Daily Hope: Wednesday, January 28

Hope: day 52

Hope: day 52; "Ninja Hope"

As you can see... Hope was extubated today!!!! Which is fantastic! She is sporting a new "ninja" headgear. Ok, it's really a Cpap mask. The mask eases her breathing process but she is definitely breathing on her own, no ventilator necessary!! Apparently when Hope was extubated and taken off the ventilator, she was sure she liked her new mask. But... like the brilliant baby she is, she quickly realized that the mask was far better than having a tube down her throat. Her breathing has been great, in fact, even better than on the ventilator. When she was on the ventilator it was kind of like she could only breathe through a straw (the tube) but now she can open her whole airway and suck in all the good air!

Hope was busy breathing on her own today, so her feedings were not increased. The nurses also wanted to make sure that Hope was concentrating on breathing, so Daddy didn't get to hold her as planned, but he'll make up for it tomorrow.

Hope weighed in today at 1130 grams, which is a heavy 2 pounds 7 ounces (if Aunt Em's online conversion is accurate). While it is only a 10 gram increase from yesterday, that's ok because she was only weighed once and since she is weighed in her isolette, it isn't an exact measurement anyways. So hopefully tomorrow will bring a more accurate, and higher, number.

Overall a good day for Hope. Her lungs are breathing away on their own, and I'm sure she feels liberated!!