Losing a module mate

For a happy reason! It looks like Jack is going home today! We are very excited for the Hufty's, but will miss them. We did exchange emails, so we hope to keep in touch. Yesterday they got their training to go home - training to use the apnea/heart monitor, the oxygen tank and infant cpr. Fortunately, we were able to "crash" their class. Logan's "Grammy" offered to watch the boys so we could get the class out of the way - they showed her the people mover! She raised four boys, so I get the impression watching three was really not a big deal. She is a neat lady and was fun to talk to! When our time comes, it will be one less thing we have to do. Gabe will also get breathing treatments at home, but that shouldn't take too long to train us on.

We thought the plan was to wean off of the vapotherm today and go to regular oxygen (which he can ultimately go home on) but his respiration rate is up a little bit and they would rather wait another day. He looks very comfortable and we have been told that his respiration rate may always be faster than normal, but I guess I understand being conservative. Now that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, we are having to work hard not to get impatient. We've been here long enough to know how it goes. I definitely don't want to get him home and then see him turn blue!

The speech pathologist came by again, and again Gabe was sound asleep. He was pretty well asleep all day again. They are going to try switching his phenobarb to night instead of day and see if that helps. I thought the neurologists said it shouldn't be a high enough dose to make him too sleepy, but maybe it'll help. The pulmonologists came by yesterday too, but I don't think they said anything we hadn't heard - just confirmed info. They recommended a sleep study before going home, which we knew he'd need, and that they would likely follow him for quite some time (years, we were told). Fortunately they also go to Evansville once a month, like Dr. Rouse does, so hopefully we won't have to come back up here all the time. Of course we'll do whatever we need to do. We have to come back up at some point anyway to visit Gabe's "aunts" (that would be the NICU nurses) and so many others who have been working to take care of him and us.

Finally got some new pics posted below!