Day 11: Stability....

....is an important part of the boys' treatment, but also an important part of our mental health.  It's been nearly two weeks now since the boys were born, but it still does not seem real.  They say that you will have good days and bad days - ups and downs, as you head from the bottom left of the line graph to the upper right corner.  Maybe it is just beginning to settle in with me.  Both boys de-sat'ed while we were there today, and obviously nothing to have a panic attack over, since the awesome staff just gave them a quick breath, and they were all set.  But, it was really the first time that I felt scared.  I need to read up on exactly what it means to desaturate yourself of oxygen....if I'm even saying that correctly.  Ok, just googled it and found that the term is hypoxia, and is defined when O2 level falls below 90%.  Happens often to ICU patients.  I have to do some more reading in my premmie book to totally comprehend how it affects them.

Aiden is almost up to 1 lb 10 oz - just 1 oz. shy of his birth weight.  He is getting his last dose of indicin tonight, followed by an echo tomorrow to see if that valve (see Thursday's update on PDAs) has fully closed.  I don't know if we could possibly put more holy water or pictures of saints in their isolettes, but all I want for Christmas this year is for the damn thing to close (and stay closed) already so that he can start feeds!  If all goes well on the echo, he will start (trophic) feeds Monday.  Jackson is on day 2 of trophic feeds and has not had any residual food left in his stomach, which is great news.  Praying that the colostrum continues to prime his gut until next Friday, without any trouble or complications.  Jack is up to 1 lb. 12 oz., 2 oz. past his original birth weight! 

We got to bring home some of their hospital items that they have either already grown out of (believe it or not), or they no longer need - e.g. blood pressure cuff, and Jackson's eye mask to protect him the billi lights, since he is done (hopefully for good) with them.  Aiden is still under the lights and will have his rubin levels checked again tomorrow to see where they stand.

I forgot to provide an update on the boys' 10-day head ultrasounds that were performed yesterday.  Jackson was clear on day 3, and remains clear day 10!  Aiden had the start of a level 2 IVH (brain bleed) which has not progressed - more good news!!  Aiden's bleed shoud be reabsorbed without any long term effects, but reabsorption will not begin for several weeks.  They will have a 30-day scan to re-check things.  IVHs aka brain bleeds are graded on scale of 1-4.  1 is low and 4 is high.  To learn more about them, this link has some good info:  http://www.babylinq.com/intraventricularhemorrhageivhprematurebabypreemie.aspx

Today's pictures - all of Aiden.  I am an awful father for not getting any of Jack.  He was way too peaceful under the isolette cover so I didn't want to disturb him too much.  We'll feature him next week.

Above: Aiden working on his tan

Above:  Mom holding Aiden

Above:  Aiden holding mom's hand.

Above:  Aiden giving thumbs up today!

Above:  Aiden just hanging out -his favorite pastime!

Thanks for visting us!  Feel free to leave a comment or two as you wish.

'Til tomorrow - Jeff