Over the Hump

It finally happened!! Yesterday afternoon the ICU team decided Mr. Hudson looked good and pulled the ventilator. It was the best moment yet!! He handled it very well. He was a little frightened at first but when he realized the tube was no longer down his throat he started looking around and wiggling his arms..he attempted a cry but of course it was very faint and hoarse. Mommy and Daddy finally wrapped our arms around our sweet baby yesterday and only put him down when he needed xray or breathing treatments. He is now on vapotherm (warm humidified continuous oxygen through a nasal cannula) and they have already started weaning down the vapotherm today because he is doing so well! So far, so good! Hudson is so happy he has not wanted to sleep since being extubated so mommy and daddy are both pretty tired..he is ready to party!! This morning was wonderful!! Hudson was happy, smiling and making noise!! We haven't got to hear him make any noise since he was intubated at birth... so his cry's, cough's, sneeze's, coo's all have been the most wonderful sounds mommy and daddy have ever heard! He was seen by physical therapy today and did an excellent job of holding his head up...what a strong little guy!!! He also discovered his fist's and has been putting them in his mouth as well! The next steps are to wean him off the vapotherm, methadone and valium and get him feeding on his own. We will start working with speech therapy tomorrow to trial his swallowing ability and mommy and daddy plan on getting that feeding tube out by early next week...he already has the sucking down and we know he can do it!!! Such a little fighter!! What a wonderful way to spend his 6 week birthday!!! GO Hudson GO!!!!