Chillin' On CPAP

-Daniel is doing well. He was having a hard time keeping his stats up on the nasal cannula and working hard to breathe, the decision was made to put him on CPAP on Tuesday. It is very rare for a little guy like Daniel to go from vent to the cannula - Daniel gave it his best shot. While this is a step back it is still a step in the write direction. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) delivers pressurized air to the baby's lungs and assists the baby with breathing but does not breathe for the baby. Daniel is breathing on his own.
-Daniel has started eating. Daniel is being fed 1 teaspoon of expressed breastmilk every 3 hours through a feeding tube that has been placed down his throat. He is also getting nutrients and lipids (fats) through an IV, he'll be packing on the pounds soon. Speaking of pounds.....Daniel has gained 3 ounces and his current weight is 2 pounds, 3 ounces.

Off the Vent

-Daniel's platelet count was low (64,000) - 50,000 is critical. The doctor thought it would be better to give Daniel a blood transfusion now instead of waiting for the count to drop to the critical point. Daniel received the transfusion early this morning and did well with it. We were told that Daniel made need several transfusions during his NICU stay.
-One of the many lines, wire going into Daniel is a central line. The central line is currently going into a vein in his belly button. This is common for tiny babies. Doctors try not to leave this line in for too long due to a high risk of infection and blood clots. The doctor tried to move the central line to Daniel's arm today but was unsuccessful. Daniel's veins are too tiny.
-When we talked to the doctor this morning she said that Daniel was ready to come off the vent but that she would wait until tomorrow since he was stressed out from having the central line moved. Carol (one of Daniel's wonderful nurses) called us around 2:30 this afternoon and told us that Daniel was off the vent on a nasal cannula and that he was tolerating the change well. The doctor had decided to try the central line again and was successful (the central line is now in his arm), she also decided to let Daniel have a trial without the vent.
-We were so excited to see Daniel's sweet little face tonight. He looks A LOT like Daddy. We were there for Daniel's nightly "cares" - diaper change, temps, weigh-in, etc. Daniel is back up to his birth weight - 2 pounds and Mommy got to hold Daniel (for a very brief second) while the nurse changed his bedding out.
-We are grateful for the good news today. We are thankful that Daniel's health/development is headed in the right direction. Thank you for praying with us for our little man.

A Father's Love

Comparison - Life Size Toys

Daniel's Heart

-Daniel has had a pretty big, eventful day today for a little guy.
-The phototherapy lights has been turned off - Daniel is no longer jaundice!
-The Neonatalogist thought she heard a heart murmur and called in the Cardiologist. The Cardiologist confirmed the Neonatalogist's findings - Daniel does have a heart murmur. This is very common in preemies. The official diagnosis is Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). PDA is a heart defect common in preemies. Everyone is born with a large artery in their heart (Ductus Arteriosus) that normally closes on it's own right after birth. However some babies, especially preemies need a medicine to close the ductus. Daniel will receive 3 doses of a medication to close the ductus. If the medication does not work the ductus will be closed with surgery. (We are praying that the medicine does work.)
-Daniel's vent settings having been turned down and he is currently at 12% oxygen. The doctor said that if Daniel continues to adjust well to lowering the vent settings then he will be off the vent by Tuesday.

Mommy's Discharge

-Daniel is still hanging on, still fighting hard. There have not been a lot of changes. He continues to be weened from the vent and is adjusting well to the changes. Granny2 (aka Pam) arrived last night bearing gifts (a milkshake for Mommy and a bear for Daniel). She met Daniel and spent the night with Mommy. (Thank you Granny2.)
-Pop-Pop (Jenny's dad), Aunt Sarah and Elizabeth (Jenny's aunt and cousin) and Nanny all came to see Daniel today.
-Mommy was discharged from the hospital today. It was hard leaving Daniel. There will be many miles traveled over the next several days and weeks.
-Thank you for all your prayers for Jenny and Daniel. We ask that you continue to pray with us for our little boy.

Miracle Drug

-Daniel is doing better today, he doesn't seem to be as struggling as much as last night. He received 4 doses of a medicine containing surfactant, one of Daniel's doctors told us that this medicine was a miracle drug. Surfactant is a soapy like substance that coats the lungs and prevents small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing.) Full term, healthy babies are born with enough of this substance coating their lungs - babies born early usually require a dose or multiple doses of a medicine containing surfactant. Daniel is S-L-O-W-L-Y being weened from the vent. He is currently on 35% oxygen and is doing well, still breathing above the vent. The doctors/nurses/respiratory therapist will work daily to ween him from the vent, it will be a SLOW process and pray he is able to tolerate the changes each time.

The First 24 - Holding On

-Daniel made it through the first 24 hours which seems to be the most critical time in a preemie's life. He is on a ventilator to assist with his breathing, he was started out at 60% oygen and is now down to 40%. He has been breathing above the ventilator which is a very good sign that his lungs are functioning. Daniel's blood sugar was low but they were able to get it elevated and under control pretty quickly. Daniel is jaundice (very common in preemies) and is being treated with phototherapy.
-Jenny (aka Mommy) was very sick last night and was not able to see Daniel. She woke up this morning ready to see her boy. One of her favorite nurses (Peri) helped Jenny get cleaned up and took her to see her baby boy. Nanny was there too for this very special time. Daniel's nurse (Carol) was so kind, sweet and passionate with explaining everything to Jenny.
-Nanny had to go back to Savannah this afternoon, she did not want to leave and has plans to return on Saturday with Pop-Pop. Richard (aka Daddy) is staying at the hospital tonight and Pam (aka Granny) is planning to come tomorrow to meet Daniel and stay with Jenny.
-Daniel has been struggling with his breathing tonight. His nurse (Laura) said the nursery had been busy today and all the activity seemed to stress him out. They moved all the crying babies to another party of the nursery and Laura told everyone that "Daniel's area" must be kept quiet. Daniel is only a day old and already ruling the world. (Laura, thank you for watching out for our little man.)

Daniel Jackson Lloyd Arrives (11 weeks early)

-Daniel Jackson Lloyd arrived today at 2:55 p.m., weighing 2 pounds and measuring 13.5 inches long. Jenny (a.k.a Mommy) developed pre-eclampsia and Daniel had to make his apperance 11 weeks early via emeregency c-section after an ultrasound showed the blood flow through the umblical cord was reversed. (Daniel was not getting any blood flow/nutrients.) Daniel is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Southern Hills Medical Center in critical but stable condition. Mommy is at Southern Hills Medical Center recovering. Daddy is at home getting some much needed rest. Nanny (Jenny's mom) is staying at the hospital tonight. Please keep all our family in your prayers. Our plan is to use this site to keep all our family and friends up-to-date on how Daniel is growing and developing.