One step backwards.

We have been getting spoiled with all of these good days in a row. Yesterday, we were knocked down a notch. Jordan had a bad day. Not super bad, but the worst this month by far. He has congestion – but not fluid - in his lungs. It’s isn’t pneumonia, and in fact he absolutely has no infection as of last night. They think it may be a side effect of his PDA, but he is still too small to close it. They’re not entirely sure what is causing it, but it’s making it hard for him to process oxygen. They have increased the pressure on the CPAP and he has had a bunch of desats. Yesterday, they told us that if he keeps having the trouble, they will put him back on the vent. However, that is actually good news. Technically, he has always defied every doctor’s prediction. They made this prediction about 20 hours ago and he has stabilized since then. He hasn’t gotten better, but he hasn’t gotten worse. He might just be getting tired from all of the exertion lately. He has been breathing better than anyone could expect at 29 weeks gestation with a PDA. While this is very good for lung development, it burns many calories and he has to try harder than you and me to breathe. I expect to hear from the doctor at some point today if they have to put him back on the vent.
When the parents call the NICU, we are allowed to speak with his nurse practically anytime day or night, as long as they aren’t in the middle of giving a treatment. About once per week, we are asked to spell our name because 4 beds away lies baby 'R' with a similar name to us. We’re friends with the parents, and usually spend a few minutes chatting every time we meet. Their baby was born a few days after Jordan, and was about the same gestational age. Their baby hasn’t done as well as Jordan though. She’s never been off the vent yet, and yesterday she had a very bad day. The type of bad day where they call mom in to sit next to the baby for a while. It is scary that a baby that has been in the NICU so long is still so close to not making it.