In case you were wondering...

He's still going steady!
:)
I quickly learned that 48 hours of radio silence from the blog is totally unacceptable! I was heavily berated by friends and family, so we will try to do better. Hehe!

Max's ECMO flow was weaned back a bit today, making him start to take over a bit more of the work. Also, his sedative and pain killer were cut in half. He was wide awake tonight for good night kisses, and I just LOVE that. His poor little body is still really big and swollen. He's not that big of a baby otherwise, but the nurses were called him Michelin baby...poor guy. Oh! Right, Max is also on a steady drip of Lasix, which helps him lose some of those fluids. I haven't seen the effects yet, but we will over the next couple days.

He didn't really make leaps or bounds in the last two days, but because he held steady while they weaned everything, that's considered good progress! We will take any steps in the right direction, even little Max sized ones.

If Max keeps it up, Dr. Kays projected getting him off ECMO "early next week". I learned last week not to get too excited or "push it", so I am not hanging on that. However, if Max can get off by Mon-Wed, that'd be just wonderful. I feel realllly bad for him because the ECMO tubes stick out one side of his neck, and the vent is off of the other side, so he's sort of pinned looking in one direction. It's been a week, so he's GOT to be sick of looking at the baby next to him. ;) I just want to have him moved, ya know?

One of Max's nurses (he has two because he's so super sweet) helped me make a "mobile" for Max with a bunch of IV bag tags that are bright colors. He checked it out for a bit, so hopefully it helps give his little brain something to look at until we hit up Target for a real mobile!

So that's really everything for Max!

Our friends Lauren and Derek's baby, Jude, is kicking BOO-TAY. He was extubated early this week, and a couple days ago moved down to NI2! He was learning to breastfeed a bit today, but has been taking the bottle okay for a day now! WOW! He was a worst case scenario to start, and he is a MIRACLE. So, thanks to everyone who prayed for him too! I can't help but feel almost happy-jealous for them...we would be where they are right now too if things hadn't gone nuts. BUT, life happens, and I have Max with me still so I can't complain about a few more weeks of "vacation" (please sense that word dripping with sarcasm...).

I'm trying to get to sleep at a reasonable hour again these days, Jordan turned me into a night owl for a while there. Good night Max fans, thanks as always!!

Love!
Claire

PS, many gas stations here close around 10pm, so if needed, we discovered Sai's Kwik Stop near RMH. There you can find wall to wall kegs ready for the taking, an overpowering scent of incense and pitchuly (however the heck that's spelled), as well as a vast array of crack pipes ERRR, "tobacco products" for sale. Ya know, if you're ever in the market. hehehe good night.