30 Weeks: 41 Days of Life
We can't believe tomorrow marks 6 weeks with our Mighty Three! (8 weeks of hospital visits thanks to bedrest). Two months has felt like forever but has also flown by. Ryan and I are becoming more comfortable with our "normal" and adjusting to the daily schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are they expected to come home?
Great question! There are a lot of milestones the babies have to reach before this happens, but their 40-week due date is September 1st. The "goal" would be to have the babies home around then. So we still have a good 10 weeks in the NICU.
How are you and Ryan doing this?
We don't know anything different. I honestly don't know how to answer this question because we don't have an option NOT to do it. At church today the sermon was on doors. Revelation 3:20 says, "Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me". Ryan and I have a door standing in front of us. We can either walk through the door and embrace God's presence or we can fight to close the door. We have chosen (daily, sometimes hourly) to walk through the door and sit with God. It's times like this in our lives where we can worship, pray, and be with our Father or we can question and fight against the door. Walking through the door has allowed us to feel peace during the storm and to witness three tiny miracles that are Maggie, Max, and Miller.
What can I do to help?
PRAY! Seriously! This is what we need everyone doing daily! Join us in praying for the Lord to work miracles, not just in our babies, but in the lives being touched by their story.
When will you be able to "breath"?
Excellent question! I can say as of 6 weeks in we don't feel that we are "breathing" any easier. It still changes hourly and Ryan and I have to make a hard decision and have hard conversations still on the regular. Please remember there are MANY updates we don't share and details we keep.
All Three
All the babies started the DART protocol on Wednesday. This protocol will last for 10 days. The decision to begin the DART or steroids was not an easy one. All three babies are behind in lung development and it is crucial for them to be extubated (having their breathing tube out). Having a breathing tube into long can create chronic lung damage and invites infection into the lungs. On the other hand, starting the steroids can result in high heart rate, lower blood pressures, and developmental delays. As of today, all three babies have already shown improvement being on the protocol (we will share more details below).
Maggie
Well as of 10 minutes ago what we are updating has changed! We will start with the praises first. Maggie is now 2lb 2oz! She finally has stayed above the 2lb mark. She is still on 17ml of milk per feed with the extra 6 calories added. Maggie also was extubated just one day after starting the steroids for her lungs. She has now made it 72 hours on the NIV (noninvasive vent). She is currently on around 30-40% oxygen, and the goal is 21%. So she is showing major improvement. This morning she looked pale so they ran some test to try and rule out infection. Maggie is the only one that hasn't had an infection yet, please pray AGAINST any infection. We will know within 24 hours about the infection cultures.
Above: Maggie and Mom get some girl time
Above: Maggie was alert for her kangaroo time with Dad.
Max
Also as of 10 minutes ago Max is has been extubated and is on the NIV! Way to go Bug! Max has had a big week as he is infection FREE! Thank you for your prayers. He also now weighs 2lb 5oz. He gets 19ml every three hours with the 6 calories added. Max has shown great improvement on the DART protocol as well, going from the conventional vent breathing 65% oxygen to breathing 30% on the NIV. We hope this trend continues. Max got held by daddy this week AND mommy :)
Above: Ryan during care time with Max
Above: Max and Dad during kangaroo time.
Miller
Miller has also shown progress this week on the DART protocol. Before they began the steroids he was CLEARED of infection! Hallelujah! He was hovering around 80-90% oxygen before the steroids and today he was on 45%. Huge improvement! We are hoping this continues and he can one day soon be extubated like his brother and sister. Miller is still our biggest baby, weighing 2lb 13oz. He is so close to the 3lb mark. He receives 24ml of food with 6 calories added.
Above: Miller wide awake after care time
Above: We got to help give Miller a bath this week! He loved it!
Above: Miller snuggled up after his bath time
Prayer Request
Though the baby updates look shorter this week, please don't make your prayers shorter :) These babies are still fighting hard.
LOTS of weight gain for all three
Increase feeds
Lower oxygen rates for all three
For NO INFECTION with Maggie
For Maggie and Max to stay on the NIV and for Miller to ween towards the NIV
For no side effects during the DART protocol
When Darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil My anchor holds within the veil
Christ alone; cornerstone Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love Through the storm, He is Lord Lord of all He is Lord Lord of all