Still Waiting

Caleb's sleep study went well.  It actually didn't show reflux.  However, in the past two days he has had 6 heart rate drops.  So, now we are waiting again.  It looks like he will have to come home on a monitor, so he won't have to go 6 days without any episodes, but he does have to have a few days with fewer and less drastic episodes.  We are doing OK with this, but it is obviously disappointing.  We are trying to focus on the fact that, overall, he is healthy and he will eventually grow out of this.

We really are thankful for all of the people God has been using to bless us.  It has been wonderful not to have to worry about dinners.  I can't imagine what we would be eating the evenings I've been trekking down to the hospital.  Thank you to all who have been making us meals and especially to Bri for taking on the task of organizing this.  We definitely feel God's love and care for us. Thank you to our family and friends for being God's vessels of care for us.

Sleep Study

They just inserted the tube in Caleb's esophagus for his sleep study.  It's supposed to last about 12 hrs.  This test should determine if the heart rate drops are from prematurity or reflux.  Hopefully, we will know the results by tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday.  

We are really enjoying Luke and I will try to post pictures soon.  (I'm too busy cuddling him to stop to take a picture:)

Caleb

We are again battling discouragement.  After 3 days without any heart rate drops, Caleb had a significant one this  morning.  We were really thinking he would be home by Monday, but now he has to go another 5-7 days without one before he could possible come home.  The doctor now thinks it could be my milk causing the problem, so he will only be doing the Alimentum formula for the next couple of days.  If he does this, then he will stick to just formula, which saddens me, but I want to do whatever it takes for him to come home.  If doing only formula doesn't stop the heart rate drops, then they will do a sleep study, which is not comfortable for him.

So, while we are thoroughly enjoying having Luke home with us, we also long to have Caleb home.  Please pray that the doctors can solve the problem soon and then we will find comfort from the Lord as we wait.

Luke's Home!!!!!!!!!

I'll have to post more later, but Luke is home and we are so happy!!!!  The kids are loving their new little brother.  Zac keeps looking at him and laughing.  He also keeps saying "I want to hold it".  Elaina has been at Luke's side since we walked through the door.  She can't wait to hold him.  TJ is the proud big brother and happy to have Luke home.  I'll post pictures later.  For now we are enjoying having one of our precious babies home.  (Hopefully, Caleb will be joining us soon too.)

Update and good news

It looks like Luke is coming home tomorrow!!!!!!!!  Please pray that he has no episodes between now and then and, more importantly, that he is strong enough and ready to come home.

Caleb is now completely off of tube feedings.  He is still having 1-2 heart rate drops a day, but they now believe that they are related to reflux.  They have switched his formula today (to the Really expensive stuff) and if that doesn't help after a couple of days, they will try him on reflux medicine.  The good news is that he SHOULD be able to come home once they get this figured out.  They told me today that the 6 day rule without heart rate drops doesn't necessarily apply to reflux issues.  So please pray that they figure it out quickly.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TJ!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe my "baby" boy is 5 today!  He has grown up so much in the last 5 years, but some things have not changed... his absolute ADORATION of his daddy (he LOVES to do anything and everything with him); his affinity for any and all superheroes (but especially spiderman and batman); his love for people (he loves "company" as he refers to visitors :).

A few things have changed though.  He is in school, and, for the most part, loving it.  He's starting to read and add.  Along with superheroes, he is now a fan of video games.  (Yes, he is Donny's "mini me".)  He is a big brother to 1 sister and 3 brothers (although he hasn't even met two of them yet.)

Timothy is such a sweetheart and very loved by our family.  We are so blessed by his tender heart for others and we look forward to seeing God work in his heart even more.  

Please Pray

Well, we're really fighting discouragement right now.  It was looking like Luke was going to come home this weekend, and then he had another heart rate drop today, which means an automatic extra 6 days.  Caleb is not even close to coming home yet.  It's looking like they could be in there all the way up to my due date, which was February 7th.  It's just getting hard because I feel like I'm missing out on so much precious time  with them.  So, please pray for us emotionally and pray that the boys would get better and come home.

More pictures of Caleb

More pictures of Luke

Praises and Prayer Requests

God has been doing a lot this week.  First I'll list the praises.

1)  Both boys are off of their IVs, jaundice lights and oxygen.  We can actually see their sweet little faces and they are wearing cute little outfits now instead of just diapers :)

2)  The boys are also both taking bottles, which has been fun to help with when we are there.

3)  Luke's second echo cardiogram came back normal!

4)  Luke did NOT been require his feeding tube at all today.

Prayer requests:

1)  That Luke would continue to improve.  He has made great strides but the doctor said it's not uncommon to take a few steps forward and then a step back.  Pray that he takes no steps back.

2)  Caleb is still having episodes of bradychardia(sp?), which is a drop in his heart rate.  He is also still having some apnea.  He has to have no episodes of either for at least a week before he can come home.

3)  Caleb also has not been finishing his bottles, which means he needs to have some of his feeds through the feeding tube.  He needs to consistently get nourishment only from the bottle.

4)  Please pray that both boys would start to gain weight.  They have both lost quite a bit, which is to be expected, but now they need to be consistently gaining.

So, as you can see, God has been good to us and the boys have made a LOT of progress and they will only be a week old tomorrow!  Thank you for your prayers and support :) 

Luke Nathaniel

Caleb Isaac

Cuddle time

Donny and I both got to hold BOTH boys today.  It was our first time holding Luke, and it just made my day.  I was also able to nurse Caleb, although he really didn't do much, it was still an opportunity to get him used to it.  We really got to hold them each for quite a while.

They both still seem to be improving, however Caleb had a few breathing "episodes" today.  It is just a lot for preemies to eat, maintain body temperature and breathe.  These episodes reset the clock, so to speak, for Caleb, meaning he has to go a week from today without any before they would consider sending him home.  Luke is still on the nasal cannula, so the one week rule hasn't even started for him yet.

So, it looks like it's still going to be a little while.  Please continue to pray for our sweet boys and for us.  Pray also that God would give us wisdom in how to organize our family life.  It is a challenge to schedule time with the boys and yet to not neglect our 3 kiddos here at home.  Also, we are realty hoping and praying that when the time comes for the boys to come home, it can happen on the same day.  It would be really hard logistically to visit one in the hospital with one at home.

Again we thank you for all of your encouragement and prayer.

Update

It's amazing to me that there is ALREADY good news.  As of yesterday afternoon, Caleb was no longer requiring oxygen.  He was breathing on his own and doing well.  I was able to change him and hold him again.  I finally saw his little eyes too, which was great!  (Both boys are under lights for jaundice, so they wear eye masks most of the time right now.)

Luke is also showing improvement.  He had another lung x-ray yesterday which showed that his lungs are looking better than they were.  He was able to come out of the oxygen bubble that was over his head yesterday and he was also requiring less oxygen for part of they day.  I still haven't gotten to hold him, but I was able to touch him more and even change his diaper yesterday.

These are very exciting improvements, but we also know that things can go up and down for a little while, so please continue to pray that they will make progress and be able to come home soon.  I am going home today, which will be challenging.  I'm very excited to see my kiddos at home (I do miss them!), but it will be hard to leave Luke and Caleb.  I'm hoping to come down once a day until they come home, but it will be tricky to work out all of the scheduling details.  I know they are in good hands (not just the staff here, but ultimately in God's hands) but it is still going to be hard to leave them.

Thank you all for your encouraging words and prayers.  Donny and I have been so blessed by the comments left on the blog and by e-mails from everyone.  I would love to answer them all personally, but that may take some time.  For now, just know that we appreciate you all and thank God for you.

(Also, I will ATTEMPT to post pictures later today.  I'm not very techno savy .)

God in the Details

Looking at the events of the past few days, it can be every tempting to focus on what did NOT go as I would have liked or planned. There sure are quite a few things that would fit into that category. However, I know that is not what God would have me do. Instead, he has been gracious to reveal to me a few details that he orchestrated to bless us and to make things go more smoothly. So, here are a few of the "blessings from above":

1) I went into labor around midnight, which meant NO TRAFFIC on the way to the hospital. Living 30 minutes away and knowing my history of quick labors, this had been and area of concern for us, but God took care of it.

2) Since it was so late, Donny was home, which saved us time. This had been another prayer request of ours and it was answered :)

3) The babies turned just a couple of weeks ago and I was able to deliver them without a c-section. I can't even imagine recovering from surgery right now. It has been a blessing to be able to focus on the boys and to go to see them several times a day without having to worry about my own recovery.

4) I had really hoped to go into labor over a weekend, which I did. My reason for this was twofold: First, so Donny wouldn't have to take as much time off of work (he doesn't have a whole lot of vacation available right now). Since he didn't have to take several days, he should now be able to take time off when the boys come home, which will be great.

The second reason I was hoping for a weekend was because of TJ and school. We have lots of friends and family who will be helping out with rides to and from school, but I knew it would be easier if we didn't have to make arrangements on the spot if I went into labor on a school day. (By the way, thank you Ab and Katrine for helping out with rides this week:)

So, God's timing is perfect. He is caring for us in ways we don't even see yet. I'm sure I will have more details to add to this list as the days go on :)

"But I trust in you. O Lord; I say, 'You are my God. My times are in your hands;' "...

Psalm 31: 14-15a

They're Here!!!!!!!

On January 3rd, the boys decided to arrive. They did not give much warning and seemed quite anxious to be with us. My water broke just before midnight and not long after contractions started. By the time we arrived at the hospital, I was already dilated to 9 cm and in A LOT of pain. I begged for an epidural, which they tried numerous times to give me, but the anesthesiologist just could not get it in the correct spot. Finally, I realized Caleb wanted OUT. He was born at 2:44 am (less than 3 hrs after my water had broken). I got to rest for a few minutes, then they attempted the epidural again, due in part to not knowing if Luke was going to cooperate and get into position, in which case I would have needed c-section. After numerous more failed attempts (i felt like a pin cushion) the contractions started again, as did the feeling that Luke was ready to be born. Finally, he got the epidural in and told me it would take about 15 minutes to work. I knew I didn't have that long. As soon as I laid down, Luke's water broke and a minute or two later he came FLYING out (3:24 AM). (The epidural did help with the pain AFTER they were born :)

Caleb weighed 5 lbs 15 oz and is 19 1/2 inches long. Luke weighed 5 lbs 10 oz. and is 19 1/4 inches long. Big babies for being born at 35 weeks.

Right away, the doctors began giving Luke extra attention. It was obvious he was having difficulties with his breathing. Caleb, however, seemed to be doing fine and we were able to hold him for a while.

Luke was whisked away to NICU and we have not been able to hold him yet. His breathing is very labored and his lungs are quite premature. He does not respond well to sound, light or touch, so our visits with him are very brief. They have him on a nose canule (sp?) as well as in an oxygen bubble. Currently, they are also giving him IV fluids. He has also shown some cardiac issues which I don't completely understand. It seems that along with a murmur, there are some vessels that should be closed but are open, due to his prematurity. There are also some places where there is bidirectional flow and he has pulmonary hypertension. This information all came after an echocardiogram and they said they will do another in 2-3 days. They did say his heart looks better that they had originally thought and that most if not all of these issues should correct themselves as he grows and matures.

As I said before, Caleb was allowed to stay with us for a while. We were able to hold him for a bit, until the nurse noticed he was struggling a bit to breathe. They took him to the regular nursery to be monitored. After a couple of hours, they decided he would do better in the NICU as well. HIs breathing issues are much milder than Luke's. He also has an IV and a nasal canule, but is receiving less oxygen than Luke. I was finally able to hold him again around 1 this morning, which was nice.

The doctors say the soonest either baby will come home is in about a week, but either could be here up until there due date, which is in 5 weeks. It is very difficult to not be able to hold and feed them right now, but we are crying out to the Lord in our time of need.

Please pray that the boys would gain strength and maturity in their lungs quickly and that Luke's cardiac issues would clear up. Please also pray that we would be able to touch and bond with Luke soon, as it is not possible to do so yet. Lastly, please pray that we would be open to learning what God would want to do in us and through us during this time. We want to be a light to the NICU staff and other parents and we want to hear from the Lord.

I will update as they give us more information. Thank you for your prayers.