Monday, May 30

Well, Collin is now taking 9 mL an hour. He is in the 4th pod, which is the quietest wing. He is getting so big and so cute! He is also very alert and loves to watch his mobile. His parents haven't heard anything new about their transfer to Omaha, but we are hopeful the paperwork will go through soon.

Friday, April 27

Apologies for not updating the blog more often, I know many of you are anxious for any piece of news. Collin does GREAT with his feedings, he drains his bottles in no time flat. He is receiving 8 mL of feeds an hour now (but translated into 16 mL via bottle every two hours). The surgeon has decided to decrease the amount of breast milk and supplement it with a predigested formula. The reasoning is the predigested formula goes through the system slower (it's harder for the body to digest) so he will not have so many bowel movements and it will help him retain the wonderful nutrients in his mother's milk.

He is now wearing cast number three (cast number two is being saved for posterity!) and you can really see a difference when the casts first come off. The foot looks really straight and "normal", after awhile it slowly relaxes back into the "club" position. We're hopeful that the cast therapy will be all that he needs to correct the foot.

Dad's pcs to Omaha is in the works. Mom and dad are currently waiting for one piece of paperwork to be finished (hopefully today) so they can fax/email the entire EFMP package to Randall AFB for consideration. Once Dad gets the ok, UNMC can register Collin within 24 hours. We are praying for this to happen quickly as the waiting gets to be draining, emotionally. Once Collin arrives in Omaha, he will be evaluated for two weeks and then the medical team will present their care plan to his parents. Dad went back to work yesterday, (he works three days on and then has three days off) so they have had another transition to go through.

Today the NICU was bustling with activity; as one Physician's Assistant quipped, "When it rains, it pours!" Collin's nurse approached to apologize for not being around to "help out" then said, "It's so great to have him mom here, she is so capable and has his cares under control." It really is amazing; not only is she doing the feeding and diaper changes, but cleaning out his mic-key tube, taking his temperature every hour and all of the cares the nurses do. The one thing I haven't seen her do is updates on the computer system, but I am sure she would do a great job at that, as well.

I will update with pictures, soon. You will be amazed at how much he grows every day!

Tuesday, April 24

Breaking news! The doctors have decided to halt Collin's feeds for two hours today in order to FEED HIM THE BREASTMILK WITH A BOTTLE!! WOOO HOOO! This is wonderful because up until now the physicians have been concerned with oral feeds (being able to control how much he gets and how quickly, etc.) If this goes well, hopefully they can begin to give him food orally in addition to enteral (directly into the tube in his stomach.)

Good news! Collin's breastmilk was increased to 7 mL an hour yesterday! With every increase (no matter how small), the percentage of breastmilk to TPN changes in Collin's favor. We are so pleased that Collin's Mommy is able to provide the healing, nurturing and life sustaining nutrients to keep him growing!

Also, Collin weighed in (not counting the cast!) at 7 lbs 1.9 oz! At this rate, we are pretty sure he's the biggest baby in the NICU right now.

His mom and dad are still working dilligently to get him accepted at UNMC and dad's pcs to Omaha. Our family in Omaha is thrilled and excited to get the opportunity to meet precious Baby Collin and his dad. They haven't lived in the same city with Collin's mom since she was a newborn herself! Lots of adventures in Omaha await the trio and their extended family. Great Grandparents N are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary and Collin's uncle M will be graduating at the end of June...we pray that Collin and his folks are in Nebraska to celebrate these milestones with all of us.

Sunday, April 22

Today is Collin's due date! lol Because he is so much like his mom in so many ways, we figure that his coming early was just him being impatient.

Collin has a new apparatus! It is called a "Mic-Key Button" (or sometimes a "gastronomy button") and it is used instead of the gastronomy tube (or g-tube) that Collin had previously. It works like a nipple on a beach ball where you can close the lid and then push it down below the surface of the ball; in Collin's case, the "mic-key button" can sit at his skin level which will eventually allow him to crawl and lay on his stomach. It is easier to clean and more convenient for mom and dad, as well. Placing it did not take a surgery or any special procedure, the doctor merely pulled out the g-tube and inserted the "mic-key button".

Now that he is 6 weeks, two days old, Collin has longer periods of activity and longer periods of sleep. (Last night he slept for 5 hours straight; if you have been a parent of a newborn, you recognize that's a LONG time!) He continues to assert his personality and vocalize his pleasure or displeasure. He is definitely a well-loved baby and one of the favorites in the NICU.

Thank you all for continuing to read, pray and send love to Collin and his family!

Friday, April 20

Not much news to report; Collin is doing well on 6mL an hour (which is the equivalent of a teaspoon). The percentage of breast milk to TPN is about 40/60 right now. We need that to continue in a positive direction.

Things seem to be moving along with the transfer to Omaha. We will write again as soon as we know anything new.

Wednesday, April 18

*Collin's FIRST Bath*
(Tuesday, April 17)

Tuesday, April 17

Update: Collin got his FIRST bath tonight! Unfortunately because of the broviac catheter and his #2 cast they couldn't stick him in the spa bath...he got a sponge bath instead. (We asked if he "LOVED IT"; apparently not so much! lol) Although mom said he was very relaxed afterwards. Life is good!

The gift of YOUR prayers and good wishes have kept this family (Collin and his parents as well as the large extended family) safe and protected like a soft, security blanket made up of every kind thought, caring gesture, heartfelt prayer or encouraging word you offer. We are grateful for these gifts and so would like to share with you some photos of some "cherished security blankets" that keep our Baby Collin snug and warm.

The first two were made for Collin's mommy when she was a newborn, twenty-something years ago!

The first one shown was made by our treasured friend, Tammy P, who has known Grandpa N since he was a freshman in high school.

The second was made for Collin's mommy by her paternal grandma, Great Granny N.

Great Granny N. made the third blanket for her first great grandchild, Collin.

The last blanket shown was made for Baby Collin by his dad's Auntie Pat.

Made by different hands, at different points in time, with different materials and decorations; each of these was made with love and intended to provide comfort to their recipient. Thank you all for your beautiful gifts, we cherish them and you!


**Collin now weighs 6 lbs 13.8 oz. Recent blood tests came back that showed a small amount of damage to Collin's liver so the doctors are going to cycle his TPN in such a way that he'll be off it for 4 hours each day. In addition, they are giving him some medicines that will help protect his liver from further damage. This is something we have been expecting, yet it is still a little alarming. Thankfully the doctors are being proactive as far as giving his liver a break. In answer to several email questions, Collin and his parents will probably be going to Omaha in about a month, give or take a week. We'll write more on that later!**