So Theo had a tough night last night. He’s developed pneumothorax, which essentially means he’s got air leaking from his lungs into his chest cavity. It’s not all that uncommon in preemies, but I can’t decide if knowing that makes me feel any better.

They tried a few minimally-invasive things before having to intubate him last night. He now is on a ventilator to help him breathe and has a tube that runs into the left side of his chest that first drained the excess air and now ensures the air does not build back up. He’s sedated so that he can stay comfortable and give his body the time it needs to heal. The hope is that the lungs heal themselves in the next 24-48 hours.

At this point, we don’t expect him to be able to come home with us for at least a week, possibly longer. The good news is that he really is a little fighter. The nurses have said that they think he’s working hard to get through this (although, I admit to wondering if they say that to all the parents.) Also, the long-term prognosis for him is still excellent. There’s no reason to think that what is happening now would be a problem down the road.

On another note, Jakob has been fascinated by his little brother. He has only been able to view him through a window so far, but every time he’s visited the hospital, he’s asked to see his baby brother — often multiple times.

For now, we are in a watch and wait mode. We have high hopes that Theo will come through this with flying colors, but I think we’re in for a rough few weeks. Good karmic thoughts sent Theo’s way would be greatly appreciated.