, the cannula had stopped working. Mummy was very upset that they had to put yet another line into me. The doctors tried at about 8.30pm, but they couldn't find a vein, so they are going to try again a bit later. I don't like having all these doctors fiddling with me. I'd much rather have cuddles with mummy and daddy. Talking of which I had a great time with mummy today. Mummy waited until I was wide awake after having my nappy changed, and then we tried breastfeeding again. It was great - I sucked loads and the nurses were very impressed. I nearly choked myself on milk mind you! I am currently having 24ml of milk every 2 hours through a tube, but now I can have a sneaky extra bit direct from mummy! And this means I am growing big and strong - I am now 3lb 8oz. I had a lovely visit from Mel and Andrea today, which is why I'm dressed up so smartly in this nice white outfit. My hat is covering my cannula, so I don't pull it out, hence the jaunty angle! Lets hope the doctors don't have to move the cannula again tomorrow. The nurse told mum and daddy that I haven't really got any good veins left, and I need to have the antibiotics twice a day until Thursday. My blood cultures were taken on Sunday, and they were negative yesterday. They need to stay negative for 5 days to prove that the infection has gone, so that the antibiotics can stop. Fingers crossed....

Sunday 15th July 2007

Today mummy arrived to see me early and we had a nice time together playing with my new giraffe rattle that Granny Jude bought for me. Then I had a visit from Jenny and Helen. Helen has 2 little daughters who will be my pals when I am out of hospital. They are called Poppy and Ruby. Poppy is only a couple of weeks older than me, but she is much bigger! Unfortunately my cannula broke again today, so I had to have yet another one put in. It had to go into my head again. The first one they put in was looking great, but then I pulled it out! So they had to put in another one - whoops. I wasn't very happy after they put the cannula in and I spent 2 hours forgetting to breathe and dropping my heart rate, just to keep mummy on her toes. By the time Granny and Grandpa Meikle and Aunty Shellie and Uncle Chris arrived to see me, I decided that I had given Mummy enough of a nervous breakdown for one day, and settled down! The reason I was feeling horrid was because I had loads of air in my tummy. The nurse took loads out with a syringe, and then mummy held me upright for half an hour, and I felt much better. Infact I was well enough to play with mummy and daddy for a while. I sucked their fingers and held their hands. Needless to say mummy and daddy were much happier with me when they left to go home tonight. I am expecting more visitors tomorrow - Andrea and Mel, two friends of mummy's from university are coming to see me - I'd better be good.

Saturday 14th July 2007

Well, what a day. I'm still having trouble with my cannula and the nurse practitioner had to change it again today. She had trouble finding a vein; eventually she did but it took a long time and I wasn't very happy. I'm hoping I don't have to have a cannula for much longer. The nurse told mummy that if the blood cultures were clear up until the 19th July, I would be able to come off my antibiotics. Fingers crossed. When mummy and daddy arrived my incubator was bit smelly so they changed my nappy. I decided to be a bit naughty and thought I would stop breathing for a while, just to keep them on their toes. It worked ha ha!! After being handled for so long by the nurses I wanted some time to myself, so every time mummy and daddy tried to handle me I got all hot and bothered, so they soon left me alone. I think mummy has hurt her neck though, because she couldn't turn round very well. I hope she is better soon. I didn't come out for a hold today because of my cannula problem but hopefully I can have another breastfeeding lesson with mummy tomorrow. Granny Jude came to see me today, it was nice to see her, she rubbed my back and helped me get rid of the wind in my tummy which made me feel much better. She also helped daddy change my bedding after I threw another wobbly when my nappy was being changed. Well, I'm told I have lots of friends coming to see me tomorrow.......suppose I'd better behave!

Friday 13th July 2007

Well, daddy tells me that Friday 13th is supposed to be unlucky for some. Well fortunately it wasn't unlucky for me! It wasn't a great day for another couple of babies in my room unfortunately - they were moved back to Intensive Care because they stopped breathing - I am trying hard NOT to to that, and had a very stable day. My sats only dropped twice momentarily, and my machine barely beeped all day. I was the model patient. Maybe it was because I had mummy's undivided attention practically all day, plus I had a lovely visit from Mark and Heather. Their daughter Emma is only a few months older than me, and I'm sure we'll be great pals - even though she is loads bigger than me! They brought me this lovely furry sheep as a new friend, who is now sitting on the box of surgical gloves, alongside my other friends. Oscar's mummy visited me today too. She told me that he was doing fine, and that he is such a big boy now that the doctors have reduced his milk! His breathing is also loads better, so hopefully I'll be able to see him very soon. I also got a new incubator today, as you can see. Daddy visited me tonight and held me tight as usual. He does containment holding with me in my incubator, which makes me feel very secure and relaxed, hopfully daddy can hold me properly tomorrow. Mummy held me today again. I had a bit of a suck, but I was tired and preferred to sleep rather than suck. My haemoglobin is looking a bit low again, so the Nurse Practitioner told mummy that they would keep an eye on it, but my platelets are lovely and high and my CRP is nice and low - signs that this infection has hopefully been knocked on the head for good. I now weigh nearly 3lb 4oz. My weight has not really gone up in the last few days. I think this is probably due to the antibiotics which make me poo a lot - talking of which I saved up all my poo for daddy today, just like mummy told me to.....

Thursday 12th July 2007

Well, I'm still in the Special Care Nursery. I think Mummy and Daddy half expected me to be moved back to The High Dependency Unit overnight! I was sick a couple of times in the night, so the doctors and nurses have put me back onto hourly feeds rather than 2 hourly, so that my tummy is not overloaded. I hope it's not for long. I need to get used to feeding 2 or 3 hourly for when I start breastfeeding with mummy. Talking of breastfeeding, I tried really hard today when mummy held me, and I had a jolly good suck. I was wide awake and sucked for a long time. I didn't really get any milk out though - mummy got rid of it all before she held me, so that I wouldn't get overwhelmed, and choke on it! Hopefully I can continue to practise, so that I can stop having my milk through my feeding tube. Mummy's friend Lisa came to visit today. She is having a baby in August - another friend for me! As you can see from the picture I still have my cannula in, fingers crossed it'll keep working, so I don't have to have any more needles stuck into me.

Wednesday 11th July 2007

Hooray! Today has not been the usual Black Wednesday! Infact today has been the total opposite. Mummy arrived this morning to see me, only to find that I had been transferred to the Special Care Nursery.Mummy was very surprised, as I am supposed to be off antibiotics before I go there, but there were other babies that are more sick than me, who needed my space in the High Dependency Unit. I may get moved back if a space becomes free again. It's lovely in the Special Care Nursery. It's really quiet and relaxed, and mummy could hold me for over an hour. I tried breastfeeding again, and managed to catch a few drips! I really miss my friend Oscar, and my next door neighbour Gene. I hope the boys can manage without me, and that they'll be able to join me in the Special Care Nursery soon. Check out my stripey outfit - Granny Judy bought it for me. Its says 'I love Mummy and Daddy' on the front, which I do! You're probably wondering what the weird pot on my head is. Basically the cannula in my arm stopped working again, so the doctors had to change it yet again, and could only find a good vein in my head. This time they put this pot over it to make sure I didn't knock it out of place. This is particularly irritating as it makes it difficult to lie in certain positions. But I need to have a cannula in for at least another week. The Nurse Practitioner told mummy today that my blood cultures are now showing negative, but that I need to continue with the nasty antibiotics for about another week, and then as long as the cultures stay negative, I can stop taking them. So I will carry on being a human pin cushion for a little bit longer.

Tuesday 10th July 2007

Today I am still coping well without my vapotherm, so they removed the vapotherm unit from next to my incubator (which had been there just in case), so that another baby could have it. I think this means that they are confident that I won't need it again, which is good news. I am still on my antibiotics though, as the doctors still think this infection is hanging around - they can tell this from my CRP levels which are too high for their liking. I need to show them that it's gone completely before I'm allowed to move into the Special Care Nursery from the High Dependency unit. Can you spot the difference between the two photos? Well, now that I'm not on vapotherm anymore, my feeding tube has been moved to my nose from my mouth. This means that I can learn to breastfeed with mummy more easily, as I haven't got a silly tube obstructing my mouth. I tried to breastfeed with mummy again today and did quite well sucking, although my mouth is still a little bit too small at the moment to do it properly, so we'll try again tomorrow, and keep trying until we get it right. I got through loads of nappies today - I keep making them dirty whilst they are being changed - mummy says I'm going to prove to be very expensive! I spent some lovely time with daddy tonight, he read me a story about Eeyore's birthday, and changed my nappy.

Monday 9th July 2007

I wore this lovely vest today, which my Auntie Emma bought for me - It's about the only piece of clothing that I own that isn't pink! Today I spent the morning without a cannula in which was nice - you can see the plaster on my head where the canular was yesterday. Mummy cleaned my head this morning, as it was bright orange from my antibiotics. I then had another breastfeeding lesson with mummy. I slept through most of it, but was rudely awakened when I sucked a little bit in my sleep and got a mouthful of milk by mistake - that made me cough and splutter. The doctors have given me a new cannula in my arm, so I have an annoying board on it again - at least it means that I'm less likely to pull my feeding tube out, which is my favourite party trick. This afternoon mummy noticed that my eyes looked a bit gunky and that I had trouble opening them, as my eyelids were a bit stuck together. The nurses took a swab from my eyes to check whether I've got anything nasty in them, and mummy wiped them to make me feel better. I hope they are better later so that I can open them and look at daddy when he comes to visit me this evening.

Sunday 8th July 2007

I had another nice day with mummy and daddy today, and I made them very proud, as when they arrived this morning, they discovered that I had been taken off my vapotherm, and that I was breathing completely by myself - aren't I clever? I came off it at 10am this morning, and I am doing ok so far, so lets hope I keep managing by myself. I also gave mummy and daddy a shock, because the cannula that was in my leg yesterday had stopped working, and the doctors put one in my head, as that was the only place they could find a vein. This means that I can wave my hands and feet around freely, but my head is turning orange, as the nasty orange antibiotic that they are giving me keeps leaking out of the cannula onto my head. I'm turning ginger!! Mummy did skin to skin holding with me today which was lovely, and I sucked my dummy right after daddy fed me through my feeding tube, to get me to associate a full tummy with sucking. I have had fun pulling and holding things today, including my feeding tube - not very clever as then it comes out of my tummy, and they have to put it backdown again, and tape it to my chin to stop me doing it. Mummy and daddy also put scratch mits on my hands to stop me pulling my tube out. I also held onto my toy giraffe, which was fun. Mummy and daddy had to cope with another monster poo today - it's a lot of fun to do the poo whilst they are changing my nappy.....