=)

catherine-

hi little one=) you are better. one of your favorite nurses is back today (she was there monday for your little "episode") and she said she was pretty confident you basically just had a big wad of yuck in the back of your throat and obviously that doesn't help you breathe! you poor little thing-i am so sorry you have to deal with things like that. but you've had a great few days since monday. you've been peaceful and happy, and you've even smiled at us a few times! we are loving that. not that we know exactly what is making you smile (a good dream, gas, etc...???) but it makes us feel like you are content and that makes us so happy=) you even came off fentanyl and nitric oxide today! guess what else? the BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) test this morning came back GREAT! this is the marker that indicates heart failure (from the pulmonary hypertension)... and yours was initially 2300!!! yikes! (that is when they put you back on nitric oxide) then it came down to 800, then 200, and this morning it was 75!!! they said a few days ago they'd be very happy with it below 100, and if it was below 50 they could be pretty confident that the pulmonary hypertension had resolved for the most part. they did an echo yesterday as well to check out the pulmonary hypertension-it showed that you do still have some but it's not "raging" anymore. you're still getting oral medication to help with it, so hopefully it won't give you too much trouble from here on out. they also said your lungs are looking a little more expanded, little by little, so that was great as well. keep up the good work sweet baby=)

yesterday you and i got to spend some great time together. i was pretty stingy with my "holding you" time-daddy gave me a look last night when i sat down to hold you for the third time and he hadn't yet had a turn...no worries-i did eventually share;) but you were awake for much of that time and looking pretty intently at me and i was telling you about all sorts of wonderful things. what we've been doing, what your nursery looks like, different family and friends who love you. it felt like you were listening to me and taking it all in=) thank you for that=)

so now our next big goal is to get you off of cpap and onto nasal cannula. i'm not sure how long this will take, but hopefully it can be soon. you get to try to breastfeed as soon as you are on nasal cannula-that is just an extra added bonus on top of the fact that nasal cannula means your lungs are doing better! i am so proud of you my sweet one. we love you so much and cannot get enough of you=)

mommy