Progress!!

Grady with mamma....


Ella with mamma


Daddy's first feeding with Grady...


Snuggle time with daddy

What a great day. This morning the doctor came in to talk with us after the lab and x-rays. Everything is the same as yesterday for the most part with some progress.

Ella's labs were a little better so they have begun the process of weening her off the oxygen. This is a long process, reducing only percents at a time. At 1:33 AM on Wednesday, she is at 44%. She was at 50% this morning. They will continue until she is at 'room' O2 levels (22%) and then ween her off of the other functions of her breathing tube. The tube giver her a small amount of pressure at the beginning and end of each breath plus an additional 15 breaths per minute. Each of those will be reduced slowly and one at a time. Reducing them too quickly will result in regression and the pneumo will be back at it's original state. She is now taking feedings every three hours in lieu of 4. They are only at 6 ml because she isn't able to digest more than that. She is still on the IV feeding tubes and will be for a while. Carrie was able to hold her this evening. The first time since her birth. It was a very emotional time for both of us. The staff was great as it took 30 minutes to move all of the tubes and wires to get her to Carrie's chest. A delicate process.

Grady is doing good. He is no longer in the warmer bed. They have taken that bed out and returned him to a bassinets. Just knowing that he's no longer in the 'bubble' is progress to me. He is showing some signs of Jaundice, a high level of billy ruben in the blood that is usually removed by the liver. They will monitor him closely as the next few days that number will peak. If it gets too high there is a special blanket that will reduce those levels. We have been able to hold him today after feedings. He's still on the O2 and IV's. Both babies are still on antibiotics. It's great to be able to bond with the babies again.

Carrie is doing good. She was officially discharged today. Tom and Diane came up and helped me clean out the room. The NICU room is a sterile environment so we had to select what things we could bring with. We weren't able to take any of the flowers or food with us. (thanks to those that sent them) Carrie and I want to share the joy they brought us so we donated the flowers to the OB unit with instructions to give them to moms who didn't have a daddy with her. The real pain from the c-section is setting in now that she is off the hospital meds. Definantly tender and has a hard time getting up and down sometimes. She doesn't complain - signs of mother hood! Babies needs over mine.

The staff is phenomenal here. They know the pain and emotions that we are going through and try to explain every detail to us as well as involve us actively in their care. I was able to snuggle with Grady tonight. Skin to skin is very therapeutic to preemies (and for daddies!!)

We're still one day at a time but there were some big moments today. Sorry that I didn't get this out sooner. The posts are such an encouragement. Thank you to all.

Daddy