Monday, March 21, 2011

Big Steps!

The kids have taken some giant steps this week that have been so encouraging to us!

Caleb is an all-star! He is the first baby to try a nasal cannula as of Sunday afternoon! What a big boy! The doctors start babies off with 3 hours of cannula followed by 9 hours on the CPAP and then slowly increase the amount of time on the nasal cannula until they can handle it all of the time. CPAPs provide a small amount of pressure that keeps the lungs from completely deflating when the babies exhale. With nasal cannulas, they are breathing completely without assistance. The cannula just provides a little extra oxygen in their nose. Caleb made it all of the way through his first 3 hours while spending 2 of those hours doing kangaroo care with me. His blood gas came back awesome after he was put back on the CPAP, so it was a very successful first stint out!

Caleb on a Nasal Cannula for the first time


Just a little bigger than a can of coke!


Abby has gotten much better since earlier in the week. The cultures from her blood and the secretions in her lungs all came back negative, but since 48 hours of antibiotics seemed to help her, the doctors extended it to 10 days. We are so glad that even though no one is quite sure where her infection is in her body, that they at least found something that is helping her get better! When they started treating the infection, her ventilator settings were at 60 breaths a minute. As of Saturday morning, they moved her to CPAP and she has successfully stayed on it! Sean and I both got to hold her again this weekend which was wonderful! We hadn’t held her in two weeks because she was doing so poorly.

Abby spending time with her Daddy while on CPAP for the first time!


Taken last week while she was still on her vent. Do you like my hat??


Elijah is still on his CPAP and doing pretty well with it. His major hurdle is remembering that he needs to breathe…all of the time. His apnea is just a sign of prematurity and he should outgrow it soon. Thankfully, his episodes of apnea (forgetting to breathe) and bradycardia (drops in heart rate) are decreasing every day, so we are hoping that he might get to try the nasal cannula in the near future. Even those don’t phase him though. He is just as chill about everything as he can possibly be.

Elijah hanging out on his CPAP


Ellie has kept up with everyone and held her own on the CPAP. Not only that, but they’ve been able to pull her feeding tube from down her throat and move it to her nose. She likes this a lot better since she doesn’t have stuff in her mouth anymore...except her new pacifier! The doctor also told us that her PDA surgery has been postponed indefinitely. Unless she takes a giant step backwards, we are going to get to skip that altogether!

Ellie wearing her pretty little hat!


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This video has been going around for the last few days, and it cracks me up every time I watch it! On rough days, this is the type of silliness that I like to look forward to. I'm sure we will have plenty of laughs with four little ones at home!

--Posted by Rebecca

14 comments:

  1. Praise God. I pray the highs get higher and the lows become less frequent. Thanks for the updates!

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  2. I love you all!! I am so excited at how much your babies are growing and able to breathe more and all.... :-D

    The youtube video cracked me up so bad! :D

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  3. Thats great news to hear all are taking big steps forward. Soon all will be off the CPAP and all breathing on their own, and getting to wear preemie clothes. Which have some to give you.

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  4. What a wonderful, encouraging update! Sounds like life is smoothing out somewhat and I especially love that big bright smile on both your faces! Praise God for his Goodness EVERYDAY! As we only see one set of footprints in the sand sometimes, remember he's holding and carrying you and your precious family so close to his heart! I love you...

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  5. The updates are super! Both girls look darling in their hats!

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  6. What fantastic news! But, oh, Time is flying by! When you said that it had been two weeks since you had been able to hold Abby, I thought: "Wait, it's been HOW LONG since they were born?" Thank you for sharing all the great news.

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  7. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow (x4)!! I really appreciate your blog and love you lots too. Keep smiling and praising God.

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  8. Great news!!! We'll continue praying.
    Next blog, tell us how much they all weigh now.
    Thanks!

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  9. I came to your site through a friend, Beth Hixon, asking for prayer for your babies. I think God has blessed those 4 babes by giving them you and your husband as parents. Keeping you all in prayer.

    Here is a video you might enjoy:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hooid1LJ9Kc

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  10. I'm so glad to hear your babes are doing so much better. I love reading about their progress.

    I'll keep you all in my prayers.

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  11. Such good little updates. Loving the pictures. Loving the hats. Thanks for sharing your little treasures with us!

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  12. Love the pictures! You are all soooo adorable! I get teary-eyed. Thanks for sharing the good news! Breathe babies, breathe! <3

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  13. I'm so glad they are doing so well right now, what a blessing! You all continue to be in my prayers. :)

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  14. I am so happy for the Ishum Quads! What a bunch of baby superheroes. I know they will continue to do better and better. You continue to be on my heart and in my prayers.

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