~Ethan on the Move~

Well we went into the NICU on Saturday morning and got a surprise. Ethan was getting transferred to the Royal Alex NICU. They needed his bed at the Uof A so they transferred him. He spent the first day in the A pod for babies who require serious care. While he was there he made lots of progress. He got extubated (removed the breathing tube from surgery)and he was able to cry again. Mommy and Daddy got to snuggle with him for over an hour!!! We were so happy and if I had remembered the camera I would show you!!!

We came in this morning to see him and he was in a bit of pain so they gave him some tylenol to ease it. We got to hold him for a couple of hours again!!! He also got his IV taken out of his hand. Right as we were leaving for lunch they told us that he was doing so good that they were moving him to level 2 care in H Pod. YAY!!! Today he gets rid of the UVC (belly button IV) and they are inserting a PIC line (through his arm or leg to a major vessel) right now. That is so that he can get more nutrients through the IV. The other types of IV's cannot support the amount he will be getting. So although Mommy is freaked out by it and actually hiding right now in the family room so she doesn't have to see it, she is also happy to see progress.

We spoke to his Nurse Practioner today (basically a dr) and she told us that once his dye test comes back successful then they start feeding him orally. Once he shows the ability to handle feeding he will be put on a list to piggyback him up to Grande Prairie. Meaning that if a plane comes down from GP with someone then he will piggy back with it instead of it returning empty. She gave us no timeline...it all depends on him and him gaining weight. He looks great though!

Also we got back all the tests and checks for other abnormalities and so far his back is fine, his heart is good, and his brain is good. I haven't seen the all clear for his kidneys but I know they did the test and no one has said anything so I can only assume it is all well. We are making a list of questions for the neonatologist for tomorrow morning. He has a twisted right foot that we need to have checked out so we are asking about it tomorrow morning. No one has said that it is anything severe so I haven't been too worried about it but I'm guessing that it hasn't been a huge priority given everything else.

So the long and short of it all is that he is looking good, in a little pain but otherwise on the mend. We just can't wait to take him home.

Randy and I had to leave the hostel residence at the U of A because it was on the wrong side of the city from the new hospital. We were at a loss of where to stay so I called my friend Mike and he was nice enough to let us stay with him until we can figure out other arrangements. There are family rooms here at the Royal Alex but we have to wait till Monday to find out if we can get in. It's all so frustrating. Anyhow we are comfortable with visitors now so if you are in the area give us a call so we can show off our handsome little guy!