Connor's NICU Timeline

While Connor was in the NICU, I kept a running status list of his current developments listed on our blog, in the sidebar.  The brief status updates served those who were checking in on our blog, more often than I had time to update.  Reading through it now, it's a synopsis or a timeline of his eventful 120-day stay in the NICU.  This is that list (in reverse order):

• 04/14/09 Sodium starts at 147, ends at 146. After a 120 day stay, CONNOR COMES HOME!
• 04/13/09 IV fluids stopped. PICC Line #3 pulled. Suture sticks removed by surgeon. Continued weight gain.
• 04/12/09 First Easter. 8lbs, 6oz / 19.88" Still on IV fluids. Discharge Monday night or Tuesday.
• 04/11/09 Gains another 3 oz. Still on IV fluids. Discharge hopefully on Monday.
• 04/10/09 Starts IV fluids, sodium & potassium levels begin to stabilize. Gains 3 oz back. Discharge hopefully Easter Sunday or Monday.
• 04/09/09 Connor loses nearly 7 oz. Discharge for Good Friday CANCELLED. Completely dehydrated. Switched from 24-cal formula, back to 22-cal.
• 04/08/09 MRI. Mommy & Daddy sleep-over.
• 04/07/09 Photo shoot with Harriet
• 04/06/09 Antibiotics all done!
• 04/04/09 Nurse says he's home WITHIN THE WEEK... by Good Friday!!!!!
• 04/04/09 Feedings are all PO Ad Lib. IV nutrition stopped - PICC line now hep-blocked. 8 lbs, 8 oz.
• 04/03/09 Nurse says he could be home in 2 weeks... 2 WEEKS!
• 04/03/09 So far so good... nasal cannula gone, nearly all feeds today PO, up to 70 ml per feed. IV nutrition modified to wean.
• 04/01/09 Over 4000 grams! 8 lbs, 13 oz. Up to 60ml per feed and occasionally takes entire feed by mouth.
• 03/31/09 No cannula for 17 hours. Up to 50ml per feed.
• 03/30/09 8 lbs, 8 oz. / 19.7"
• 03/29/09 Up to 30ml per feed. Moving back to the step-down side tonight!
• 03/28/09 Third day of negative cultures! PICC line #3 good to go after 3 attempts over 6 hours.
• 03/27/09 Off CPAP, back on nasal cannula. Feeds restarted today. PICC line #3 insertion FAIL.
• 03/27/09 Second day of negative cultures... so far so good!!
• 03/26/09 First day of negative cultures... 1 more to go!
• 03/26/09 They're calling it sepsis...
• 03/26/09 Connor put on CPAP machine, blood gases a little off, this is to help with the bradys/desats. Completely NPO.
• 03/25/09 Bacteria found in blood & urine, PICC line pulled, lots of bradys/desats
• 03/24/09 Connor develops major infection - gram negative rods in bloodstream
• 03/23/09 Discharge plans begin!
• 03/20/09 Bottle feeding EVERY feed, 50% PO / 50% NG
• 03/19/09 VCUG shows no reflux
• 03/17/09 Connor moves to the step-down NICU!
• 03/16/09 7 lbs, 13 oz / 19"
• 03/16/09 Bottle feeding 3x/day, 45 ml/feed
• 03/12/09 Bottle feeding begins again - 2x/day
• 03/11/09 Newspaper photo shoot & video swallow study (inconclusive)
• 03/10/09 Officially over 7 lbs!
• 03/07/09 Bottle feeding stopped - all feeds by NG tube
• 03/06/09 Desatting issues - back on nasal cannula
• 03/03/09 1st time feeding from a bottle EVER, 1st time w/ breastmilk since Christmas
• 03/02/09 2nd attempt at feedings
• 03/01/09 6 lbs, 1.5 oz / 18.9"
• 02/28/09 Off the nasal cannula and breathing 100% on his own!
• 02/27/09 ROP officially regressing
• 02/26/09 Extubated and in a swing!
• 02/24/09 1st attempt at feedings - unsuccessful
• 02/23/09 5 lbs, 6 oz / 18.75"
• 02/22/09 Surgery #3 - Laser Eye Treatment for ROP
• 02/21/09 He POOPED!
• 02/16/09 Surgery #2 - Remove ostomies and reconnect intestines
• 02/13/09 Eye Exam - ROP, Stage 3/Zone 2 with early Plus disease in both eyes
• 02/11/09 Cranial Ultrasound - IVH much improved! L - nonexistent, R - negligible
• 02/09/09 Postponed - Surgery #2 to reattach intestines, due to possible infection brewing
• 02/04/09 Connor is officially over 4 pounds! (4 lbs, 2oz)
• 01/30/09 Connor graduates to an open crib!
• 01/23/09 Wound Vac removed! Mommy gives Connor his 1st bath since birth
• 01/16/09 1 MONTH OLD
• 01/14/09 Eye Exam - ROP, Stage 2/Zone 2 in both eyes
• 01/13/09 Connor switches from the ventilator to the nasal cannula
• 01/09/09 Connor develops major UTI w/ E Coli in blood - gram negative rods found
• 01/06/09 Wound Vac installed due to incision deteriorating to open wound
• 12/31/08 Surgery #1 - 20 cm of intestines removed due to NEC, given 2 ostomies
• 12/26/08 Connor develops NEC, put on ventilator
• 12/22/08 Connor rolls over in front of Daddy & Grandma R.
• 12/21/08 Cranial Ultrasound, IVH discovered - R Level III, L Level I
• 12/20/08 Mommy holds Connor for 1st time
• 12/19/08 Mommy able to see Connor for 1st time since birth
• 12/17/08 Daddy holds Connor for 1st time
• 12/16/08 Connor born at 9:43pm, 13.75", 2 lbs 6 oz