Last night Was rough for Memphis. He got very upset and started kicking his feet and Flailing his arms. For a normal healthy baby this would have been fine. But for a baby with IV's and picc lines this is not so good. Kicking his feet resulted in him kicking out his picc line which is his central catheter that the doctors use to give Memphis his fentanyl drip, TPN nutrition, and arterial line fluid. When putting a picc line in, it has to be a sterile environment so mom had to leave the room. His nurse last night stuck him several times trying to get a new picc line in but two hours later was unsuccessful. Mom got to go back in with only enough time to give Memphis a kiss goodnight before it was time for the NICU to close.

Today, The nurses were more successful at getting the picc line in. They did this while mom was gone which in turn didn't interfere with time away from Memphis.

Feedings went so well yesterday that the nurse practitioner decided to give Memphis 20cc of milk today. So far so good. No throwing up! The goal here is that Memphis continues to go up in the amount of milk he receives during a feeding and lower on the amount of TPN nutrition he receives until the TPN is completely gone.

The ventilator settings have been weaned some more today to a rate of 26 and the O2 percentage is at 38. Out goal rate is still 12 to get off the ventilator all together.

The dialysis catheters are still currently in his jugular. They had to get the new picc line in before taking these out. This is because if they were not able to get a picc line in they could have used those catheters for central access instead. Hopefully they will come out this evening. I will keep you updated on how the surgery goes.

Lastly, Memphis saw the PT and OT therapists today. the OT has made him a hand brace for his right hand that he will wear for 3 hours on then 3 hours off. Somewhere during Memphis' ECMO time his wrist on his right hand became limp. He still moves it fine and grips his fingers fine they think it just got to tight and needs to spend some time straightened. Memphis neck and head on the other hand are a whole nother battle. Because he has spent 8 weeks lying on the left side of his head that side of his head is now completely flat and he screams and cries when they try to turn his head back to the right. He has always had canulas in the right jugular so he hasn't had a choice but to lye on the left side. The PT will now be working with him a few days a week to stretch this muscles out and get his head moving in all directions like it should. Hopefully getting him off the left side of his head it will round back out over time without needing a helmet.

Between seeing the OT, PT, and getting a new picc line Memphis has had a stressful day. He has been given a bit more sedation medicine and is now sleeping away his long day.