Saturday... seeing progress

Saturday Ethan was already looking a lot better. He was a lot less bruised and he already got to have the ventilator removed and put on c-pap. The c-pap is a mask that helps him to breathe when he forgets to. This is also used on adults with sleep apnea. Mark was there to watch the process as they changed it so he could take a picture without anything on his face for a moment. While he was watching there was a girl there as a job shadow who ended up fainting while she was watching this. She was quite embarrassed but I have to say it made me (Leah) feel a little better since I wasn't the only one fainting! Well, speaking of fainting, I got to take my first shower on Saturday morning so Mark stood in the shower to help me. As I sat down in the shower so he could shave my legs I advised him that I thought I was going to faint. The next thing I know I was in the shower naked with 4 nurses and Mark trying to dry me off and put me in a wheelchair. Mark says I was out for a good minute. He had pulled the nurse cord in the shower right away to get some help. I can't tell you how many times Mark's knowledge as a CNA and some I think comes from the military has come in handy these last few days! I was fine once I got out of the shower... it just got a little too hot in there for me.

We are able to visit Ethan at anytime of the day. They have 6 care times a day though that we can actually touch him. They limit this so we don't over stimulate him... good thing too because I don't think we would leave his side to go to the bathroom! We would insist on some catheders! He is able to grab onto our fingers and suck on a tiny pacifier. They have been having us check his temperature and diaper any time that we are down there for the care times. He did lose 2 ounces today but that is mostly because he was very swollen yesterday so it is normal.

His diapers are soooo tiny!

Mark met the mother to the baby next to Ethan while he was visiting Ethan. His name is Steven and he is doing very well. He was born at about 28 weeks gestation and weighed about the same as Ethan. He has been in the NICU for about 8 weeks and he will be going home with his family this next week. It has been nice talking to her as it gives us hope for Ethan as well as comfort in talking to someone else that has been through the same thing. Here is a picture of the neighbor boy ;)

My Aunt Diane, Uncle Andy and cousin Drew (Syring) all arrived in Great Falls today too. They had plans to visit us for Easter as well but instead got to see their new nephew/cousin. Between them and my mom and Rudy Ethan got lots of Easter treats including stuffed animals, clothes, and some easter candy (for pictures ;). The Syrings (aka Sirloins to Mark ;) stayed at our house Saturday and Sunday night which helped out tremendously because they were able to stay with our four legged babies as we know they miss us when we are not there.

We went down for one of the night cares and again I wasn't feeling well. So Mark rolled me out of Ethan's room into the hallway as it is much cooler in the hallway. A nurse went to grab a water and a towel but I was already throwing up in a garbage can. Yep... that's me! The nurses had already been talking about my fainting episode from the night before and I just add on to it! Just praying for strength to get better soon so I don't have these issues when I visit our little guy.