Preston is FINALLY home!!!

Sweet Preston is FINALLY home! He was released from the NICU Thursday March 17th...maybe he has a little Irish in him! I know Meredith, Ken, and Pierce thank each and everyone of you for thinking of them.

Rooming in...FINALLY...what we've been waiting for!

Meredith had to be at the hospital last night by 6pm to begin the "rooming in" process in order to take Preston home. She was SOOO excited she could not find enough things to do in order to keep her occupied. Meredith did not get much sleep but she's not complaining! Preston grunts and stretches as he sleeps.

The picture above is Ken feeding Preston while they anticipate going home.

KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED!!!

This is the day we have ALL been waiting for!

Coming home soon!

If all goes well, Preston will be coming home next week. He is doing great! He will have an MRI of his brain in the morning and Meredith will hopefully be "rooming in" next week. This is WONDERFUL news!

Doing Good!

Sweet Preston is doing good. He is now eating from a bottle 2 consecutive feedings and then he takes a break (Meredith fed him a bottle at noon and 3pm but he took a break and let the tube do the work for the 6pm feeding but he picked back up at 9pm). If he keeps this up he will hopefully be on his way home soon. Keep your fingers crossed!

The "sideline" hold

The OT taught Meredith a new feeding position and Preston is doing MUCH better when he is eating. She taught her the "sideline" position which allows him to relax. Preston, keep up the good work...we are ready for you to come home!

Pretty good job today!

So much pressure...

Meredith and I went to the hospital a little before noon to get ready for his feeding. When we arrived, Grandpa and Kim were there visiting. The sweet little fellow was enjoying their company. Right around 12:03 Meredith began feeding Preston. A little after 12:30 she stopped and she would tell you herself...it was not the best feeding they have had. During those 30 minutes there were MANY ups and downs.

Preston has been in the NICU for ALMOST 2 months...this has been a VERY LONG 2 months but please continue to pray and remember the entire Bishop Family.

Sunday's update

Preston has been on room air since 9:45am and he is doing good. He drank 31ccs out of 38ccs from a bottle. Only changes...the doctor has requested them increase his feedings to 40ccs with a chest xray Monday morning and some lab work.

He's doing good...yay!!!

Sort of like a roller coaster...

Well since Tuesday, Preston has had his ups and his downs.

On Tuesday the doctor said that Preston could have chronic lung disease which would cause him to have to go home with oxygen. This is not a great possibility, but it is a possibility. If he did have to have oxygen at home, it would eventually be weaned.

Back in Room 3...and loving it! The Room 3 nurses talk to Meredith and Ken and put their mind at ease about everything going on with Preston.

Thursday morning...Ken spoke with the nurse practitioner and his chest xray shows that his lungs are clearer than they were yesterday. This means the diuretics are helping clear the excess fluid. They are about to perform an xray to see if the hole in his heart is getting smaller.

Thursday afternoon...Meredith breastfed Preston for the first time, he latched on and did great!

Friday morning...his heart echo has stayed the same. It hasn't opened up anymore but it hasn't closed yet either. His lungs are clearer and he is eating good.

Friday afternoon...Preston latched on but he just wasn't interested. He then took 33ccs from a bottle and 5ccs down the gtube. The nurses and doctors are hovering but that's a good thing...Meredith and Ken WANT TO KNOW whats going on every minute of every day!
Dr. Bonner also spoke with Meredith again today and Preston's lungs look much clearer. They are now thinking he needed the oxygen all along because of mild aspiration and acid reflux. He latched on again at noon but he just wasn't interested so Meredith gave him a bottle and he drank all but 5ccs. (FYI...Preston has to work much harder sucking while breastfeeding than he does bottle feeding...so of course he is going to prefer the easier route) Rice will be added to his feedings and they will prop him up higher in the bassinet.

Turns out voicing their concerns and requesting Room 3 has really made the hospital staff step up to the plate and look into Preston's situation.

Back to room 3...thank goodness!

Turns out Meredith and Ken have not been happy with the nursing staff in room 4 so as of 7pm tonight Preston will be moving back to room 3...yippee! The nurses in room 4 just don't do as good a job taking care of sweet Preston as the nurses in room 3. This move will help Meredith and Ken relax a little these last couple of weeks.

Preston is now in a bassinet instead of an isolate...Yay! He is also drinking 3 bottles a day. One at noon, 9pm, and 3am. His nasal passage was drying out a little so they have added water to his oxygen mixture to help moisten things up.