The never ending roller coaster ride!

I cannot even begin to tell you what a roller coaster ride the NICU is. Jaxson is 9 weeks and 3 days old. Friday, we celebrated his 2 month birthday! I can't believe he's already two months! We brought an apple pie for the nurses in labor and delivery and sugar cookies with sprinkles for the NICU nurses. Our friends Lee and Leah brought him balloons for his party. Saturday, when we got there they had taken him off his nasal cannula and his bed warmer. This meant he was breathing fine on his own, and he could regulate his temperature. They also had him dressed in clothes for the first time. He started bottle feeding last Tuesday too! His platelets were coming up on their own, and he seemed to be digesting his food with no problems.

So, yesterday we're back to square one. He's back on the cannula, platelets decreasing, back on his bed warmer, no clothes, and NPO (just fyi that means no food). The only reason they gave us for not feeding is that his stomach x-ray was not 100% normal. The doctors finally admitted, they don't know why his platelets are low. He has never been moved to an Isolette. Being in an Isolette is a step up from the open bed he is in now. Plus, it would keep him from being exposed to so many germs and bacteria and help eliminate some of the noise in the NICU. Babies usually spend most of their time in the NICU in an Isolette, and then move to a crib right before they get to go home. The doctors and still unsure when Jaxson will get to go to an Isolette. One of his nurses told us he may be there for a few more months. He will definitely be the biggest baby in there! He is already 6 lbs 6.4 ounces. I have taken back almost all of his preemie clothes and swapped them for bigger sizes. He is getting so big!

Last week, he got his second eye exam. The doctor diagnosed him with stage 1 ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) in zone 3. This is pretty common in preemies. Most likely it will clear up on its own and his vision will be normal. He will have a follow-up visit a week from today.

Since we know he'll be there for at least 6-8 more weeks, we've contacted a few other hospitals to see about having him moved closer to our house. We are driving about 200 miles a day! Also, at St. Vincent's we cannot visit with him at night until after 8:00. If we stay for an hour and a half, we don't get home until after 10:00. I should find out more info about whether or not we are moving him by tomorrow.

Please keep praying for our little sweetie! God has already answered so many prayers, and we know he will continue to answer so many more!