Knee Deep in Medical Tests

I got a call from the hospital yesterday. It was one of Colin's neonatologists. They usually start the conversation immediately by saying everything is okay and not to worry. This call didn't begin that way.
I hate to admit, but I immediately feared the worst. I'll let you, the reader, know that the worst was not realized, but Colin does appear to have another infection brewing (we should find out in the next day or two once the cultures come back). The phone call was gripping though, and I processed only certain words and phrases from the doctor:"...firm abdomen...mucous in his stool...dilated bowel loops...no pneumoptosis". I thought I knew where this was heading: NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis). But the doctor seemed fairly certain that this was not the case given that there was absent pneumoptosis (gas bubbles lining the wall of the bowel loops) and there was no blood in Colin's stools. What it was, however, he did not know. This, along with concern over his increased bilirubin (jaundice) and the fact that his CBC revealed that his white cell counts were up, meant that Colin had to undergo further tests and treatment: blood and urine cultures, start antibiotics (gentamicin and vancomycin), get another KUB (abdominal x-ray), check alpha-1 antitrypsin to rule out biliary atresia (common bile duct between the liver and small intestine is blocked or absent resulting in liver failure), and go NPO (stop feedings).
The ultrasound of the liver and gall bladder was normal. This means that the jaundice was likely caused from his hyperal IV. This is treated with a medication called actigal. The repeated KUB x-ray (done about 10 hours later) showed that the dilated bowel loops decreased (improved) by about 50%. Was this due to the antibiotics or because he wasn't being fed? The doctors weren't sure.
Colin was weighed again yesterday too, and because they had to stop his feedings and had him on a diuretic, he lost weight: from 970 grams to 925 grams. He looked good to us last night, with good color and back to crying to get his way - this boy does NOT like being on his back, and he'll let you know it until you put him on his belly. It quiets him down everytime. Not a good pattern for mom and dad once he comes home! It was good to see his percutaneous line out too. He was working overtime trying to kick out his leg IV, which he managed to do overnight. Thankfully, the nurse caught it right away, took it out, but of course, had to replace it.
We just learned this morning that Colin is going to have to have a lumbar puncture to rule out infection of his cerebrospinal fluid. This tears us up, because this is not an easy procedure to tolerate, and will be his most difficult and uncomfortable procedure to date. A lumbar puncture is basically a long needle that they insert into the lower back area and into the spinal canal to draw out cerebrospinal fluid for testing. This is not a normal needle stick. This one hurts.
It's amazing that this course, adventure, journey or whatever other adjective you can use to describe what Colin and we are going through is truly a moment-by-moment thing. Not even day-to-day. His status can change fast. We're just thankful the wonderful hospital staff is there to monitor his every moment and respond accordingly.