Friday, May 27th

The Dr. did not hear Nik or Jakes PDA (heart murmur) today.  Hopefully it will close quickly on it's own.  Nik is on a more fluid restricted diet than Jake, due to his PDA being more symptomatic.  The boys both had a good day with hardly any desaturations all day.

At 8pm their weights are:
NIK - 1010 grams = 2.4 lbs (almost)
JAKE - 1040 grams = 2.5 lbs

We are happy to see they are finally growing... even if it's just a tiny bit...for now.

Then around 10pm Nik spit-up.  It went up his nose and caused him to stop breathing.  Of course his saturation level fell super low, he quit breathing, and his heart rate plummeted.  They took off all his CPAP gear and started to manually bag breath him for quite some time---seemed like forever.  His saturation level and heart rate were just not coming up at all.  They were doing everything they could to stimulate his heart and lungs to work, but he was just not responding.  He was dark blue and totally limp.  I found myself taking deep breaths trying to breath for him. 

After what seemed like an eternity he started coming back after being bagged with 100% oxygen.  After they got him re-stabilized the nurse told us that's about as bad as it will get.  If we could make it through witnessing that experience we'd be okay.  She apologized for us having to see it happen, which was nice of her.  But it was right after that the realization of what just happened hit me and just what a fragile and volatile situation we are really in.  At any moment he could be taken from us.  I try to stay strong and manage not get to emotional.  But at that moment I was flooded with fear, sadness and I don't know what all else.  I sat by his isolate all night long with tears running down my face.  Poor little guy shouldn't have to work this hard or go through so much.  I just can't do anything to help him except sit by his bed and watch each beat of his tiny heart and every breath.  Keep breathing my tiny baby!

I'm Getting a New Bed!!

Jake is getting his bed changed. 5/27/11

Hold Me Close Daddy!!

Jake Loves to be held by his Daddy!!  He'll snuggle right into and make little squeaking sounds.  LOVE IT!!

Thursday, May 26th

Gimmie All Your Blood!!

Nik received a blood transfusion today of 15 ml via IV in his right arm at 9:30 am.  Hopefully this will help his O2 levels stay up.  He has been desaturating and dropping his heart rate for the past 2 days.  He has also been super pale over the past couple days as well due to not having enough red blood cells to carry the oxygen.  In babies the bone marrow doesn't start producing red blood cells till in the 30 plus week gestation age.  So our babies, born at 26 weeks are unable to produce their own blood.  Therefore, needing blood transfusions a couple times over their stay in the NICU.  Hopefully this blood transfusion will help him have an easier time.  Jason and I will be by his bed all day.

Jake on the other hand is cruzing along okay.  His O2 sat level has usually remained in the high 90's.  Boys are feeding well and tolerating their feedings.  Great news!
NIK - 14 mls
JAKE - 21 mls

At 5:30pm Nik desatted & crashed.  He stopped breathing and his heart rate dropped super low.  Took a lot of stimulation and work to get him going again.  He's holding steady for now.  He has a blood test tomorrow morning to check his hematocrit level again.  If they are still down they will transfuse him again.  We'll see.  I just want him to keep breathing.

YEA!!! They Took My PICC Line Out Today!!

The boys are 28 Weeks Today!!

They took their PICC lines out today!!  They have raised the amount they're feeding the boys so they can receive the majority of their needs through their feeding tubes.  So, for now, No PICC lines or IV's.  That's a very good thing.

They are treading along with some good days and some not so good days.  They are having a few problems with keeping their oxygen blood saturation levels up, which goes hand in hand with them forgetting to breath.  (Minor Detail)  They tell us it's a normal preemie thing.  But you get a little worked up when your baby isn't breathing and the alarms are going off.  But, this will pass as the boys get older and their systems develop.

NIK has gained a little weight so now he is up to his birth weight of 2 lb 1 oz.  So we're glad to see him not loosing anymore.  Now if I could just sneak in some cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, and put it in his feeding tube, I know he would pack on the ounces then. 

We're headed up to the 8pm changing...more pics and info to follow.

Thank you to everyone for the messages and prayers.

LaShelle

It's a Good Day!!

Nik and his Mommy!  He loves to cuddle.

Jake and Mommy!  Cuddling really calms him!

Nik & Jake both received their head and brain ultrasounds early this morning.  We waited very impatiently for their results.  The Dr. finally brought us the results and they were both totally normal and looked just fine.  What a HUGE relief.  We were VERY nervous about them.

They are tolerating their feeding well.  They have started Jake on fortified breast milk last night.  He is up to 13 ml per feeding, every 3 hours.  Nik is up to 10 ml per feeding, every 3 hours.  Nik will start on the fortified breast milk in a couple days. 

Nik is still having oxygen saturation issues.  It's making me nervous.  But we have been assured that all is well and will work it's way out.

Weights

Nik - 950 grams = almost 2.2 lbs  (He is up 10 grams from his original birth weight....YEA!

Jake - 990 grams = 2.3 lbs (he gained 10 grams from the previous night.)

Both boys are off their Mt. Dew (TPN nutritional supplement given via central PICC line)  They have been weaned onto Sprite.  (still TPN but just a less concentrated version.)  I call the first one "MT. Dew" just because it's the same color. 

Thank you to everyone who has shown us such great support and thoughts.  We really appreciate everything and enjoy hearing from you all.

It was soooo good to see them this morning!!

Oh Daddy, Don't Change My Diaper!!

This is Jake.  He doesn't like his diaper changed much.  He is sporting a little diaper rash, so he doesn't enjoy them much.  Jason is becoming a pro at changing super tiny diapers and taking temperatures.  Though his expertise lies in grilling.  He's definitely on top of what's going on and what needs to be going on.  They see him coming and they are prepared to give up answers and all the babies stats for the day.

Keep up the good work Daddy!!

(Adrianne, the babies nurse is in pic also)

27 weeks Today!!

8pm weights

• Nik - 870 grams = 1.15 oz
• Feedings up to 5ml every 3 hrs
• Jake - 930 grams = 2.1 oz
• Feedings up to 7 ml every 3 hrs

Jakes billie levels are down & he's off the lights!!  No more sunglasses...for now.  Nik's levels have gone back up, but not enough to be on the lights yet.

The boys PICC (Pperipherally Inserted Central Catheter) lines were attempted today.  They are a long term catheter to deliver meds and fluids.  They insert a needle and thread a catheter up to the heart.  Jake's went in fine on the first try and placement was great...right next to the heart.  Nik's went in fine as well but kept threading up his neck instead of to the heart.  They tried re-threading 3 times with x-rays each time to check for placement.  But each time it kept going up the neck.  They decided after 1 1/2 hrs of trying that they would stop and try again tomorrow.  Poor baby just can't catch a break!!

Both boys breathing is great and their blood levels are all good!
Thanks for following the boys progress, and for your thoughts and prayers.

I Wear My Sunglasses At Night!!!

Monday 5/16

Jake is chillin' in his RayBans!
Dreamin' of the SoCal sunshine.  He's had enough of the Portland Rain!!

Both boys were put on the billie lights Sunday 5/15.  Nik was taken off after 1 day since his levels had come way down.  Jakes levels also came down, but he had some bruising from when he was born, so they are giving him another day on the lights.

I'm tempted to take a turn under the lights.  I could use a little sunshine!!



Tues 5/17/2011

Boys did fairly well last night.  Nik had only 1 apnea episode where he had to be helped to recover his breathing.  They are tolerating their feedings well with minimum spit up.  They have both developed a heart murmur, which they say is common for 26 weekers (which is not comforting as they intended).  Theirs have become louder in the past day...  But so far they are not overly concerned with the murmur at this point.  It is called a PDA, or Patent Ductus Arteriosus.  It's the most common heart problem in preemies.  Before birth, much of the baby's blood goes through a passageway (ductus arteriosus) from one blood vessel to another, bypassing the lungs, because the lungs are not in use yet.  This passageway should close soon after birth, so the blood can take the normal route from the heart to lungs and back.  If it doesn't close, blood doesn't flow correctly.  In some cases drugs treatment can help close the passageway.  If that doesn't work, surgery can also close it.  We are hoping they will both close on their own!!!  To help aid in the closing of the valve, they try to keep the babies on the less hydrated side, or slightly dehydrated. 

Other than that, the boys are doing quite well.  The Dr. said they are both doing better than she actually expected at this point.  Although, she is more concerned with Nik at this point.

Jason and I are grabbing a quick bite to eat and getting ready to pull an all-nighter!!  He's telling me to stop typing and eat my food.  (that sounds familiar...I'm usually telling the kids the same thing)

Thank you for your texts and prayers.

Niklas & Jakob

Niklas (Nik)

• born 5/13/2011  -  5:45 pm
• 2 lb 1 oz
• 13.5 inches

Jakob (Jake)

• born 5/13/2011  -  5:46 pm
• 2 lb 6.9 oz
• 14 inches

New Blog

We have created this blog to keep our family and friends updated on they boys progress in the NICU, as well as to document the boys progress.  Please feel free to check in often for an update.  Sometimes we don't have time to send out as many texts as we would like to, given we can't really text in the NICU.  But please know we greatlly appreciate all the prayers and text message you have all sent.  THANK YOU.

Jason & LaShelle