Making Big Strides

After 15 long days since Will was placed on the ventilator with his second bout of sepsis he is finally free of it and breathing on his own. He was placed back on the high flow nasal cannula (skipping the CPAP machine) tonight after being weaned from the ventilator over the course of the last several days. He has so far been very happy with his new arrangments, breathing very well for the last 5 hours or so since being extubated. We are praying he will keep it up and not get too tired over the next few days so that this will continue to be the case. Thankfully, if he does get a little worn out, the CPAP machine will serve as a back-up instead of returning to the ventilator.

In addition to Will's breathing improvements, he also looks a lot better having lost a lot of his water weight with the help of his new friend, oral diuretics. Tonight he weighed in at 1741 grams (3 pounds, 13 ounces), which looks to be a lot closer to his "dry weight". He has just one more day of antibiotics and the accompanying IV, hopefully marking the end of all things entering his blood stream and hopefully keeping out all infection.

Kate is also doing very well. She remains on nasal cannula and has been weaned to 2 liters, which is the amount of pressure assisting her to keep her lungs open and breaths full. Will is at the top of this system at 6 liters. Next step for Kate will be low flow nasal cannula. Also, now that she is down to 2 liters she can begin to try bottlefeeding once she is feeling up to it. We are hoping to start her sometime this week. Yet another thing for her to learn! No rest for the weary. Once she learns this, she will be classifed as a "feeder-grower." This means she is just there to get fat and happy. And as far as her fat status goes, she is now 1687 grams (3 lbs. 11.5 oz.).

Another interesting thing that happens with these babies at about 1700 grams is they begin to regulate their own body temperature. So far, their temperature is monitored by a sensor that is placed on their skin. As the isolette sees fit (according to their temperature reading), it will heat or cool the bed. Kate has been trying to maintain her own temperature and has been switched to another setting that keeps the air at a constant and she does the rest. When she is able to sustain at room temperature, she can be moved out of the isolette and into an open crib where she can finally wear all of her adorable pink preemie clothes that she has, even though I think they will still be too big for her! Once Will gets more stable respiratory-wise and is not being asked to work so hard to breath, he too will be able to focus on regulating his body temperature. Once they can both be moved to an open crib, they will be allowed to share the same crib. How cute the pictures will be then!!! Speaking of pictures, below are a selection of recent photos that I thought you'd all enjoy...

Kate snoozing in peace

Will taking a lesson from his sister (notice the nasal cannula!)

Ben and Will checking each other out...I hope they always get along this well!

Kay (MH's mom) sizing up Kate

Are you my Mommy?? (Will)

Although they sure look a lot bigger they are still pretty tiny!! (Josh's hand on Will)

Say Cheese, Will!!

Mommy loving on Kate