One Week Old Today (and some good news!!)

I cannot believe that an entire week has gone by since Knox was born. In certain aspects, it feels like an eternity has passed since I pushed him out and saw him for the first time, but on the other hand, it doesn’t seem right that he is already one week old. He’s growing up so fast, already!

I spoke with the doctor this morning, and she talked to the cardiologist, which is what we’ve been waiting on. He reviewed the results of the halter monitor and, oddly, the results were “normal.” They did not pick up the high heart rate that we did in the NICU- their highest recorded heart rate was 209, still high, but not the 250 we were seeing. Regardless, the treatment will be the same. Knox has been given Digoxin (heart medicine) to stop his Tachycardia, and (so far) it seems to have worked. He’s received a loading dose by IV, then a few monitoring doses, and today, he is set to start the oral version. He will go home on this medicine and likely take it for six months.

The EKG from two days ago ruled out WPW Disease, which we did not want him to have, so that was great, too. In infants, this Tachycardia generally gets rid of itself. A lot of times, there is a second electrical impulse present in the heart that causes the problem. In Knox’s case, however, there is not a secondary impulse present. Long story short, he will come home on the medicine and we will follow up with the cardiologist next week at his office. That’s right, at HIS office… this means that…

KNOX IS GOING HOME ON MONDAY!!!

I am thrilled beyond belief and cannot wait to take our little man home. He just got circumcised, the poor guy. He didn’t cry when he got back, but when he realized that he was hungry AND had a sore weiner, well, that didn’t sit too well with him. He latched on, ate, then slept with my boob in his mouth for half an hour. What a brave boy. He will get his Hep B shot, and do the car seat test before we go home. Trevor and I have to watch a few mandatory videos, too, before he gets discharged, so we will do all of that this weekend.

I absolutely can’t wait to get him home. I am looking forward to everything when it comes to Knox, and this is the first step in the process. He is doing amazingly well at breast feeding. He is jaundiced, but because he is eating so well, he is pooping like a champ and has brought his jaundice level down enough on his own that he doesn’t have to go under any of the lights. The first few days, he would take a while to get comfortable with his latch. He’d latch, then let go, latch, let go, and repeat. The majority of the problem was with my rock hard boobs- they were just so full that he couldn’t get a grip. I have found a good system, now, though. I pump for a few minutes on each side before feeding to soften them up, then I pump after he eats just for relief. He generally only eats on one side (there is plenty of milk in just one of these suckers!) so I’ll pump the other. Now, he can latch himself with minimal help and goes to town. I am so happy that the breast feeding is going well, and that he enjoys it so much. It is the BEST bonding experience, and I absolutely love to do it. The lactation consultant told me I was born to nurse, and apparently, Knox agrees with her.

Here are some more pictures of our incredibly handsome little man. These are from two days ago, I need to get some from today on here, too. And a one week postpartum belly pic, because I know you all want to know about that.