Update on Bennett

Bennett is oxygenating just fine despite his severe cold. He is,however, wheezing heavily. His Pulmonologist diagnosed him with asthma a long time ago but I was holding out hope that he wouldn't have it too. Oh well. So, his Pediatrician is putting him on Pulmicort twice daily, an oral steroid once daily, and antibiotics. And we are to continue using the Xopenex (like an albuterol) every 4 hours for the next day, then decrease by intervals of 2 hours over the next few days. If he becomes unresponsive to the Xopenex or starts to have retractions, I'm to take him to the ER immediately to make sure he's maintaining his o2 levels well and to rule out RSV. She didn't test him for RSV today b/c he had just had his Synagis shot a week ago which contains RSV antibodies, so it could trigger a false positive. But she doesn't think he has RSV since he is responding well to the Xopenex. He's a little more tachypnic (breathing rapidly/short of breath) than usual for him, but she said that should get better as his cold symptoms go away.

Thanks for the good thoughts!! I tell ya - the first real illness with a preemie with chronic lung disease is SCAREY!