A Week Full of Blessings

Britian

I'd first like to apologize for not updating or posting pictures last week. I inadvertently left my camera cable at home last weekend so I wasn't able to transfer any new pictures to my computer. Updates are boring without new pictures so I waited to post an update until I could share new shots of the girls with you.

It was a week full of amazing blessings and answered prayers. Both girls are growing incredibly well and graduated to the next pound level last weekend (4lbs for Brit and 3lbs for Jillian). We were also able to wean both girls on their high flow settings without setbacks or changes to their oxygen requirements. Because their high flow settings were able to come down so low last week the girls and I were able to start nursing. Thursday was Britian's first day at once per day. Friday she did so well that she only needed half of her normal feeding volume for that feeding time. Jillian was given the green light to nurse late Friday but today (Sunday) was the first day we were able to try because I go home for the weekends to be with my husband and older children. I am happy to announce that Jillian did amazing today for her first attempt and only needed half of her normal feeding volume. Britian has also been given the go ahead to nurse 3 times a day, once every 8 hours, if she is awake and interested. Nursing in the NICU is very much "baby led". The girls are in the drivers seat with their nursing sessions. The more eager they seem the more they will be allowed to do it. Not only am I thrilled to finally be nursing my precious miracles but I am relieved that they are tolerating the effort it takes to nurse so well. There is no gagging, desaturation of their oxygen, or other negative signs which can often times occur in babies so young and so small. Britian was intubated for over 6 weeks and prolonged intubation can lead to oral aversion but thus far Britian is showing no signs of her intubation experience affecting her at all orally.

Britian's first tub bath

Current weight for the girls is: Britian 4lb 10oz and Jillian 3lb 13oz so they are both very close to yet another pound level graduation.

I worked very hard last week advocating for the girls and their medications. I just knew in my heart that the medical staff here was giving them more things than they really needed. So last week Britian's antibiotic (for her previously suspected kidney issues) was discontinued as well as her sodium chloride (salt). So as of now the girls are only receiving addition iron. The iron is to prevent anemia. If we were at another NICU they probably wouldn't be getting the iron but here they are very "pro-vitamins and minerals". Even full-term babies are sent home with an oral multi vitamin. (I'll keep my opinion on this matter to myself but just know I don't agree with it)

Lastly and most importantly, this past Saturday I received news that took my breathe away and left me speechless. Saturday during my normal call for an update I received word that both girls were healthy enough and doing so well that they were ready to be transferred to the lowest level acuity area of the NICU in preparation for discharge. Last Wednesday was the 8 week mark for this journey. I have been expecting a 4 month stay since the very beginning, which would give us another 8 weeks atleast. However, based on what I know about this NICU I am pretty confident that barring no setbacks the girls will not be in this low level room for another 8 weeks. Might we possibly be home around my original due date in a little less than 5 weeks? No telling yet but sometime in May for a discharge date is looking more and more likely everyday. I still can not believe that my girls are out of bay 2 already. Brit was only there for 2 weeks. We serve an amazing and awesome Creator! Day after day He hears our prayers and is answering them time and time again. Just a few short weeks ago I was praying for the girls to graduate out of the highest acuity level NICU area now here we are not knocking on the door of discharge. It just doesn't sound real to me. Are my girls both really doing that well? I am thrilled, shocked, and overwhelmed all at the same time.

Mommy and Jillian

Thank you everyone for your prayers. God is answering our prayers for these 2 precious miracles!

First tub bath for Jillian

Jillian practicing for nursing (suck on finger and milk in syringe)

Week 7 updates

It has been a week full of ups and downs. By His provision thankfully our downs are no longer nearly as low as they were in those first few weeks. One day late last week I was sad and frustrated with some issues presenting themselves but through prayer and time in thought I was reminded of how far we have come in just 6 short weeks. When I was once worrying brain bleeds and heart issues I am worrying about much smaller issues and for that I am thankful.

Our praises for this past week include:

• Britian successfully put on high flow. CPAP was not nice to Brit's little nose and I prayed for a better solution when it became obvious that she was failing CPAP. Over this past weekend God gave guidance and wisdom to her nurses and nurse practitioner and she was subsequently put on high flow nasal cannula. She is doing better then I could have ever expected. Her oxygen levels are where they were when she was taken off of the ventilator, nearly at room oxygen levels.
• Jillian was also moved to high flow this week. So far she is doing wonderful. Her blood gases look great and her lung xray are clearer than we've seen in a long time. She started on 4 liters of high flow but was weaned to 3L when her xray showed good expansion.
• Continued growth for both girls. Britian is 3lbs 11oz and Jillian is 2lbs 15oz. They are both very near to graduating to the next pound. Yeah!!
• Wearing clothes. Yes, in the NICU when you are a micro preemie, wearing clothes is something to give praise for. Why? Well simply because it means you are doing so well and are starting to maintain your own body temperature. Preemies of my girls' size cannot create their own body heat so their beds have been creating and measuring their body temperature since day one. Now, at nearly 34 weeks they are getting better at maintaining their own temp and as result can enjoy wearing clothes. Well, they might not appreciate wearing anything but as their Momma, I sure do enjoy dressing them.
• I have been able to hold them both twice this week, Monday and Tuesday. I can not begin to express in words how I felt with both of the girls in my arms. I was filled with such an enormous feeling of love, blessing, and joy. I cried tears of joy holding them both in my arms.

Prayer requests:

• Continued lung growth and development
• Wisdom for the doctors and nurses taking care of the girls
• A strong nursing/sucking instinct and strength for the girls, we are very close to the bottle and breastfeeding milestone
• Insight and knowledge for me their Mom as I advocate and challenge decisions made by their care staff
• Comfort, patience, and mental strength for my older children and husband back home.

Thank you dear friends for all of your support, prayers, and words of encouragement. My girls and I are blessed because of your love.

Britian

Jillian

Britian

Big News for Britian

Britian stretching out while she sleeps on St. Patty's Day

Big events and developments are on the horizon for our little sweet pea, Britian. Doctor rounds this morning were very encouraging.

The neonatologist that is taking care of Britian for the next 2 weeks is a leading expert in his field and the local "guru" on ventilators and lung issues. He is jumping in with both feet and making things happen for Britian, I am very excited. He plans on putting her on a conventional ventilator tomorrow and possibly extubating her soon after that if she does well on the conventional vent. Both changes will allow her to graduate out of bay 1 and become Jillian's newest neighbor. I can not express in words how excited I am at this possibility. My Momma's heart is leaping and overflowing with joy. I am beyond ready for my girls to be together again.

So if you think of my girls this weekend can you please say a little prayer for them both. My biggest prayer this weekend will be that Britian is successful on the new ventilator and does well coming off of her nitric oxide (she can't move to bay 2 on NO). I will also be praying that Jillian continues to do well on her high flow oxygen. The girls are older now so they are required to saturate their blood with oxygen at higher levels. I knew this would increase their oxygen level infusion levels, but I just pray that Jillian can handle these higher levels well and it doesn't tax her little body or freak the doctors and nurses out to the point of changing her high flow (doctors and nurses that don't know her well might see this as a sign of concern but it is normal for my little peanut).

Have a wonderful weekend friends!!

Prayer Requests for Week #5

Daddy holding Jillian for the first time

Wednesday will mark 5 weeks here in the NICU and Friday the girls will be 32 weeks gestational age. Last week I had a calm feeling when the week began, I wish I would say the same for this week. My motherly instinct tells me this will be a week of ups and downs. I am definitely not starting this week with the same sense of calm that existed last week. I would like to ask for your prayers of comfort and healing for this week. The girls are both on the cusp of making great leaps in their healing but with that always comes the uncertainty that additional setbacks could be looming.

Weighing heavy on my heart and mind this week will be Jillian's extubation. She will most likely be extubated (taken off of her ventilator and put on CPAP) Tuesday afternoon. She is going to be given a steroid before and after extubation to give her the best fighting chance of being successful on CPAP as possible. As with everything here in the NICU there are possible side effects and long term complications, I am praying that the benefits for Jillian far outweigh any possible complications.

Additionally, both girls will be getting their eyes checked this week. It is standard procedure here in the NICU for babies to get a ROP exam at or after 31 weeks. The girls were 31 weeks this past Friday so the time has come for their eyes to be checked. Having the girls wear glasses is not a concern, that is something I can certainly deal with. However, I am praying that there isn't something more complicated with their eyes that glasses can not fix.

On a happy note, my husband got to hold Jillian for the first time earlier this afternoon. At 2lbs 6oz, she looked so teeny tiny in his arms. They enjoyed their hour of cuddle time together though and I know that is an hour that my husband will always hold dear in his heart.