Sprinting

It has been another big week for Travis! They started “sprinting” with him which involves taking him off of the breathing machine he is currently on (CPAP), and placing prongs in his nose. The nasal prongs provide extra oxygen, but without the pressure that the CPAP gives. He is essentially breathing on his own then, and today he lasted for over two hours without becoming tired. Earlier this week he lasted for an hour and a half, and two days ago for forty minutes before he got tired and was put back on the breathing machine. This is the weaning process where they alternate from the CPAP to the prongs daily. Eventually this will result in Travis’s lungs becoming strong enough to only need the assistance from the nasal prongs. He still has the odd time where he stops breathing, but they are related to his feeds which isn’t a large concern to his nurses.
Generally around week 34/35 breast or bottle feeding is started, so that may be next week already. Travis is currently just over 2000grams (4.4lbs), so he has been gaining weight steadily over the past two weeks. The nurses have some fun with him and dress him in some Christmas clothes, blankets, and occasionally a Christmas hat J.  When Adrian and I have been holding him he has been very alert, and we have really enjoyed “kangarooing” him.  Travis loves to have his fingers in his face, and he has pulled out his feeding tube three times already, and the nasal prongs off while he was "sprinting" . Thankfully the staff keep a good eye on the little guy and remind him to behave!