26 weeks

Yesterday turned into a busy day full of prodding and poking so I didn't get the chance to write a blog. I will make sure today's is a long one for you.

Today, Jensen is 26 + 1 weeks, just 14 weeks until he'll be full term. Wish I could jump into a time machine and be 14 weeks from now, going home with a happy, healthy baby.

Jensen wasn't getting rid of carbon dioxide from his body well yesterday so they have changed his respiratory assistance mode to high frequency. This gives him 600 breaths per minute and takes the pressure off his lungs. His lungs are just 2cms (about an inch) and they get tired easily. The high frequency mode is like a little whirlwind in his lung, and vibrates his body a little. When I came back from expressing, his eyes were open and his little body was vibrating. I cried. To me he looked like he didn't know what was going on. The next time I came back, he was asleep and looked much happier and only slightly fluttering. I don't like seeing him on this machine.

He had some tummy time again this morning, and has just been rolled onto his back. He looks like he is very comfortable on his knees, but when he is flipped back over, looks a bit squashed, due to the amount of fluid and softness of his head. He looked a lot like his daddy when he was a baby this morning I thought (nothing to do with his squashed head...).

Overnight Jensen was weighed again and is now 821grams. He seems to have started a trend of averaging a 25 gram weight gain per day. His head circumference has gone from 21.4 to 22.7cms. He is nil by mouth at the moment with the changes made yesterday, so hopefully it won't be too long before he's on milk again and can continue to grow and grow.

I found a website that sells clothing for preemies, and those that are the NICU. They accommodate for tubes, etc and are just a bunch of flaps that velcro together. We ordered one for babies weighing between 500g (1lb) and 1.5kg (3lb). His new little outfit arrived in the mail yesterday, it actually looks a bit big for him, but when he can wear clothing (which will be when he's out of the humidicrib) I guess we'll see. Here's a picture of it in daddy's hand.

Today is another busy day. Jensen is having another blood transfusion and scans on his head, heart, tummy and lungs. These are to check the progress of his duct closing and also just to check that everything else is well and functioning properly. His tummy is a bit upset today so they are sending away some blood to test for infections. "Welcome to the world of a preemie" the nurse said to me as I started crying again. At least this is all normal and they all go through it. The little loves have so much to deal with, you get one thing under control, and something else pops ups that needs attention. It's a two steps forward one step back kind of thing, which I need to remember, and Jensen's going to be such a resilient little thing after all this, and luckily he seems to have daddy's calm nature and not get bothered by too much.

The last couple of days there have been some ups and downs, and I guess we get a bit comfortable when he's doing well and are taken aback when he has a down day. I am not doing very well in the 'let's stay strong' department currently, but I am trying very hard. Phil on the other hand, is a tower of strength. I wish I had his strength, so I could comfort and support him as he does me. He is always trying to make me smile, and hugging me or holding my hand. He is the most amazing man I've known, and I count my lucky stars every day to have him by my side, and as Jensen's father. He is such a wonderful father already, which makes me love him even more than I already do.

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