Weight Gain!

Mason is continuing to gain some weight! He is now up to 7 lbs 11oz. He seems to be steadily gaining about 5 t0 6 oz per week. Next week, he is expected to be up to 8lbs.

We saw Mason's Pulmonologist this week and we really liked the clinic and the doc's. We saw 3 doctors and a nurse during this appointment and they spent more than an hour with us catching up on his progress and making recommendations. First, they increased his Zantac for reflux since he has gained some weight and now requires a higher dose. This med makes sure the acid in his stomach is neutralized so that it does less damage coming up. Second, they discussed some possible testing that they might want such as a profusion study to see how his pulmonary arteries are doing. This test will help determine his long term prognosis. Third, we discussed his oxygen at home. Once we get Mason's feeding issues straightened out they will wean off his oxygen so that he is only using it at night and during bottle feeding. They would also like to see Mason switched to special formula that will account for his prematurity. We discussed this with his Pediatrician yesterday and she agrees. We are going to use up what we currently have and then make the switch (probably next week).

Mason has make some great strides as far as feeding goes. He seems to have gotten the hang bottle feeding and now does so with only a few complaints instead of constant screaming. His allowable bottle amounts have increased from 10cc's to 30cc's. Right now he is taking between 10 to 20cc's each time he feeds. Most of the times he keeps everything down, but a couple of times he has refluxed back up. We are hoping to get closer to 30cc's (and keeping it down) by the end of next week when he will be seeing his surgeon and speech therapist. We are also hoping to hear some sort of plan for his feeding tube which is currently in his intestines.