10/4/14: They are doing as well as expected for 24 weekers.
If everything goes well, we can expect to bring them home around their due
date, which was January 21, 2015. Mabry is on room air with Cpap for help.
Blood test showed signs of possible infection, which may be why Mabry needed to
come so early and had to bring her brother with her. She will be on antibiotics
for 7-10 days, & Alex will be on antibiotics for 2-3 days, even though he
has no signs of infection. They both got umbilical lines and a 2nd dose
of Surfaxin for their lungs.
10/5/14: Mabry’s carbon dioxide levels are good. She is
having “Brady’s” which is her holding her breath and her heart rate dropping,a
common occurrence for micro-preemies. Alex is intubated with breathing tube and
on oscillating ventilator, receiving 50-60 breaths per minute. His carbon
dioxide is higher. Doctor’s mentioned him having chronic lung disease, which is
a general term and doesn’t necessarily mean he will have it his whole life.
Both babies have good blood pressure, are peeing well, and have good heart
rate. Both will likely need a blood transfusion in the next couple of days.
They are fed 2ml every 3 hours through feeding tube.
10/6/14: We visited the babies for the first time. They are
very small, their eyes are still fused shut, and their skin is red and waxy
looking. Mabry is on nasal cannula & cpap, 24% oxygen (we breathe 21%).
They detect a slight heart murmur. Ales is on his oscillator at 43% oxygen.
They say he has P.I.E., air is escaping his lungs and is in his chest. Both are
pooping and have good blood pressure. We met with neonatal nurse practioner,
attending physician, and pastoral care.
10/7/14: Mabry still on Cpap and her sodium levels were up
today, they will treat that with IV fluids and monitor. They dropped Alex’s
settings a little as he was doing well, but he is still on oscillator. Both are
under phototherapy lights for jaundice. Mabry only had 2 Brady’s today. They
are both still eating 2ml every 3 hours but will be increasing that. Mabry’s hemoglobin
was 11.9, Alex’s was 12.6. They will be doing head ultrasound in a few days to
check for brain bleeds.
10/8/14:Both are doing well today, tolerating feedings &
billirubins are down today, no phototherapy lights. Mabry is at 21% oxygen
(what we breathe), has had less Brady’s, they are still watching her sodium
levels. Alex is at 21-25% oxygen now. They are both eating 4ml every 3 hours.
10/9/14: Both got a blood transfusion today. They are
testing their blood so much, the babies can’t recoup it on their own. There are
no feedings today because of the blood transfusion. Mabry & Alex both have
a PDA, open valve in their heart. They will first try treating with indocin,
which they say helps 70-75% of the time. If it doesn’t work, they may need
surgery, which they say isn’t as bad as it sounds. They are going to do the
brain ultrasounds today. They are both getting PIC lines and will have the
umbilical lines removed.
10/10/14: They got Alex’s PIC line in on first try, but will
have to try again on Mabry. Brain ultrasounds were good. Mabry’s was normal,
and Alex had a grade 1, which is the lowest, most minor & should have no
long term effects. They both started their indocin, which means they won’t be
fed during this time. Both had good blood gases and no phototherapy today.
Mabry is at 23% oxygen & Alex is at 22%. Alex showed some signs of
infection, so he will receive antibiotics and have CBC tomorrow.
10/11/14: Mabry had a good day. She is at 21% oxygen &
they got her PIC line in. Alex’s oscillator is now on the lowest settings it
can be on, and they will try to ween him off it in the next couple of days. The
follow-up echo on their PDA shows Alex’s is now small to medium & Mabry’s
is moderate, so both have improved and the doctors are satisfied with that for
now. They will continue to monitor the PDA’s, they may continue to close or
surgery is still an option. They are starting steroids today. Steroids help
their lungs and survival. Some possible side effects are they may not grow
while they are taking them and it may hinder the ability to fight infection.
They are both eating 2ml every 3 hours again. Mabry’s nose is irritated by her
cannula. Her night nurse spent a half hour cleaning her nose. Since Mabry’s
labs have been good for several days, they are giving her a break from labs
tomorrow.
10/12/14: We went to visit again. Alex & Mabry were
baptized today. They gave them each a little gown that was laid over them
during the baptism. Alex was extubated and on Cpap, but he wasn’t tolerating
it, so they had to re-intubate and put him back on oscillator. Mabry was
crying, sounded like a little kitten.
10/13/14: Both doing good today. Mabry’s blood sugar was a
little high. They say she is feisty. Alex is still doing well on the lowest
setting on oscillator. They expect to put him on a regular ventilator in a
couple days. He has had good blood gases & will have x-ray of lungs.
10/14/14: Mabry is still on 21% oxygen & weighs 1 pound
9.4 oz. Alex is at 25% oxygen. There was some food left in his belly, so they
are watching that.
10/15/14: Mommy visited. Their eyes are open! Alex is on
regular ventilator at about 30 % oxygen & tolerating it well. They check
his blood gases regularly & tweak the settings accordingly. Mabry is on
bubble Cpap and also doing well.
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