Day 5

Successful humans do a few basic functions: Breath on their own; Maintain a consistent body temperature; Consume enough nutrients — and poop. By these basic measures, Felix Neptune Brunelle is a successful human being!

Right now he is technically able to breath on his own, but we're supplementing his breath by alternating between two different types of PAP breathing devices. Why? Think about it this way... Felix was born prematurely. And, like all of us, he generates a limited amount of energy per day. Without PAP support, Felix would allocate all of his energy towards breathing, and none towards growing. So the PAP support "takes a load off" enabling Felix to both breath and grow. We alternate between the two devices so his head doesn't get impacted by any one set of straps and tubes.

Let's talk about poop! Felix is creating quite a lot, which is a great sign of functioning bowels and digestion. Speaking of food, Felix is currently acquiring Haley's milk via a tube that goes in his nose, down his throat and ends in his belly. It's the orange wire/tube on the left side in the photo below. Felix is still passing Meconium (link - with a really nice visual!) which is black and sticky. This is all a good sign.

So, he's breathing. He's eating. He's pooping. We should all be so healthy.

Felix has also been exposed to light therapy — which explains the black "sunglasses" he's been wearing the past few days. The "blue" light helps convert excess Bilirubin in Felix's system into a form he can discard through urine. For those of you keeping score at home, yes, Bilirubin is the substance which causes jaundice (yellowing) in the skin, and Felix has been a bit jaundiced, despite Dad's Photoshopping. Jaundice is a minor issue, all things considered, and Felix's Bilirubin count has gone way down after just one day's worth of light therapy. In fact, we're told that today is probably his last day under the "tanning bed."

We typically visit Felix every three hours, in conjunction with his feeding schedule. Sometimes we remain over the break between visits. That's the rhythm now: 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, 12am, 3am, 6am, etc. etc.

Haley reports the breast milk pumping goes a lot easier if she's in close proximity to Felix. The Mother-Son Connection is mysterious and powerful! Haley's really proud she's been able to produce, and get somewhat ahead of the supply needed to keep Felix growing. It's a weird schedule to be sure. Sometimes you get up at, say, 3am and for whatever reason, that pumping session doesn't end until 5am. Guess how soon you get to start it all over again, and what you don't get to do? We have absolute empathy for any nursing mother! #NursingMothersRule

And then, around about 4:30pm today we had some amazing news.

Felix opened his eyes! And Haley got to hold her son for the second time!

Five days into this adventure and we are tired, grateful and eager to see what happens next. We are especially thankful for all the generous help and kind words we've received from Children's Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House, our family and so many friends!