7 Months Old!

Corgan is now 7 months old!!! He is wearing some new born clothes now!!!!  But also some preemie clothes still too... He is still wearing newborn nappies...he eats everything allowed in Stage 1...he loves being in his baby sling...he is still  a bit too small for his baby carrier...

Happy Chappy

Corgan is now full of laughs and smiles :) He is such a happy friendly baby...

Final Synagis

We took Corgan for his fourth and final Synagis injection at Parklands – Sindi gave it to him…

Home For 3 Months!

Corgan has been home for three months now...we decided to take him on his first non - medical outing...we took him to the beach...a very special place for Shane and I...we got engaged and married on a beach :) 

Vaccination...

Doctor Egner said Corgan could go for his next "normal baby" vaccination when he weighs about 3kg...we estimated he should be there by now so we took him to the Stork's nest at Parklands...he weigh 3,4kg with his nappy on (Dr Egner takes it off when he weighs Corgan)...His temperature went to 38.3 during the night...he was miserable...

Apple

Corgan ate apple for the first time today...loved it!

6 Months!

Wow! Corgan is six months old now!!! He is still mainly wearing premature baby clothing!! And he's wearing Pampers New Baby nappies now...

Easter

Corgan's first Easter...He ate carrot for the first time today...he eats about 100ml per meal...carrot seems to be his least favourite so far...but he ate it all!

Sweet Potato

Corgan had sweet potato for the first time today, he enjoyed it...he loves food :)

Butternut!

Corgan ate butternut for the first time today and he absolutely loved it!

Home For 2 Months

Corgan has been home for two months now...no problems at all...none of his apnea monitors have gone off nor any other issues...

Third Synagis

We took Corgan to Parklands to have his third Synagis injection – we took him up to the NICU and Silindile injected him and he visited everyone there…

Bumbo!

This morning's rice cereal feeding went even better than last night! Corgan didn't mess one drop!! He was taking most of the spoon into his mouth....Corgan sat in his bumbo for the first time and he absolutely loved it!! I have to put a small pillow under his bum because he is too small :)

Third Check Up

We went to Dr Egner for Corgan's check up...he was happy with everything...Corgan weighs 2,7kg and is now 48cm long...Dr Egner said we could start giving Corgan Rice cereal from today...one spoon in the morning and one in the evening...he said that Corgan probably won't actually eat much on the first few tries...he told us that once Corgan gets used to it we can increase to two spoons, then three etc and add an afternoon feed as well...in two to three weeks we can start Corgan on butternut and sweet potato...we got a script for the next Synagis injection...after that we went to Parklands to order the Synagis...we also got more Polycose, D drops and D-germ spray...we are quite strict with that too - when my mother etc visit Corgan they have to wash and spray their hands with D-germ...We visited the NICU...we saw Rachael, Yashika, Charlene, Thanda, Sister Makhaya and Nokuthula who just happened to be on that shift...we also saw Jane from Labour ward and Jane from Management...Everyone is always happy to see our little miracle baby...He ate his first rice cereal feed this evening and he ate like a little pro!  Hardly made any mess :) He loved it!

5 Months!

I can't believe Corgan is five months old already!  But on the other hand it feels like he has always been here...

Extreme Prem

According to staff members Corgan is actually Parklands Hospital's smallest surviving “extreme prem”!!

Home For A Month

Corgan has been at home for one month now!!! It has been an awesome month...it feels like he has always just been here with us :) It was suggested to us to keep Corgan away from crowded places etc for at least three months...we have been quite strict with it...we only go to doctors appointments and we only allow close family to visit him - no friends have even met him...

Second Synagis

We took Corgan to Parklands to get his second Synagis injection…we had to open a file and take him to casualty…the staff in casualty called Shanita from NICU to come and give the injection…Corgan was such a strong boy…he only cried a little bit…We saw Dr Roos while we were in the hospital pharmacy…he said Corgan has grown so much since he last saw him...

Caffeine Free

Corgan had the last of his caffeine today...I feel a bit nervous...

Hearing test and 2nd Check up

Corgan had his follow up hearing test at St Augustine’s hospital this morning...he passed this time, he has to go for a follow up in 6 months time because they are concerned because of certain medications used when he was born as they can cause hearing loss and so can blood transfusions…He also had another appointment with Dr Egner...The patient before us was a little girl that was also born at 26 weeks and weighed 580g….she will be two years old next month…we discovered that Corgan is Dr Egner’s smallest surviving patient...Corgan’s weight is now 2,25kg. Dr Egner was happy with everything…he gave a script for some stuff called Polycose to add to the breast milk for extra calories, we also got a script for the next Synagis injection, we have to order it…we went to Parklands and visited the NICU – and all the other hospital staff along the way – Silindile, Sindi, Vanessa, Shanita and Welile were on duty…We handed in the scripts…all should be ready on Tuesday…while in the hospital pharmacy a nurse from maternity ward came to say hello...she mentioned that she heard we had a panic attack and took Corgan back to the hospital...I told her the real version of the story...annoyed...Corgan was fast asleep when we got home…

Lifted

Corgan spent time on his Tummy Time pillow and he lifted his head up for a long time – longer than usual…

Roll Over!

Corgan rolled from his tummy onto his back today!

4 months old!

I cannot believe that Corgan is 4 months old today!!  He is here...He is alive...He is healthy...I am just in awe of how amazing he is...he is such a good baby too...

Best Foot Forward

Corgan was in the paper again today :)

1st Check Up

Corgan has been home for one week today!!  We took him for a check up with Dr Egner...he now weighs 2,12kg...Dr Egner is happy with everything...

Home Alone

Today was my first day home alone with Corgan...I was very nervous at first but started to feel more relaxed as the day went on...

Corgan's Blog

Check out Corgan's Blog - http://corganlayden.blogspot.com/

It's Time To Go...

Dr Egner said Corgan could go home today… We had to wait for Corgan's caffeine to take home with us to be prepared...Shanita showed us some CPR..we left the hospital at about 13h00… Corgan was fine the whole way home, I held him in my arms  because is is way too small for the car seat...he was good for the rest of the day and night...my mom came to see Corgan and hold him for the first time...so did Shane's dad...we were all happy...

At Home 

Great Day!

Dr Egner decided to keep here Corgan today...he said if he has a good day and a good night, maybe tomorrow he can go home! He had a very good day!

Muck!

Corgan is still snotty today...but much better...Dr Egner said he might be able to go home tomorrow...Corgan had physio again...a lot of muck came out again...

Front Page!

Corgan was no longer on oxygen when we arrived this morning. Corgan's story was on the front page of The Mercury! When I went down to the toilet all the security and other staff pointed at the news stand...when I looked up at it there were just rows and rows of my baby's photo :) He weighed 1.920kg this morning. Dr Egner said he could have one breast and one bottle during today and he could go back into a crib. He also had physiotherapy again and his chest was very congested and had a lot of thick stuff in it... Corgan's story was mentioned on SABC 3 this morning during the newspaper highlights part. Neville Pillay mentioned Corgan's story a number of times during his show on East Coast Radio and he mentioned Corgan on his blog... In the evening Corgan was doing much better although he was battling to breathe through his blocked nose - Nokuthula suctioned him which helped. I had picked up a cold as well and was not feeling well...Shane bottle fed Corgan - I didn't want to get too close to him...We found out that Billy Corgan had tweeted "Sending Love to the Layden's" on twitter...awesome...

No Go...

We were very excited this morning...we've seen a lot of other, bigger babies getting discharged and the mothers all seemed nervous...they seemed to look for reason to delay the discharge...Not me! I could not wait to get home with my baby!!  I was so super stoked and confident...Corgan had his ears tested by an audiologist at about 11am...She was unable to pass him because the test proved inconclusive so the test will need to be repeated when he goes for his check-up with Dr Egner...Corgan acted a bit strangely during his 12 o'clock feed. He never wanted to suck when I tried to breast feed him - for the first time ever - and then he seemed to struggle through the bottle...he seemed disinterested in his feed...He seemed to be a little weak and kept turning pale (more pale than usual). He seemed to almost stop breathing a few times and then even battled to keep his eyelids open...His arms even went limp a few times...We were a little concerned, but then he recovered...we thought it was maybe just a wind...or maybe we were imagining it... When we put him back in his crib the apnoea monitor didn't alarm at all so we put our concern to rest. We were asked to wait for Bronwyn, a newspaper reporter, to come interview us and take some pictures for the Mercury Newspaper...Corgan still seemed to have a bit of a problem with a wind or something, but he was okay. The reporter arrived and interviewed us and the cameraman took photos. Afterwards we filled in the discharge documentation and then we said our goodbyes and then Bukeka helped me take Corgan downstairs saying goodbye to all the staff we met along the way. We left the hospital feeling very excited and happy. A few minutes later Corgan seemed to be struggling a bit again...I burped him and he seemed okay.... We continued along our way and then a few minutes later he began battling to breathe and began losing strength and turned pale...his body went completely limp a few times...he didn't improved despite attempts to wind him...now convinced it was not just a wind I tried blowing in his face and flicking under his foot...all the things you are told to do...he would pick up, then fade again..he became so weak that he couldn't keep his eyes open and his arms went completely limp, his body pale as a piece of white paper... We pulled over just after turning down into Clark Road and we checked him...he was getting worse with no sign of improvement...nothing seemed to help him...We decided that we needed to take him to the hospital right away...We logically took him to St Augustine's which was literally a few seconds drive further and where Dr Egner has his rooms...I had no idea where his rooms were though...I debated taking Corgan to Dr Mannikam's rooms as it was right near where we were and I had been there a few days ago...I remembered that the other day Welile had mentioned Dr Egner's rooms are through the door, up the stairs to the left, I didn't even have Dr Egner's number - all I had was the emergency after hours number which was answered by someone sounding very annoyed that I had called during business hours...I just got out of the car and started running, Shane got out too - the security at St Augustine's is the same company as at Parklands but a completely different breed of person!!!  At Parklands the security are human, they have emotion - not at St Augustine's, they are like freaking programmed robots...they said we could not park where we did (surely they could see the panic in our faces?  the deadish looking baby in my arms?) Shane told them we have an emergency, they said we could not park there, Shane said our baby is not breathing, they said we could not park there...Shane never swears, he ended up swearing at the woman...I mean seriously, what a moron...Shane had to park the car elsewhere while I rushed in... I had know idea whether or not Dr Egner would be in his rooms now or not...Thank goodness as I walked through the door he had just come out with a patient and greeting his next patient...He seemed to also get a fright and rushed him into his room and checked him...Corgan regained some colour and began breathing, but Dr Egner was not happy with what he saw and told me we must return him to Parklands immediately because he is cancelling the discharge...He told me to make Corgan cry  by flicking his foot all the way back to Parklands... Shane in the meanwhile had parked about half a km along the road and had tried to find me and Corgan at the NICU and the Pediatric wards on the other side of the building...he had no idea where Dr Egner's rooms were...I had left my bag and phone etc in the car...I couldn't find him...I asked the same security cow if she saw where Shane had gone, she basically ignored me and made some grunting sound...I went back to Dr Egner's rooms and asked to use the phone...we drove back to Parklands in the frustrating after-school traffic...I tried to keep Corgan crying. His cries so weak and heart breaking...he could hardly continue half the time because he was so tired...I cried with him...At Parklands, security could see something was wrong and showed Shane a nearby parking while I rushed Corgan back up to the NICU at parklands...his SpO2 was checked and was about 60%...bad...he was put back on oxygen... Dr Shaik happened to be in the NICU at the time and tended to Corgan...he gave him a dose of caffeine too...Corgan had many episodes of apnea in the first ten minutes that he was back, one after the other...The caffeine dose first quietened him down almost into a deep sleep before giving him a boost of energy that helped keep him very wide awake for quite some time. He sneezed quite a lot and had a wheezy chest.  Dr Shaik suggested maybe Corgan had picked up a cold...The apneas subsided and he gradually picked up and then was gradually weaned from the initial oxygen blend of about 50% and a flow rate of about 2...What a long and disappointing day...Later in the evening I was upset because a staff member said that we just got scared...she said maybe we panicked...Well FYI I'd rather have a living baby back in NICU than one that's dead by the time he gets home...so angry...

Going Home Party

Corgan's weight is 1,87kg!!! We took snacks for the nurses on duty today...they're having a going home party for Corgan :) They all had a good day, so did Corgan...he got his first Synagis injection today as well as the usual one babies get when they are born...We had a good evening with Corgan...

Almost Time!

We bumped into Dr Egner as we arrived at the hospital in the morning. He told us that Corgan can come home on Monday. Corgan's weight is 1,84kg today. Welile bathed Corgan while I was there, it was the first time I've seen him be bathed...Its almost time to take our baby home!!!

First Car Ride

Corgan's weight dropped a bit to 1.8kg...Dr Egner said he can go home next week!!! We took Corgan, with Welile, to St Augustine's for a heart scan by Dr Mannikim... Corgan's heart is healthy...He seemed to enjoy his first car trip...he slept the whole way back to Parklands Hospital...In the evening, Corgan was sleeping peacefully when we got back to the hospital...He had a good day...

Full Feeds

Corgan is 100 days old today...he weighs 1,82kg! He had a really good issue free night....Dr Egner said he can have full45ml feeds from breast or bottle...he drank so well with no desats...he is back in his open crib...the rules were bent again for us and my sister, Olivia, got to finally meet Corgan... 

Post Op

Corgan's eyes were still closed when we arrived this morning, he was still unsettled and Gervais said he had a tough night with him desatting a lot... He opened his eyes while Gervais was winding him during a feed, he looked at me with such sorrowful eyes...it broke my heart...I had to go out of the NICU...I had a good cry in the bathroom...Dr Egner took blood to check whether Corgan needed another blood transfusion or not... He was borderline so Dr Egner decided he didn't need one... Corgan's feed was changed to 20ml and his oxygen vlow decreased to just 1... He began desatting less and less... By the time I left at quiet time, Corgan's SpO2 was mainly between 98 and 100... Silindile looked after him today...she smsed me at about 14h20 to say that he was doing fine and the SATs were still between 98 and 100 and he only desatted once to about 82% - which is not a big deal...She smsed again at about 17h35 to say that at 15h50 the oxygen was removed and his SATs were on 99%!! When we got to the hospital this evening, Corgan was sleeping very peacefully...Gervais took over and Corgan was still asleep when we came back in after supper during changeover...

Hernia Repair

Corgan's weight is 1,690kg this morning. Dr Shaik came to see Corgan this morning and said if I wanted he could try do the operation sometime today otherwise only maybe next week because of his schedule..Corgan had his hernia repair operation at about 15h30. I went with him into theatre and held him while they gave him oxygen to make him sleepy...Janet was with him during the operation...it took about an hour...when he was back in the NICU he was not breathing...he was put on a ventilator....he pulled the tube out after a few minutes...he was then put on nasal prongs at 40% and the flow was at 2lt per hour....he desatted quite badly...a lot...It was hectic...chaotic...I felt like we had made a mistake...maybe we should have waited until next week when he would have been a bit bigger...I felt so worried about him...he didn't really even open his eyes the whole night...we only left the hospital at about 22h30...

Little Piggy

Corgan was excellent when we arrived. He weighs 1.675 kg...Dr Egner made no changes...Corgan had another chest x-ray...The radiology department reported that the NG tube was fine despite there having been no such tube in Corgan for a while now...The x-rays and reports were redone correctly...Corgan has been throwing tantrums wanting food earlier than scheduled...

1,66 kg

Corgan's weight is 1,66kg now. His feed was increased to 42ml...

Due Date

Today is Corgan's original due date...he had a good day today...Dr Egner said that the finishing line is in sight...Corgan weighed 1.630kg... He had bottle feeds the entire day and did fine through all of them as he was given good rest breaks go catch his breath between gulping...Corgan was fine this evening too...when we got back to the hospital we caught Zanele by surprise as she was bottle feeding Corgan with the monitoring equipment on Standby mode...the ones I am obsessed with!! But I did not mind because Welile has often done this during the day and Corgan fed very well from the bottle...there seems to be less issues as well if the person feeding him watches him instead of panicking when the machines beep...I have even been feeding him away from the monitors :) Getting brave :)

See, I know what I'm talking about!!

When we arrived this morning the night nurse said the burping thing worked well in the night as she did not see his SpO2 drop below 90... Today's weight is 1,62kg! Dr Egner knew about yesterday's drama and was thinking about sticking with tube feeds today...I told him about the winding issue...he said to try all breast/bottle feeds again today. I breast fed with no issues. All the bottles went well too...I gave him a bottle during our night visit...no issues...

Listen to me!

Corgan is three months old today...Dr Egner said Corgan could alternate between bottle and breast feeds from now on with no tube feeds in between... Corgan weighs 1.590 kg. He had an eye test and his eyes are healthy. Silindile was looking after Corgan today and she had to leave the ward midway through the test as she began crying as she assisted Dr Blignaut and watched the test take place...Vanessa took over from her... All his feeds went well this morning...When we arrived back at the hospital in the evening things had changed...Corgan was desatting continuously and even needed to Neopuffed and had a bit of oxygen blowing near his face... Dr Egner was called and he said the feed tube should be reinserted and only feed tubes to be taken for the rest of the night... We were not happy....he looked pale and weak...his body was quite limp...when I picked Corgan up, he burped right away which is exactly what we suspected - he needed to be burped more!! I burped him for quite a while and his SpO2 stayed between 90 and 100 for the rest of the night...Shane explained clearly to the night nurse that Corgan needs to be burped after every feed, including tube feeds, even if his tongue is down...Surely we would know...I do a lot of his feeds, I spend many more hours with my baby every day than any nurse does...its so frustrating...

Ready!

Corgan weighs 1,580kg today...10g less...his eye appointment with the opthalmologist has been changed to tomorrow... Silindile looked after Corgan for the first time in over a month...I'm starting to feel excited about taking our baby home now!  I am so comfortable with him...I do his "cares" and all nappy changes and feeds when I am there...I am ready!  

Hint Hint

Today's weight is 1,59kg...Dr Egner hinted Corgan may come home in the next week or so...Shanita said the bottle feed went well today, he finished in 20 minutes...

Unimpressed!

Corgan's weight is now 1,57kg. Dr Egner said Corgan must get breast/bottle alternating with tube feeds. A student nurse looked after Corgan today. She did not give him a bottle feed at all as he desatted and she got scared. She was giving him a tube feed when we got back this evening... We told her he needs to be winded a lot, even after tube feeds...she said "thanks for telling that"..she did not do it though...when she was finished the feed she gave Corgan to me on his back...he vomitted and then desatted badly! I had to run and call Nhlanhlenhe - the only sister on duty at the time - to come see to him as the student looked more shaken than even we were...Corgan was quite blue and unresponsive...Nhlanhlenhle told the student to get the Neopuff...she seemed to have no idea what it was so I even had to point out to the student where and what it is! We were very unimpressed and very annoyed...We complained to Gervais and Bridgitte when they came on night duty...Corgan was fine in the evening...

Puff!

We were told that at about 6:30am Corgan had to be given oxygen and Neo-puffed after he desturated after a feed...Dr Egner said it might be reflux or winds...Corgan's weight is 1,555kg today. Corgan was good with Welile today. He had had a tube feed at 12 and a bottle feed at 3. He had another tube feed at 6, after we arrived.

Ditto

Corgan weighs 1,525g...Dr Egner said he can have 1 breast and three bottles today. It all went well. My mom bought a Respisense Ditto for Corgan. I sorted Corgan's clothes into sizes so that the small clothing can be washed for when he comes home...I have become obsessed with the monitors...I check Corgan's even when it is not his one alarming...The nurses joke that I will have to take one home with me when Corgan gets discharged...

No Change

Dr Egner did not change anything today...Corgan's weight was 1.535 kg. In the evening was still fine...Good day :) 

No Physio

Corgan was sleeping nicely in his crib when we arrived this morning...He weighs 1,5kg now...Dr Egner stopped physiotherapy and said the NG tube must be put in Corgan's left nostril. I breast fed at 8am and it went much better without a tube in his mouth...

Open Crib

Corgan now weighs 1.465 kg!! Dr Egner said he could go into an open crib today! After a feed he was moved into a crib! He was very relaxed wrapped up in blankets in the crib and he soon fells asleep...he looked so calm and happy...Today is our three year wedding anniversary...Corgan was still resting peacefully when we returned in the evening - he even seemed to be in exactly the same position still...

Lazy Bum...

Today's weight is 1,45kg...Corgan  only drank 20ml from a bottle during the night. Dr Egner increased his feed to 38ml...Corgan was a bit lazy when I breast fed him today. He went through two NG tubes today...he loves pulling them out!

Feed Me

Corgan weighed 1.4kg this morning. Corgan fed well with bottle and breast feeds today...he was calm this evening, but as his next feed approached he got more and more upset...I bought his size 2 preemie MAM dummy this morning but it got lost when the linen got changed because it was so light and see-through-ish...I took the size 3 MAM dummy tonight and he seems okay with it...I held him and he settled....He had a tube feeding tonight...Shane held the syringe...

First Bath...

Corgan got his first bath this morning from Cheryl before we arrived...He apparently loved the water. He was sleeping so peacefully when we got there until we left.... Corgan was sleeping peacefully again when we got back. I got to hold him for a bit while Cheryl changed his linen. He is in a different incubator.

Blocked Again...

Corgan's weight was still 1.35 kg...Dr Egner increased the feed to 36ml because...Corgan's left nostril seems blocked again.  Corgan was resting peacefully when we arrived tonight. Bridgette recommended that we not handle him for a while and not do bottle or breast feeds and this should help him keep gaining weight instead of burning it off...

Faulty...

Corgan's weight is now 1,35kg. I did KMC from 08h20 until 11h30...Bukeka tried to give Corgan a bottle but he apparently didn't suck well...this evening Bridgette found that the feeding tube was faulty and so she inserted a new feeding tube. I held Corgan while Shane fed Corgan by holding the feeding syringe. Corgan's dummy is too small now... 

Break Through!

This morning Corgan was off the oxygen and doing well. We complained about the feeding tube being put into Corgan's nostril yesterday...Welile was upset because there had been some confusion and she was pointed out as the one who had inserted the tube into Corgan's right nostril...it was not her that did it...Vanessa looked after Corgan today. Dr Egner managed to get through Corgan's left nostril while suctioning him! A lot crunchy red pieces came out... He said Corgan must now get one breast feed and one bottle feed daily again... Corgan's sats were good after the suctioning. After some KMC when Corgan was taken away and put back in his incubator he cried a lot for almost an hour...even through a tube feeding...he settled down once he was put onto his tummy...Shane's dad visited Corgan for the third time tonight. Corgan was fast asleep during the visit....

A few steps forward, a couple steps back...

Corgan is 11 weeks old today. He is the oldest baby in the NICU but he is still the smallest...When we arrived Corgan had a feeding tube inserted into his good right nostril and his SpO2 was low.  When it was  removed I saw a large amount of mucus type build up come out with the tube. His SpO2 level increased immediately...We were both annoyed because Dr Egner had said the feeding tube must stay in Corgan's mouth so long...He weighed 1,330kg this morning...he struggled this morning and eventually Welile had no choice but to give him oxygen. It was very upsetting...the doctors and nurses always warn you - its a few steps forward, a couple steps back...its just so disappointing going backwards...Later he was put on nasal prongs again at 26% oxygen. Dr Egner told Welile to skip the bottle and breast feeds today...When we returned this evening, Corgan had just had physiotherapy and a large amount of sticky stuff came out of him and was sent for testing. Corgan's SpO2 went down and up a number of times, but eventually he settled. Bridgitte was looking after Corgan tonight. She let me have a cuddle with Corgan before suctioning him, then she let Shane feed Corgan through the tube...

First Day at home...

We had a good day at home as a family :) My sister came to visit so that she could hold Corgan for the first time...My niece, Mikayla, came to meet her cousin...

1,305kg

Corgan now weighs 1,305kg. His feeds stayed the same today. He was not as lazy with breastfeeding today...I noticed that Corgan's nose sounded very snotty and blocked up. He kept desatting. After being suctioned his sats went up for a little while but then he started desatting again...when we got back in the evening Corgan was still the same...Nokuthula let Shane give Corgan his 9pm bottle...he kept desatting, he seemed to be battling to breathe...he would go pale and bluish from time to time...Shane kept having to stop...Corgan hasn't really mastered breathing while he is eating...he only managed to have 23ml of the 35ml. The rest was given via the tube...we left at about 10pm...

2 Bottles...

Corgan weighed 1,280kg today... His feed was increased to 35ml per hour... Dr Egner said Corgan must have two bottle feeds per day and one breast feed... At 9am I breastfed Corgan and it went well although Corgan was a bit lazy and took a while to get going...He pushed out his feeding tube while I was feeding him...My mom had her third visit with Corgan (breaking the rules again)...

Bottled Up...

Welile tried to stick a feed tube down Corgan's left nostril, but it wouldn't go down at all, so there is still a problem with it. She ended up putting it back in his mouth. He was very upset with the attempts to clear his left nostril. He weighs 1.285 kg now. Dr Egner said that Corgan must get one try of bottle feeding and one try of breast feeding per day. When we went back to the hospital this afternoon I gave Corgan his first bottle feed, he did so well, he drank the whole 30ml. We left at quiet time...Corgan was asleep when we got back to the hospital... At 9 o' clock Corgan had his second ever breastfeed and it went very well...

Sixth Blood Transfusion

Dr Egner did a blood gas and found that Corgan is aneamic. He also took a blood sample to cross match blood for a blood transfusion. He increased the feed to 30ml/hr and Corgan can start breast feeding after the blood trasfusion! I was very excited of course. Dr Egner inserted a new short-line drip - Corgan got upset and cried. Corgan now weighs 1.23kg. Shane did KFC with Corgan. When we got back to the hospital this evening, Corgan was midway through his blood transfusion. Nokuthula took over from Welile for the night shift. After the transfusion I breastfed Corgan for the first time and he did very well - he had about ten sucks of each breast and still wanted more. Everyone was very happy. I think a lot of people did not think he could do it yet...

Good Day

I did kmc for a long time this morning...Corgan only beeped once - because his heart rate went up and not because he desatted...after that he desatted and got suctioned properly by Welile...he was perfect afterwards...I did KMC with Corgan this evening and he was very well behaved...He had a good day...

Promotion

Corgan now weighs 1.225 kg. I did KMC with Corgan. Corgan was moved out of the Isolation Ward and into an Infant Incubator in the middle of the main NICU section, they call this a promotion...one step closer to the door...He is still coping very well off the oxygen. I did some more KMC with Corgan this evening...