Well, we've been here a few more days and have had some positive developments. Ben had a repeat OCRG test (the one he failed on Monday), with the addition of a pH probe and supplementary oxygen. In a nutshell, this test measures every breath and heartbeat that Ben takes, and the pH probe measures the acidity level in his esophagus to check for acid reflux. They wanted to see if different levels of oxygen would make a difference in his oxygen saturations.
The oxygen really helped, of course, but they also documented that he has severe acid reflux. (More than 30% of the time, the pH in his esophagus is less than 4.0, so quite acidic.) We decided to take steps to control the reflux and measure his oxygen levels for a few days before making a final decision about taking him home on oxygen. So far, controlling the reflux by keeping him upright, lying him on his left side, etc. has made a huge difference in his oxygen saturation levels. We're hoping that when his regular doctor returns on Monday that we'll be able to go home!
Ben's feeding coordination is also maturing, and he's starting to take huge amounts of food. He weighs more than 5 lb. 11 oz.! He's generally very content and loves to be held so that he can look at new "scenery."
Can't wait to introduce him to everyone!
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