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Andrew has had a really good few days in a row. So good that the doctor expressed surprise today....not particularly heartening, but a little bit funny. They've continued to turn down the ventilator settings faster than they were expecting; he's at eight breaths per minute, which is minimal for this ventilator. They're now turning down the pressure support and extending the length and numbers of sprints. He's sprinting for just over an hour, twice a day, and they may soon move it to four times a day. They're actually a bit concerned that he's doing too well and not having to work hard enough. If he's not challenged by his breathing circumstances, the muscles he needs to use won't get enough exercise....extending the sprints should help with that.

The physical therapist came by and examined him today, checking his current condition and putting together a plan for getting him stronger. She showed us several exercises we can do with his legs to increase his range of motion and prevent his muscles from further atrophy. She showed us how his right leg is a bit stronger than the left, how to move his feet to give his ankles better flexibility, and the best positions to keep him in for further development. On Thursday, they'll put him in a specially-made chair to get him used to another position. Most NICU babies take a little while to get used to sitting up, so they don't anticipate a long first stay in the chair. Little by little, they'll increase the time he spends there.

Everything has been pretty positive during the last few days....good heart rate and blood pressure, no fever, increased feedings, and no major fits. That being said, this would be a good time to knock on wood. Andrew needs to string together a few of these good periods, as he'll eventually need to behave permanently.