Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Deep Breaths

The title of this post is meaningful in multiple facets. For one, Annie and I feel like we can quit holding our breath for this moment to celebrate these first downs Drake and Kennedy have been making. Second, Drake is handling the new ventilator settings. And lastly, Kennedy will be trying her hand at CPAP again very soon.

Things really haven't changed much from earlier today. Drake is staying strong, letting everyone know he can do this new ventilator thing...and he is doing well, when you leave him alone. This is ok, he has earned the right to be fussy...have you gone seven days without going to the bathroom? The lumbar puncture has no further update yet. This morning, the doctor told us that it could be today or tomorrow. It will also be dependent on what his back looks like and whether or not they can easily access the vertebrae for the procedure. Best news today, the nurse told us that if he does well on the ventilator tonight and tomorrow then he could kangaroo as early as tomorrow afternoon. There is one excited mommy in the room! Excited daddy too, because that would mean that I could finally get to hold Kennedy.

Kennedy is still eating a lot...and making some dirty diapers for me to change. They decided to give her a little more volume than what she has been getting, but they have a special pump that feeds her over an hour and a half to keep her from spitting up. They said one of the problems they sometimes see, is that once the volumes get high for their weight, it is hard for the babies to keep it down. So far, she seems to be dong very well. Another CPAP attempt will be sometime this week. She is a determined girl and has the "never give up" attitude like her brother, so I feel that she is going to get it this time. Besides, she is getting very strong and may pull her tube out of her mouth anyway.

Pictures: YES, there is a picture of Drake. Drake and Kennedy on their one month stepping stone yesterday.

14 comments:

  1. Such good news! Keep those first downs coming Drake and Kennedy. Your mommy and daddy are two of the best coaches ever. Praying Drake gets kangaroo time with mommy so you can get some daddy daughter time!

    Sydney LOVES the pictures!!! She keeps saying how cute they are!

    Yvonne and Syd

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  2. Oh precious babies!! Keep the fight going you can do this!! So happy to see Drake he is very handsome and Kennedy what a doll she is! Can't wait to meet them both and tell them all about getting to work for the best guy ever! Keep up the good work Buddy you are going great.

    Lots of hugs and love from Jessi & Reagan ;))

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  3. We have faith and are so very thankful for Drake and Kennedy's progress. Where faith and hope grows, miracles blossom. I cannot wait for Drake to have his much needed kangaroo time and for you to have your lil girl in your arms. Thanks so much for keeping us posted. Prayers continue.

    Kelley

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  4. Drake!!! So wonderful to finally see you again! Keep up the good work and we will keep praying for you, your sister, mommy and daddy. Grandparents, too!

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  5. Praise the Lord! Wonderful to see both of them looking so good. Prayers continue for all. <><

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  6. Amazing! God is Great:). We will continue to pray for your precious miracles!
    Tyra

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  7. Beautiful babies! Prayers still going up!

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  8. SO fabulous to hear!!! Praise God! They are so prescious and already look like they have the same eyes. It is so amazing to watch and see the many many changes they will go through. Everything you witness is what they would have looked like while still in utero and it is so wonderful to get to experience it. You really get an understanding of how they grow. So happy to see they are both growing so strong and fighting hard! They are both perfect in every way!

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  9. Praying everyday for you and your angels!

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  10. My heart rejoices for you, and also breaks for you! Rejoicing that they are steadily improving, and breaking that it is such a tough haul for them. As Kennedy has shown, they probably want to be held and cuddled by you as much as you want to cuddle them. But, God is good and He knows the end from the beginning. It is marvelous to see His hand in your family's life and I will keep praying for more first downs! (from a concerned and caring friend of a friend!)

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  11. They are so beautiful and precious, growing stronger day by day, their bodies becoming more and more ready for the world outside of the NICU, and soon enough, they will emerge to start living their life and growing up to be the cutest pair of twins you have ever seen :)

    Great job Brian and Annie this past month, you two have been so strong and been so good with your loving these two day after day, hour after hour, and doing great at it! You two are officially the parents of the year in my book, and the love you two have is so amazing, so powerful, never giving up no matter what is thrown in your paths, and looking to God for guidance daily... you two amaze me just as much as your two little ones :)

    Keep it up Team Drake and Team Kennedy :) You all are doing so much for these babies and so important to helping them be where they are at. Thank you for your long hours of work, your checking on them and showing them so much love... you are the difference in their lives :)

    Thank you God finally, for letting these two children come into Brian and Annie's life... and for the many decades of life ahead of them :)

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  12. Aww they are both so cute!!!! Glad to finally see. pic of Drake again and still praying for all of your beautiful family :)

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  13. Beautiful children you and Annie have created. I am so glad both are continuing to do well. My prayers and thoughts are with you all everyday. Not a day goes by that someone at work doesn't ask me how the babies are doing. Stay strong for those precious angels, they need you and you need them.
    Love ya !!

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  14. God has truly blessed your family! I'll keep up the prayers for further successes!

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