So sorry for the delay...our laptop computers are no longer working in our babies' room. I've had IR (computer guru's here at the hospital) come and look at our computers and they cannot say why they will no longer work. The wireless is apparently working fine here. Anyway, the only computer I can use is in the NICU family room which means I cannot add pictures and I have to do the blog outside of the babies' room (which is not my favorite place to be). So, I will try to update as much as possible, but unfortunately it won't be as regularly as it was before. And, you'll just have to be extra patient with seeing our babies now. Take our word for it, though...they're getting more adorable by the minute!! :)
The babies have had a great week overall.
Tycen had been on fluid restriction because of his PDA, which meant he had an increased amount of fortification compared to breast milk. Scott and I agreed that we were not completely comfortable with this so we talked with the doctors about some different options. They told us that they'd recommend we start to wean his CPAP and keep his fluids at the same level. If he tolerated the CPAP weaning well, then we could talk about adjusting his fluids. They said that we could choose to adjust his fluids first if we wanted to (but this was not their recommendation).
This was a very hard decision, but Scott and I decided to go with our intuition and had his fluids adjusted first (so he'd get more breast milk and less fortification). It is especially hard because he really doesn't like CPAP, which is more than understandable. He has to be able to tolerate this well for several days before they will start to wean him off CPAP. So far, he has tolerated it very well!!
**Please pray that Tycen will continue to tolerate increased fluids well and that he will be able to start weaning off CPAP by early next week. Also pray that his PDA will close and his lungs will be developed strongly enough to do VERY well when he is on a lower pressure and finally off CPAP.
Shaylie is doing very well. She is still having some apnea, but not nearly as much as before. They have started to switch her feeds to a three hour schedule. She started with 2.5 hours on and 0.5 hours off (vs. continuous feeding). She then transitioned to 2 hours on and 1 hour off and is now at 1.5 hours on and 1.5 hours off. She will eventually get to about 0.5 hours on and 2.5 hours off. As she is progressing, she has been spitting up more which they think may be causing some of her apnea (as she regurgitates).
Shaylie has also started to breastfeed! They told us that she is too young to get a good latch, but the first time we tried she latched like it was nobody's business. Every time I hold her we practice and she is getting better and better. I get a little nervous that she is getting too much milk because theoretically she isn't quite old enough to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing. I think she is set out to prove everyone wrong, though :)
**Please pray for Shaylie that she will tolerate the progressive 3 hour feeds and that her apnea would continue to resolve. Also pray that Tycen will soon be able to start breastfeeding and that both babies would progress steadily so they can get the best nutrition possible.
The babies are continuing to grow every day. Tycen now weighs 3 lbs 11 oz and Shaylie weighs 3 lbs 3 oz. They will be getting their 1 month measurements done early next week to determine percentiles. It's hard to believe they're almost 4 weeks old already!! At times it seems as though we've been here forever, but other times it seems as though time has flown by. We are so anxious to get home! We are counting down the days...
**Please pray that the babies will continue to grow and be healthy. Pray that they can avoid all illnesses and common obstacles that preemies face (NEC, infection, ROP--retinopathy of prematurity, etc). Also pray that they will be able to discharge sooner than anticipated so we can all be home well before the holidays (originally they thought we'd be here about 8-9 weeks...we're hoping for closer to 8 weeks!).
Thanks, again, for all of your love and support. We are still wanting to limit visitors because of our babies succeptibility to illness. We just ask for your understanding and respect in this. Of course, if it were up to us we wouldn't be in this position where we have to be so protective, but that's just not the case. Until we can share our babies with you all physically, please continue to be a part of their lives both emotionally and spiritually through prayer.
17 years ago
