Oh Happy Day!

Breathing Treatment - mmm, yummy!

Daddy Snoozing - (He sure is lazy!)

Next to last photo with IV in my head

Last photo with IV in my head

I sure am a sweet boy

The cutest thing ever!

Many visits throughout the night from the nurses, nurse assistants, the respiratory therapist and doctors kept us all from continuous sleep. Maddox has a breathing treatment every four hours, vital signs taken every two hours and dirty diapers in between. (He did not seem to mind, he was awake for a good portion of the night)

All this results in a good report from the doctors this morning. (After a visit at 7:00am and an x-ray at 8:00am!)

The x-ray showed improvement - moving toward completely healthy lungs. Chest PT is working! The diuretics Maddox is being given will be decreased slowly because they are no longer worried about fluid on his lungs. His oxygen saturation levels were great over night. Not too much longer and Maddox will be breathing entirely on his own.

The Occupational Therapist worked with Maddox again this morning. She reports that his coordination is improving each day when taking a bottle. We were told that most likely we will have to continue feeding Maddox by the nasogastric (NG) tube at home until he can take a bottle all the time. The nurse gave us material to read because we will have to learn to this before we leave the hospital. This is a little scary but we will just be glad to have him home. Maddox now weighs 5lbs 7oz - less than on his birthday. This is typical for a baby with heart problems but weight gain should improve over time.

The most refreshing issue is that the word "home" is mentioned in conversations with the Doctor's and Duke Staff. Although there is nothing mentioned about a certain date he might be able to go home by, any mention of the word "home" is considered excellent news.

Please continue to pray for him to get better and bigger.

Thanks a million,

Amy, Luke, and Luke William Maddox