Wednesday, August 18, 2004

What's New

Hi everybody! I know you have all been anxiously awaiting an update, so here it is... Holland is doing excellent. She loves laying on her belly and cozying up in the lamb's wool. She looks really comfy and occasionally wiggles about. She's even wiggled out of her diaper and off of her bed on occasion! Holland has continued on really low vent settings and as long as all goes well, we are looking to try the CPAP again soon. Her weight today was up to 1 lb 10 oz and the difference is noticeable. She actually looks big to us! They are still detecting a small PDA. An echocardiogram tomorrow will show how big it is and will help to make decisions regarding whether she is going to need the ligation surgery. As long as it continues the same with no clinically significant flow through it, and no symptoms, or if it gets smaller or closes, she will not need the surgery. If it gets larger she will need it. We found out yesterday that Holland also has a grade 2 IVH in her left ventricle. We're really hoping the bleeding will resolve without any lasting problems for both girls. So for all those praying out there keep this in mind.

Eden was transferred back to St. Joe's on Monday afternoon around 1pm. We were so happy to see the team from St. Joe's walk through the door at the U. It felt like they were coming to take her home! She got great care at U of M, but it is so much nicer to have them together again. It is also a lot easier for us visiting at only one hospital. Eden is doing good since her return. Today she began feeding. Her weight is down to around 1 lb 4 oz, but within the next week I expect that she will be fully recovered. Eden also got to lay on her belly for the first time today. She loved it as much as Holland does! Eden's bilirubin level was high on her return (up to 16), so she has been on phototherapy for the past couple of days. Today it was down to 6.6 so the lights should come off by tomorrow morning. They would like it to be below 5. You can't really tell in the pictures, but Eden is quite a fuzzy little girl (lanugo). Her hair seems to grow by the day. The hair on her head is dark and is starting to flip out around the edges. She's quite a cutie! Of course they both are. In fact everything they do is cute. They may even be the cutest babies ever. Could I be partial??? I think not...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
J said...

Sorry Laura, I tried to delete one of your duplicated comments and ended up accidentally deleting both, doh!! Please repost :)

Anonymous said...

Thats awesome news!!!! I want you guys to know that we think about you all all day. Its especially exciting to hear that Holland's weight is increasing noticably. Serious kudos to both of you for being such incredible parents. Did ya ever think you could love so hard? Take care. Love you. Sara, Ryan, Dominic and Jace

Anonymous said...

Dear Billie and John:
I am so excited to hear that the girls are doing so well! Billie, I know you are enjoying the Kangaroo Care....there is NOTHING like holding your own precious babies close to your heart. :)
You are in our prayers every day...and I will be up to see you soon.
God bless.
Much love,
Kendra