Since our last update, a few things have happened. At the end of our post we said that she was doing better and that lasted for the rest of that day, but overnight her numbers began to get worse and she was needing more support again. The doctors ordered an xray and labs because they had a hunch she may have an infection. They did a blood culture and a culture of the secretions from her lungs. Before the results even came back they started her on two antibiotics and took her off the steroid. We know infections are common in preemies, but she had already had two, and we were not ready for another. The blood culture came back negative which is great. But the one from her lungs came back as positive. Not what we wanted to hear, but it does explain why she was having such a hard time.

The antibiotics worked pretty quickly. She reacted well to them and you could see a difference within 24hrs from when they were started. Today they took her off one of the antibiotics since it was for the possible blood infection. She will be on the one that is left for seven more days.

This morning they took another chest xray and it looks better than the previous. Her labs have all been good, she is lower on the oxygen and they have been able to lower her jet settings. After a few hard days, it has been nice to have a couple of days with steps in a positive direction.

She is still doing great on her feeds and blowing out diapers like a champ. Our “Little Pumpkin” is the cutest and has wooed many of the nurses, as to where even when one of them who has had her is not assigned to her, they will come by and check on her to see how she is doing and to say, “Hello.” She really is surrounded by the best and we are so thankful for all of the nurses, respiratory therapists, and doctors who have worked with her.

Until next time…