The close to our week was a lot better than the beginning. All the babies are doing pretty well. Mattie and Andrew are both on a round of steroids to help their lungs. The goal is to get them off the SIPAP and on to nasal cannula.
Mattie sleeps a lot and is doing well on her oxygen levels. She weighs 3lbs. 15oz. Hopefully, she'll hit 4lbs. tonight.
Adelaide is still inconsistent with bottle feeding. On Friday, she took three bottles throughout the day with no problem, but on Saturday, she struggled. She cries while swallowing, so they're giving her medication to help with reflux and stopped bottle feeding for 24 hours. She weighs 5lbs. 10oz.
Andrew is fluctuating back and forth on his blood oxygen levels. His oxygen intake has gone down since the start of the steroids, but he rides a roller coaster of high blood oxygen levels to low levels. He weighs 4lbs. 2oz.
Praise
Weight gain.
The caregivers of our babies.
Curly eyelashes, sweet blue eyes, and chubby feet.
Prayers
Andrew and Mattie would wean off and stay off the SIPAP for good.
There would be no long term effects from the steroids.
Adelaide's throat would heal, and she would be able to feed from a bottle consistently.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 25
It's been awhile since we've updated. Kevin's been on a project for a client and goes straight to the NICU after work. We hope everyone is doing well.
Adelaide's test on her blood came back, and they showed normal to high amounts of an enzyme that makes red blood cells burst. The amounts are not a concern right now, and she will be re-tested in 2-3 months. The staff is going to give her folic acid and iron since she's anemic. She's still having some trouble feeding from the bottle. We attempted to feed her twice yesterday with little success. She's going to be taking some acid reflux medication to see if that helps. She's still gaining weight and is now 5lbs. 5oz. No word on when she will come home. She needs to consistently eat from a bottle before she does.
Mattie is on the SIPAP and doing well. She had her settings lowered, which is a good sign. Her carbon dioxide levels have been OK. If they take them from her capillaries, the test is high, but if it's an artery test, the level is normal. They might be giving her a burst of steroids to get her off the SIPAP. Her x-rays have been a little murky and show some chronic lung disease. They've been giving her a diuretic to clear them up, which has made her lose some weight. She's gained some of it back and weights 3lbs. 14oz.
Andrew is hanging in there on SIPAP. His carbon dioxide levels were around 70%, which is normal for him. We brought in a crib entertainer, so he'll have something to look at while he's awake. Unlike Adelaide and Mattie, Andrew spends more time awake and looking around. He has hit the 4lb. mark. His x-rays have looked OK. The nurses keep talking about what a cute boy he is.
Praise
Adelaide's test came back normal.
Mattie starting to wean off the SIPAP.
The continued blessing of receiving meals from people. Seriously, it is unbelievable. Thank you!
Prayer
Adelaide would do better bottle feeding. The reflux medication would help her.
Adelaide wouldn't have any serious blood issues that are making her anemic.
Mattie would be off the SIPAP.
Andrew would be off the SIPAP.
Mattie and Andrew's lungs would clear.
Adelaide's test on her blood came back, and they showed normal to high amounts of an enzyme that makes red blood cells burst. The amounts are not a concern right now, and she will be re-tested in 2-3 months. The staff is going to give her folic acid and iron since she's anemic. She's still having some trouble feeding from the bottle. We attempted to feed her twice yesterday with little success. She's going to be taking some acid reflux medication to see if that helps. She's still gaining weight and is now 5lbs. 5oz. No word on when she will come home. She needs to consistently eat from a bottle before she does.
Mattie is on the SIPAP and doing well. She had her settings lowered, which is a good sign. Her carbon dioxide levels have been OK. If they take them from her capillaries, the test is high, but if it's an artery test, the level is normal. They might be giving her a burst of steroids to get her off the SIPAP. Her x-rays have been a little murky and show some chronic lung disease. They've been giving her a diuretic to clear them up, which has made her lose some weight. She's gained some of it back and weights 3lbs. 14oz.
Andrew is hanging in there on SIPAP. His carbon dioxide levels were around 70%, which is normal for him. We brought in a crib entertainer, so he'll have something to look at while he's awake. Unlike Adelaide and Mattie, Andrew spends more time awake and looking around. He has hit the 4lb. mark. His x-rays have looked OK. The nurses keep talking about what a cute boy he is.
Praise
Adelaide's test came back normal.
Mattie starting to wean off the SIPAP.
The continued blessing of receiving meals from people. Seriously, it is unbelievable. Thank you!
Prayer
Adelaide would do better bottle feeding. The reflux medication would help her.
Adelaide wouldn't have any serious blood issues that are making her anemic.
Mattie would be off the SIPAP.
Andrew would be off the SIPAP.
Mattie and Andrew's lungs would clear.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 22
The babies all had a good weekend. Mattie's carbon dioxide levels have come down thanks to a medication. She has had blood in her nose for a couple of days, and the staff thinks it's due to the amount of flow in her nasal cannula. They're going to lower her settings and check her carbon dioxide levels more frequently. She's been doing a good job of gaining weight and is up 3lbs. 11oz.
Adelaide is now 5lbs. 1oz. She's looking great. She is still anemic, and they sent some tests off today to see the cause. There are a couple of possibilities, and the staff wants to see why her blood numbers are dropping. One test should be back in the next day, but one could take up to a week to return. She will be getting her carbon dioxide checked twice a week as well.
Andrew has been really calm over the few days. The staff thinks that the sedation he had been on is finally leaving him, and he was going through some withdrawals. He is still on SIPAP and runs about 40% oxygen. He gained back up to Mattie and is now 3lbs. 12oz. He will be getting his carbon dioxide checked twice a week along with his sisters. This is great, so there won't be any prolonged high levels.
Praise
Weight gain for all three.
Andrew being calm and sleeping.
Adelaide reaching 5lbs.
A good weekend for all three.
Mattie's CO2 went down.
Prayer
The tests on Adelaide would come back negative, which would mean she's just a little anemic.
Mattie would respond well to the new settings on her cannula.
Mattie's CO2 would stay down.
Rest for Tara.
Our frustration levels on small steps back would ease.
Adelaide is now 5lbs. 1oz. She's looking great. She is still anemic, and they sent some tests off today to see the cause. There are a couple of possibilities, and the staff wants to see why her blood numbers are dropping. One test should be back in the next day, but one could take up to a week to return. She will be getting her carbon dioxide checked twice a week as well.
Andrew has been really calm over the few days. The staff thinks that the sedation he had been on is finally leaving him, and he was going through some withdrawals. He is still on SIPAP and runs about 40% oxygen. He gained back up to Mattie and is now 3lbs. 12oz. He will be getting his carbon dioxide checked twice a week along with his sisters. This is great, so there won't be any prolonged high levels.
Praise
Weight gain for all three.
Andrew being calm and sleeping.
Adelaide reaching 5lbs.
A good weekend for all three.
Mattie's CO2 went down.
Prayer
The tests on Adelaide would come back negative, which would mean she's just a little anemic.
Mattie would respond well to the new settings on her cannula.
Mattie's CO2 would stay down.
Rest for Tara.
Our frustration levels on small steps back would ease.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Saturday, February 20
We've got good news and some concerns with Mattie. She is now in a big girl open-air crib, like her brother and sister. We love being able to walk by and give them all a kiss or talk to them. It's really incredible. Our concern has to do with her carbon dioxide levels. They came down into the high 70's yesterday, but are back up to the low 80's today. It's really strange because all of her other settings are great. She takes minimal oxygen and her blood saturation is great. Her red blood cells were low, so they gave her a transfusion yesterday. The staff is bottle feeding her once a day, and for the past two days, she took 15ml. She now weighs 3lbs. 10oz.
Adelaide is still doing good. She takes all of her bottle most of the time, but on some feedings, she falls asleep. We're getting close to taking her home. We hope in the next couple of weeks. She is now 4lbs. 14oz.
Andrew is still doing OK. He's being very active and getting agitated. He finished his last round of steroids, so we hope the improvements he's made will stay around, and he won't fall back. He's doing good on the SIPAP and loves his pacifier. He looks like Maggie from The Simpson's sucking on it. He gained a little weight back, but hasn't caught back up to Mattie. He is now 3lbs. 8oz.
Praise
Adelaide getting so big.
The possibility of taking Adelaide home soon.
Mattie and Adelaide doing well on bottle feeding.
Andrew is still off the ventilator.
All the babies in cribs.
2 months of life. The were 2 months on Thursday. Unbelievable!
Prayer
Mattie's carbon dioxide levels would go down.
Mattie could increase her bottle feeding.
Adelaide would be more awake during bottle feedings.
Andrew would calm down and rest.
Adelaide is still doing good. She takes all of her bottle most of the time, but on some feedings, she falls asleep. We're getting close to taking her home. We hope in the next couple of weeks. She is now 4lbs. 14oz.
Andrew is still doing OK. He's being very active and getting agitated. He finished his last round of steroids, so we hope the improvements he's made will stay around, and he won't fall back. He's doing good on the SIPAP and loves his pacifier. He looks like Maggie from The Simpson's sucking on it. He gained a little weight back, but hasn't caught back up to Mattie. He is now 3lbs. 8oz.
Praise
Adelaide getting so big.
The possibility of taking Adelaide home soon.
Mattie and Adelaide doing well on bottle feeding.
Andrew is still off the ventilator.
All the babies in cribs.
2 months of life. The were 2 months on Thursday. Unbelievable!
Prayer
Mattie's carbon dioxide levels would go down.
Mattie could increase her bottle feeding.
Adelaide would be more awake during bottle feedings.
Andrew would calm down and rest.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 18
The babies' eye exams went well yesterday. They all came back normal. They'll be re-tested in two weeks.
Adelaide is now taking 6 out of 8 feedings by bottle. She's making great progress. She weighs 4lbs. 11oz. Kevin fed her last night, and Tara fed her tonight with success. Nana D. held her for an hour and a half today.
Mattie is still doing pretty good. The staff tried to lower her settings on her nasal cannula, but it made Mattie labor, causing her carbon dioxide level to go up. She's back to her normal settings and will get her carbon dioxide checked tomorrow. Mattie weighs 3lbs. 11oz. and took 15ml of milk from a bottle yesterday. She is unbelievably calm and sleeps most of the time. She's no longer Mattie the Marauder.
Andrew is still on SIPAP and his last x-ray looked fantastic. His carbon dioxide level was in the 60's too, which is great. He does still get agitated, but loves being held to calm him down. He's lost a little weight and is now 3lbs. 5oz.
Praise
Adelaide taking more bottles.
Mattie taking 15ml of milk.
Mattie being so calm.
Andrew's fantastic x-ray and blood gas.
Prayer
Adelaide would continue to take more from the bottle.
Mattie's carbon dioxide levels would come down.
Andrew would continue to have good numbers, and his lungs would clear.
Adelaide is now taking 6 out of 8 feedings by bottle. She's making great progress. She weighs 4lbs. 11oz. Kevin fed her last night, and Tara fed her tonight with success. Nana D. held her for an hour and a half today.
Mattie is still doing pretty good. The staff tried to lower her settings on her nasal cannula, but it made Mattie labor, causing her carbon dioxide level to go up. She's back to her normal settings and will get her carbon dioxide checked tomorrow. Mattie weighs 3lbs. 11oz. and took 15ml of milk from a bottle yesterday. She is unbelievably calm and sleeps most of the time. She's no longer Mattie the Marauder.
Andrew is still on SIPAP and his last x-ray looked fantastic. His carbon dioxide level was in the 60's too, which is great. He does still get agitated, but loves being held to calm him down. He's lost a little weight and is now 3lbs. 5oz.
Praise
Adelaide taking more bottles.
Mattie taking 15ml of milk.
Mattie being so calm.
Andrew's fantastic x-ray and blood gas.
Prayer
Adelaide would continue to take more from the bottle.
Mattie's carbon dioxide levels would come down.
Andrew would continue to have good numbers, and his lungs would clear.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wednesday, February 17
We had another big change yesterday. Andrew has graduated out of the incubator and is now in an open air crib. He's such a big boy. Andrew had been doing really well regulating his own temperature in the incubator, so the staff tried him out on his own. So far, he's doing really well with it. He has also spent 3 days on the SIPAP machine! His carbon dioxide levels have been looking good, but his x-ray still showed a collapsed right lung. When we visited yesterday, the nurse was suctioning out a bunch of mucus from his lungs. He was crying, and you could hear all of the junk he had in his chest. They started him on a medication to loosen the junk up, so that rattling we heard means it's working. He will have another x-ray this morning.
Mattie is doing really well. She gained close to 2oz. in a day. She's up to 3lbs. 7oz. She actually weighs more than Andrew, but we're not telling him. His weight was determined by a new scale, so we think he's lower because of that. Mattie's been on room air (21% oxygen) for several days now. The next step for her is to wean her off the incubator and into an open air crib.
Adelaide is still doing awesome. She's getting better on bottle feeding. She took a bottle last night and played around for the first ten minutes, and then decided she was hungry. She took the rest of the bottle in twenty minutes. She weighs 4lbs. 8oz.
We are amazed every day at the progress the babies have made. People talk about them being miracles, and they are. It's incredible to look back at how small they were at birth and how fragile their lives were. We thank God for His protection for our little three babies. If you get a chance, look at the pictures that were posted in December and compare them to now. You'll see what we mean.
Praise
Andrew moving out of the incubator.
Andrew still on SIPAP.
The mucus in Andrew's lungs breaking up.
Mattie doing great on nasal cannula and requiring little oxygen.
Adelaide doing better on bottle feeds.
Prayer
They have another round of eye exams today. Please pray for a normal report.
Andrew's lungs would continue to clear up. His right lung would inflate.
Mattie is doing really well. She gained close to 2oz. in a day. She's up to 3lbs. 7oz. She actually weighs more than Andrew, but we're not telling him. His weight was determined by a new scale, so we think he's lower because of that. Mattie's been on room air (21% oxygen) for several days now. The next step for her is to wean her off the incubator and into an open air crib.
Adelaide is still doing awesome. She's getting better on bottle feeding. She took a bottle last night and played around for the first ten minutes, and then decided she was hungry. She took the rest of the bottle in twenty minutes. She weighs 4lbs. 8oz.
We are amazed every day at the progress the babies have made. People talk about them being miracles, and they are. It's incredible to look back at how small they were at birth and how fragile their lives were. We thank God for His protection for our little three babies. If you get a chance, look at the pictures that were posted in December and compare them to now. You'll see what we mean.
Praise
Andrew moving out of the incubator.
Andrew still on SIPAP.
The mucus in Andrew's lungs breaking up.
Mattie doing great on nasal cannula and requiring little oxygen.
Adelaide doing better on bottle feeds.
Prayer
They have another round of eye exams today. Please pray for a normal report.
Andrew's lungs would continue to clear up. His right lung would inflate.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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