Strong little boy

Benjamin had a big day. The doctors felt like he was breathing well enough that his breathing tube could be removed at about 10:00 a.m this morning. They then put him under a vent hood (the huge plastic thing around his head in pics below) that supplied him with moisture and some oxygen to help the transition from breathing tube to hopefully just breathing on his own. They also felt like he needed a little time under the BR lamp because his numbers were creeping up (hence the blue light pics below...and the cool new Velcro sunglasses he is wearing).



Today we were so humbled by how strong Benjamin is and how we are continuously told he is doing so well and that he keeps meeting all the bench marks they set for him. Very humbling when you are surrounding by babies that are so sick and have been on breathing tubes for months and months. We are so thankful but there is also a deep sense of sadness as you watch other parents who are so brokenhearted and frightened all around you. Needless to say this experience is going to change us forever. We love all our Red Mountain Church medical friends so much (and are so thankful for their visits to baby Benjamin) but I have a new found admiration and respect for their commitment to taking care of babies/children. As a mom of a little boy who had to be fixed by doctors I now know what they mean to the people they treat everyday. Benjamin was named after two Bens in our life...and now it seems ironic that one is a pediatrician. Ben J. jokingly told us that we can't start talking NICU lingo because up till now we were his pure non-medical friends...completely unwise in ALL things medical. Unfortunately...I think we have been catapulted into a mini-residency...



Great things that happened today! I got to change his diaper (pretty exciting to a mom who hasn't gotten to do that yet to her little 3 day old), Benjamin cried...really loudly...which is a good sign that he had enough energy to want to make a fuss, the vent came out as well as two unused IVs in Benjamin's foot and hand...



Things to pray for in the next few days: That when the doctors examine him in the next few days they will have wisdom as to the steps to take next and that Benjamin's incisions will continue to heal completely and that when they test the esophagus on Friday that there are NO leaks. We also pray that he will be as comfortable as possible and we can keep him from pulling out his last little OG tube from his mouth (he is pretty determined to get it out of there!).