Posted Apr 1, 2007 8:40am

Day 49
7 weeks old!
31 weeks gestation
2 pounds 9 ounces

All things are pretty much the same. The ventilator rate is still at 25. They didn't make any adjustments down because his blood gas was only borderline acceptable, but they didn't turn anything back up either. His oxygen needs were between 50-80% yesterday. The doctor is planning on starting the steroids today (Sunday). He explained that he was only giving a very weak dose and a very short course in hopes that Ryan's episodes will end. We are kind of doubting now that this is the "magic dose" that they give just before extubation (removing the ventilator). We are still hoping, though, that these steroids will make significant enough improvements that extubation will still happen within the next week or 2. Through his PICC line Ryan is receiving TPN and lipids daily. They moved the IV out of his head and put a new one in his foot. Through that IV he receives Fentanyl and Versed. Through his NG tube (tube directly from the nose into the stomach) he receives MCT oil twice a day and his milk which is now running at 18.5 ml every 3 hours. It takes 2 hours to feed him. He gets an antibiotic ointment in his eyes every 12 hours.