Wednesday, May 26

We've all been doing well over the last week. Tara's pretty exhausted, but is settling into a routine with the girls. Kevin's been busy building his business and working on projects.

Adelaide is still doing great. She continues to gain weight. She also suffers from acid reflux, but we recently started her and Mattie on a stronger medicine. So far, so good. She's around 12lbs. and is smiling a lot and cooing at us. She also sleeps for 5 hour periods overnight, which is a great relief.

Mattie got checked by the pulmonologist yesterday. He said that her lungs sounded great. She's still on a little bit of oxygen, and he thinks she'll be off in the next few weeks. He wants us to start weaning her each day for a few hours at a time. Last Saturday, we kept her nasal cannula off for 3-4 hours with no issues. He's reducing some of her medications and increasing others due to a cough that she has. She's a little over 9lbs now.

Andrew is doing well, but the same pulmonologist wants his rates and pressures on his ventilator to be lower. His carbon dioxide fluctuates from the 50's to 60's. He also has a new roommate. A big, big three month old. We try to spend the night twice a week. Tara will go one night, and Kevin goes another. We've been doing training classes on cleaning and changing his trach, assessment and treatments, and safety. It still makes us very nervous, but the more practice the better. Andrew has acid reflux still, and the staff is doing a culture to see if there's bacteria in his trach tube that would have come from his stomach. If there is bacteria there, it would mean his acid reflux is still coming into his lungs. The doctor said he would try a stronger medication first before performing a nissen.

Praise
Adelaide gaining weight and getting bigger.
Mattie's lungs sounding good besides her cough.
Andrew and his ability to light up a room. He continues to smile and grin.

Prayer
Andrew's protection while at Our Children's House.
Andrew would grow and gain weight, so his lungs can grow, and his numbers would get better.
Andrew's culture would come back with no bacteria from his stomach.
We would absorb all the knowledge we're getting.
We would find a good home healthcare agency for Andrew.
Adelaide and Mattie's acid reflux would improve.