Critical but stable...

We really don't enjoy the 3 AM phone calls from the hospital. On Saturday it was for Christopher. His condition - critical but stable. OK, roller coaster time.

We went to bed after Friday night's phone call to the NICU thinking all was well with the boys. We are fortunate one of Kyle's primaries who knows the boys very well was watching him that night and noticed about 2 AM that he had become lethargic and his skin was pale and mottled. She informed the doctors and they started him with wide spectrum antibiotics and called for a blood work up. His white blood cell count was very low so platelets were ordered. His CO2 was far too high, his lungs were hazy and he stopped breathing for himself so he was moved off the biphasic CPAP and placed back on the jet oscillator. No more mother's milk for Christopher either as he was back on TPN (intravenous feeding). Sunday's preliminary results from the blood culture indicated he had a gram negative blood infection which was the most disturbing news as that was what had taken Jake from us. So back on two different antibiotics to focus on this infection and he was taken off the penicillin G which he had almost finished for his gram positive infection from three weeks earlier. As of Sunday he looked much better as we visited with Adam and he even opened his eyes once as Mommy was talking to him. He is still very lethargic and pale and last night more platelets and plasma were ordered for him. But it seems like he is out of the woods at this time. Thank goodness for the sharp eyes of their guardian angels!
As a result of his two infections in the past three weeks poor Christopher has not gained as much weight as Kyle. In fact, Kyle is about 1750 g so he might be moved to an open crib sometime this week! No more isolette and Mommy will get to use his preemie clothes. Once he is breathing by himself he can be moved to the level 2 nursery and soon after that either to Newmarket hospital or even home (6 - 8 weeks???). However, both the staff and his parents are watching him closely for any symptoms of infection because our little boys seem to imitate each other.
Score:
Christopher - 3 infections, 4 blood transfusions, bottom of roller coaster
Kyle - 1 infection, 2 blood transfusions, top of roller coaster

Pictures to follow...