Cannula!

To my surprise, when I walked into the nursery this morning our little Drake was on cannula...What a wonderful surprise! So far, he is doing really good on it. We are hoping he will be able to stay on it his first try. However, we know if he is just not ready, it is best not to push him and he will go back on CPAP for a while. I love seeing his sweet face!

Drake's infection has been identified as e coli. This is also a graham negative bug like the serratia but it is easier to treat. He is now on only one antibiotic, ampicillin, which does not have harsh side effects like the ones they used to treat the bad infection he got several weeks ago. Once he is clear of infection, they will perform the dye test to check for urine reflux. The main thing is that we know what it is and they know how to treat it. Also, it is not holding him back from moving forward with his cannula.

Kennedy is still looking good. She has been holding steady and the doctors have not had to make any changes with her. The doctor even mentioned "Special Care" which is a step down from the NICU and we would get to stay in the same room with the babies...o yea, and one step closer to home. Ideally, we would all like to move together.

Pictures:
1) Kennedy "Miss Independent"
2) Drake on CPAP
3) Drake on cannula
4) Kennedy
5) Drake
6) Kennedy & Daddy
7) Drake-I love this one!
8) Kennedy & Mommy

4 Pounds 4.8oz

That is how much both babies weigh. Yes, Drake has caught up with sister! Exactly 4# 4.8oz. I couldn't believe it!

Drake: His urine culture came back positive with graham negative rods. This means he has a urinary tract infection. The graham negative rods meant that anther lumbar puncture (spinal tap) had to be done. Poor Drake! The doctor did it this afternoon and Drake was a champ! The preliminary results are back and it looks good. His spinal fluid does not show signs of an infection. This is wonderful news! They have added a third antibiotic and the infectious disease doctor will be in early in the morning to reevaluate. He will decide what specific antibiotics need to be continued and which can be stopped. He will also decide how long to treat. Because Drake had previously had a UTI, he was already on a preventative medicine when he got this infection. Once this infection is cleared, we will be meeting with a urologist. They will need to do a test which inserts a dye into a catheter to see if he has urinary tract reflux. If this is the case, a procedure will be done to correct the problem.

Kennedy: She is doing really good! In fact, she is already figuring out how to get what she wants. She was a little fussy this afternoon so I picked her up out of her crib. It still feels weird that I can go and pick her up whenever I want to without asking for permission or assistance. As soon as I picked her up, she was calm and happy. So, I ended up holding her for several hours. I just didn't want to put her down. My mom was able to hold her granddaughter for the first time today! That was a fun moment to experience. I know she can't wait to do the same with Drake. We put Kennedy's mobile on her crib today and she was very intrigued. I can't wait for Brian to see her tomorrow! I know he is excited about picking her up on his own.

Pictures:
1) Drake
2) Kennedy
3) Kennedy with Gran

Now We Wait

Both the CVC and CRP tests came back with normal results this afternoon. This is good. They will repeat these tests again in the morning to make sure things still look ok. His cultures have been sent off and now we wait to see if something grows. His doctor doesn't think it will be a blood infection but does think it could be a urinary track infection or an ear infection. The antibiotics should take care of either of these. If it is a UTI, we will need to bring in a urologist because of the problems Drake has already faced with his kidneys. It could also mean another spinal tap, but let's hope not. So for now, we wait. The good news is that he has not been acting sick, and he even pulled his CPAP tube out today...twice. Other than his one high temperature the rest have been fine. In fact, his doctor said if it were any other baby they would just monitor closely but with Drake we are not taking any chances.

Kennedy is still on cannula and they are hoping to lower her settings tomorrow. She is already on minimal settings with 1L and 21% oxygen (room air). She had a tummy ache today and was a little fussy. The nurses said the higher calories added to her milk can cause that. A nice warm blanket on her tummy seems to sooth her and she falls asleep. Although when she is awake, she is usually up to mischief. She pulled her feeding tube and cannula out today. She also scooted herself to the bottom of her crib mattress, and her nurse and I watched her lift her head up and turn it. She surprised her nurse with how strong she is for such a little girl.

Late last night, I was informed that the babies would be moved to cribs and lose their webcams. They have not heard back from the news crews about the webcam story and they are in need of the giraffe beds. The positive thing is that our babies are ready for cribs. We are so thankful that they are both big enough and strong enough to move to hospital cribs, and we completely understand that they need the giraffe beds for smaller less stable babies. I guess this means I better take extra pictures to send Brian each day since he will not be able to log in and view them. I know that is how he likes to start his morning off each day.

Pictures:
1) Kennedy
2) Kennedy in her big girl crib
3) Kennedy with mommy
4) Kennedy
5) Drake in his big boy crib
6) Drake

Prayers For Drake

This morning, Drake has spiked a temp of 101.4. They have drawn all of the blood tests and cultures. We are anxiously awaiting results to give us some direction. The doctors are being proactive and starting him on two broad spectrum antibiotics. As soon as I know more, I will update. Please say an extra prayer for Drake as he is facing yet another infection.

One Day at a Time

Not much to report today. We're all holding steady. The doctor weaned Kennedy down to 1L on her cannula and she is still on 21% oxygen(room air). Tomorrow he plans to wean her down even more. This should help with her stuffy nose. The cannula is very dry air as opposed to the CPAP which is very humid. The climate change caused her stuffy nose, which prevents her from being able to suck on her pacifier. She was a very sad baby this afternoon when she wanted her pacifier but couldn't have it. Her nurse had me hold her and it was a wonderful feeling to have her stop crying. She switched from mad to happy just by me holding her.

The doctor did not make any changes on Drake. His CO2 level was a little higher than his last check. Therefore, he is staying on his new lower CPAP level of 4 and they will check his levels again on Thursday. If all goes well, he will be moved to cannula by the weekend. Last night he even held his pacifier with both hands for quite some time. That pacifier makes for one happy baby!

Pictures:
1) Kennedy
2) Kennedy
3) Drake

Cannula - Take Two

Kennedy made the move from CPAP to cannula today! This morning just before she was moved to cannula we had quite a scare. I heard a monitor alarming and looked around to see who it was. To my surprise, it was Kennedy. Her heart rate had dropped. I immediately began rubbing her feet. No luck. The head nurse walked in and told me turn her head, which I did. Still no luck. At this point her saturation level began alarming too. The head nurse jumped in and began working on her. The respiratory therapist jumped in there with her too. She had to bag her with the hand held equipment. The doctor came in and all three were working on her. Kennedy was so pale. I was standing back out of the way and my heart was in my stomach. We still don't know what caused this episode, but it may have been water from her tube that choked her. The doctor went ahead and moved her to cannula. She is doing great! She is breathing 21% oxygen (room air) and her saturations are wonderful.

After the doctor examined Drake this morning, she determined that he wasn't quite ready for cannula. We were just talking last night about him not being ready; therefore, we were not surprised by this. A few more days on CPAP will do him good. He has been weaned down to a CPAP level of 4 from a 5 yesterday. This has gone well so far. As long as he has his pacifier, he is a happy camper.

Pictures:
1) Kennedy
2) Drake
3) Kennedy
4) Drake
5) Kennedy
6) Drake

Day of Rest

Drake and Kennedy have both had a long day of rest to recover from their immunization shots. Slight temperatures were expected so they have both been given Tylenol. If all goes well tomorrow morning with their labs and blood tests, they will be moved to cannulas. I can't believe they might both be ready! Kennedy is definitely ready because she has been trying her best to get out of her CPAP. Even though her arms are swaddled, she wiggles, squirms and turns her head to get the prongs out of her nose. She has also figured out how to use her tongue to get her feeding tube out of her mouth.

Drake has reached 4#! He is not far behind Kennedy who weighed in at 4# 2.7oz. They are getting so big! It is wonderful to see chunky little cheeks!

Pictures:
1) Kennedy pushing her feeding tube out
2) Drake
3) Drake...maybe a future boxer
4) Drake
5) Kennedy

Extended Webcam

Since the first few days in Dallas, we have been fortunate to have webcams on the babies isolettes at all times. This has been very much appreciated by not only us but grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a dad at work during the week. Brian calls me every morning when he starts his day, and he tells me that he has already checked on the babies. These cameras are specifically for babies in Giraffe Isolettes. These isolettes are enclosed and provide heat and humidity for micro-preemies. Since our little angels are getting bigger and stronger, they are ready for NICU cribs. This is wonderful because they are big enough and strong enough for this new bed; however, it is sad because we will lose our webcams. We have known for a few weeks now that this was coming. On the day they told us the transition would be made, the I.T. man came by to see me. To my surprise, he wasn't there about losing the cameras, he was there to see if we were willing to help with PR about the cameras. He told me they felt we would be excellent candidates to tell of our experience and how we have enjoyed the webcams since it is new technology to the hospital. The PR people are working with the news here in Dallas and in Tyler for the story. After everything the NICU at Dallas Presby has done for our family, we are happy to be able to help them. Plus, we get an extra week out of the cameras!

Update on shots: Kennedy has completed her shots as of this evening, and Drake's will be complete during the night. So far, they seem to be tolerating them well. The nurses are keeping a close eye on them. If all goes well, they will both be ready for cannula in a few days!

Pictures:
1)Screen shot of Kennedy & Drake from our webcam
2)Drake
3)Kennedy on the webcam
4)Kennedy with mommy holding her paci
5)Drake holding daddy's finger

Shots

Being two months old means it's time for their first round of immunizations. Shots are not fun for anyone so you can imagine how Drake and Kennedy reacted. They each will be receiving 5 different immunizations combined into 3 injections. These 3 shots will be administered over the next 36 hours. One shot every 12 hours. As with any baby receiving immunizations, there could be side effects such as a fever. They will be given Tylenol to help with the reaction to the shots. We are glad they are still on CPAP for the shots because it will provide greater support than the cannula. Some babies react so badly to these immunizations that it becomes a major set back placing them back on the ventilator. We definitely do not want that to happen. The doctor did tell us that they plan to move both Drake and Kennedy to cannula next week!

Drake's CPAP has been weaned down to a 4 and he is doing great with this change. His feeds have been increased to 35cc every 3 hours and they are gradually going up on his calories. He has done great with this! Digestion has always been his strength. He loves to eat! Other than that, he has just been resting and loving attention from mommy and daddy.

Kennedy's CPAP has also been weaned down to a 4 and she is doing wonderful with the change. The doctors have moved her back up to the higher calories. When I was holding Drake, she became very fussy and her nurse was not having any luck settling her. As soon as Brian went over and began talking to her, she immediately calmed down. She just wanted her daddy.

Pictures:
1) Drake
2) Kennedy
3) Kennedy
4) Drake with his face squished by CPAP

2 Months Old

Wow! It's still hard to believe they are 2 months old today! In a way the time has flown by but in another it has felt like an eternity. Hopefully, we will be celebrating 3 months all together at home.

When I met with the doctor this morning, he updated me on Drake's morning blood test results. His hermatocrit (volume of blood) was too low and he needed another blood transfusion. Of course this meant a new IV and feeds would be stopped. The good news is that the transfusion is complete and he was able to start back on his feeds. He isn't back on the higher calories yet, but they will slowly increase them tomorrow.

Kennedy is doing really good on her CPAP. She's just cruising; however, she does get cranky that she isn't getting to be held. I can't blame her.

Brian's dad has been released from the hospital and is back home resting. Thank you to everyone for your prayers.

Pictures:
1) Drake
2) Kennedy
3) Drake's sign his nurse made
4) Kennedy's sign her nurse made

2 Steps Forward & 1 Step Back

Kennedy had a minor setback today. She was moved back to CPAP from cannula. She was working too hard to breathe which had the potential to cause other problems. It was better to move her back to CPAP for a little bit than run the risk of causing reintubation later. This really is only a minor setback and she will be back on cannula soon. The good news is that I was able to hold her this morning while she was still on cannula. Definitely a highlight to my day. I was even able to stand up and place her back into her isolette without assistance from a nurse or respiratory therapist. That was definitely a first for me! I know we will be able to do that again in the near future. Now that she is back on CPAP, the 72 hour wait begins again before I can hold her.

Drake is still doing great on his CPAP! They removed his backup rate today and he handled it like a champ! He completed his 72 hour wait period today and I was finally able to hold him again! Another bright spot in my day! When the respiratory therapist was changing out his tape and hat for CPAP (just putting fresh ones on), I was able to snap a picture of his face. I got one of Kennedy today when they switched her back as well.

Last night we had quite a scare. Brian's dad had a heart attack and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital in San Antonio. While I was sitting in our NICU nursery with our babies, I was praying for Brian's dad to be alright. Finally, I received a call that his dad was in recovery after a stint was placed in his heart. He is still in the hospital, but he is doing much better. He likes to do everything for himself so I am sure he is driving the nurses crazy. Please keep him in your prayers as well.

Pictures:
1) Drake's sweet face
2) Drake with fresh CPAP garb
3) Kennedy on cannula this morning
4) Kennedy's precious face

48 Hours

Drake has completed the first 48 hours of CPAP and is well on his way to 72! I am very much looking forward to tomorrow when I can hold him again! He had a great blood test this morning and they weaned his backup rate on the CPAP. If all goes well with his blood test in the morning, they will remove his backup rate all together. One day at a time, little by little, progress is being made. Two nurses came to visit with me today and check on the babies. Both of them called Drake a miracle baby! We definitely agree!

Kennedy is still doing great on the cannula. I love being able to see her sweet face every day! She did not have any changes made today. It is so much easier to hold her with the cannula, and I look forward to Brian experiencing it this weekend.

Pictures:
1) Kennedy sleeping
2) Happy Drake
3) Drake
4) Kennedy while I was holding her