Earlier today, we were so excited to have urine in the catheter tube. We have reached another milestone...it has reached the end of the line where it drops into the collection tube. We even had some in the diaper! We are hoping and praying for a continuation and increase in volume. Drake is extremely swollen still and the doctors said that the activity in output needs to increase before this starts to go down. Medicine wise, everything is going to stay the same except they are adding something for his thyroid...good news is the side affect is, an increased need to pee.
Kennedy is still doing good from the earlier report, growing in length and weight. 2# 6oz, 14.5" long which is 1.5" longer than when she was born. She loves kangaroo time with mommy and gets pretty mad when they take her away and put her back in the isolette.
Drake is nowhere close to being out of the woods, it is simply a stepping stone along the path toward wellness. Please keep up the faith for him and continued prayers for his kidneys.
Pictures: Liquid Gold, Kennedy sleeping, Kennedy holding mommies thumb
God is sooooo good!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis post made my night! My family will continue praying. Way to fight sweet babies! I pray todays events and good news leads to a GREAT nights rest for all of u. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteThat picture of pee is a beautiful piece of art! Wow, what that little guy has done to everyone's hearts. I will continue to pray for you and the babies. Hopefully Drake's kidneys are kicked in gear now and will ramp up the production! Kennedy looks like an absolute angel. Thanks for sharing the pictures!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful news - praises, praises, praises! You don't know us, but we know you and are praying for more miraculous progress for Baby Drake. Continuing to pray God's promises over your family.
ReplyDeleteDavid, Tracy & Elisabeth Steiner
Such good news! We will continue pray.
ReplyDeleteLove the blanket. Winnie was a favorite in our house.
Today we have seen a major miracle happen before our eyes. Drake is starting to urinate slowly but surely. God has heard our prayer and is healing his child. Everyone thank God and keep praying to him.
ReplyDeleteIt is so awesome to see kennedy healthy and starting to grow. Everyone keep praying for her to have continued awesome progress as she has. It is so cute to see the personality she already has.
Team Drake and Kennedy continue daily and are greatly encouraged with every word, so don't be shy, everyone around the world post your words of encouragement for them! If these 2 little babies have touched your life please let them know. I know they have touched mine in the past 3 weeks.
God bless everyone in the gilstrap family tonight!
There are first times for everything...tonight is the first time i ever saw a picture of pee i liked!!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure i could ever display the graciousness you reflect in this blog. Your acceptance of the plan God has put in action is a testiment to the promise in His word that if you follow him you will he will not leave you. So often we as parents just want to take control bc of our passion for our children when we really should be giving it to God...thank you for reminding me of what i should do.
The dynamic Duo is taking life by storm! I can see their desire for a chance in their grips on your fingers (re: tonights picture of K and the one u posted last night of D)...they really are incredible which is why I call the Amazing Drake and Super Kennedy...they have a heros will!
You alland keep Baby stepping triumphantly and we will continue in steadfast prayer!!
Such exciting news! Way to go Drake and Kennedy!!
ReplyDeleteI was remembering my favorite psalm this morning - its all about God's protection. The last verses say:
The Lord says. "Because he loves me, I will rescue him. I will protect him because he trusts in My name. When he calls on Me, I will answer. I will rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a long life and give him my salvation.
Ps 91:14-16
I pray that you continue to feel God's protection and love every day.
Thanks be to God for this wonderful update. I'm praying that our little fighter will begin to pee like a river. Drake, let's give Mommy and Daddy lots of soggy diapers to change! Miss Kennedy's continued progress is another wonderful praise as she continues to gain weight and is even 1.5" longer. Her hair even looks longer. Was that the beginning of a little curl I saw in that second picture!!! Oh my goodness! How neat is that? Continued prayers for Kennedy as she graduates to CPAP. God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Psalms 46 Praying this for Mommy and Daddy and family.
ReplyDeleteWhat great news! Go Drake and Kennedy! Praying for more and more milestones!
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God for these two beautiful miracles! Drake and Kennedy have been in my prayers morning and night, and I am so thankful for every tiny step of progress.
ReplyDeleteYour family has touched my heart, and I will continue to pray for each of you. God bless!
In John 15:7 Jesus says,"If you remain in me, and my word remains in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you."
ReplyDeleteThis verse exlemplifies why so many faithful believers have been actively praying for you, Annie, Drake, & Kennedy! We have been promised that the Lord will meet our needs. We may not always understand His plan or His purpose. We have His word to guide us through our journey. Rejoicing over Drake's liquid gold and Kennedy's growth! My prayer is that you can rest a little easier tonight. May the Lord's blessings continue to rain down on your precious family!
In John 15:7 Jesus says, "If you remain in me, and my word remains in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you."
ReplyDeleteThis verse exlemplifies why so many faithful believers have been actively praying for you, Annie, Drake, & Kennedy! We are promised that our Lord will meet our needs. We may not always understand His plan or His purpose. We have His word to guide us through our journey. I am rejoicing over Drake's liquid gold and Kennedy's growth. My prayer is that you can rest a little easier tonight. May the Lord continue to rain His blessings down on your precious family!
So happy for the amazing news for both your babies! Praying both of them continue to make progress and grow stronger and healthier!
ReplyDeleteYvonne and Sydney
Such great news! Yay!! When you have a moment, ask the hospital social worker if they haven't already mentioned Medicaid. There is a form of Medicaid that allows babies born very prematurely to receive benefits for a certain length of time, and it will help immensely with the hospital bills, but they need to be enrolled in it very quickly. Go Drake, Go Kennedy! Keep working hard babies!!
ReplyDeleteOur hearts rejoice with you guys! Thank you, Lord, for this amazing miracle & these continued steps of progress for both Drake & Kennedy! A friend of ours posted this psalm on caringbridge yesterday(they are undergoing cancer treatment at MD Anderson) & I thought it was very appropriate to share. You guys have exemplified this verse so well. Psalm 33:20, "We wait in hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield." may you continue to experience the Lord as your help & your shield. May you continue to celebrate the victories that Drake & Kennedy will make each day. We're still praying & are looking forward to celebrating many more 3 yard plays, firstdowns & touchdowns during the road to COMPLETE VICTORY & TOTAL WHOLENESS of health!!! May the Lord continue to give you His strength, hope, joy, peace, endurance & wisdom today!
ReplyDeleteScott & Lori
Counting the blessings!! Big smiles and tears of joy while reading your posts. Love you all.
ReplyDeleteKelley
Go Drake!! Everyone knew you could do it. Keep it up buddy, we need some more.
ReplyDeleteMiss Kennedy, wow you sure are growing! It makes me happy to watch your progress as you get a little bigger and stronger everyday.
Mommy and daddy- I know you finally got the pee you've been waiting days for and we are still praying for more. Everyone following gets to rejoice for a second then is right back to praying for his kidneys. Get some rest and eat!! Thanks for all the updates.
Another friend of a friend here. My wife and I have been reading your blog for the past week or so and I just wanted to say that your family is in our thoughts. Every morning we wake up to read about your warrior of a son's progress. Our youngest boy was in the NICU for 9 days and though our travails were nowhere near as harrowing as yours, we know how every moment of that time is filled with anticipation of the next doctors' round or consultation. It's so wonderful to see the positive trend in Drake's condition.
ReplyDeleteWe hope that this time in your life is quickly transformed through your doctors' efforts and your faith into a distant memory you can recount to your wonderful son and daughter.
You're in our thoughts,
Kelly and Mary Anne
The comment above about talking to a social worker at the hospital is a very good tip. Our social worker was not good or helpful at all, and we didn't fill out the paperwork until our babies were about 3 1/2 months old. By the time the paperwork was approved, our twins were home and Medicaid will only cover back time for a certain length of time. So, although their entire stay should have been covered, it wasn't because no one told us to do the papers. Our twins also came home with ng-tubes, so our social worker should have told us about MDCP. If your twins come home with any medical equipment (ng tubes, oxygen, cannula, etc.), ask your social worker about MDCP. Hopefully, they will not have to come home with any equipment. This is all the stuff that parents can't think about during the NICU because our only focus is to get our babies well. That's why it's important to have a good social worker. If you have any questions about insurance, Medicaid, or even questions about medical decisions from a parent's perspective, feel free to e-mail me at bailey_mg@yahoo.com. Our 24 week twins spent 133 days in the NICU. (I grew up with Beth Lockhart.) Continued prayers for your little miracles.
ReplyDeleteWhen my little Wesley was in the NICU and all we could do was sit bedside, once it was just the two of us, I would sing one little song to him, "He's got the whole world in His hands." Specifically, He's got the tiny little baby in His hands. A verse so simple, yet so fulfilling.
ReplyDeleteSo thankful that God has your tiny little babies in His hands! I am so glad to hear that Drake is making progress, may he continue to move it that direction. And Kennedy moving to C-pap is huge!!! We waited 5 months for that!!!
God works in wondrous ways. May He continue to work through those hands that help your babies each day. I've said it before, but Mom and Dad you are truly blessed to see God's miracles first hand. Some will go their entire lives without witnessing something so powerful and such a proof of His existence. May He continue to pour down blessings!!!
Lots of prayers coming your way,
Erin Byork
It makes my heart do somersaults reading this good news about you! Drake, way to go- keep it up! You sure are one tough cookie! Kennedy- as we say, OMG, you are quite a little miracle yourself, growing like a weed, and already advancing quickly. My family continues to pray for all of you. You're like a book I can't put down. I know I've said it before but I have to tell you again- thanks for the updates! I so look forward to them!
ReplyDeletePrayers are being answered! Praises go up!! Keep fighting. Can't wait to meet those little angels in person.
ReplyDeleteDawn Hudson