5/21/08

Well, Lexey's blood sugar was high last night and so Brian and Kim did not get to do the skin to skin time. However Kim and I went to a NICU parent meeting. It is for the parents of the babies in the NICU. It is like a support group that meets once a week (twice if you count their scrapbook day). It gives the parents a chance to talk with each other about the difficulties they face. Brian had to work late, but Kim liked it and wants him to go with her next week. The nurse last night told Kim that they will wait awhile to do the skin to skin, but Kim is going to ask the doctor when she sees him. Right now Lexey weighs 705 grams (did not convert but less than 1 lb 8oz), but that is not a concern. She gets breast milk through a gavage (like a tube that is inserted in her mouth to her stomach). She gets 1 ml every 3 hours. It is such a little amount, but she seems to be doing great with it. Through her IV Lex is getting potassium, sugar, salt, and magnesium. They have to do blood cultures every day to measure the levels of those nutrients. She is also getting fats through the IV as well to help her grow. And of course her antibiotics. Through the nasal cannula (tubes that go in her nose) she gets 25% oxygen, the rest she is getting by herself. She is doing really well for how early she is. This morning Kim said that she had the hiccups. When I went to see her she sneezed. It was adorable! Her whole body convulsed and you could hardly hear it, but of so cute. Kim got to change another diaper. I am going to up load a picture of her diaper. Just so all of you readers are aware, this blog writer is going out of town for the weekend. Brian will be updating through the comments sections, so keep an eye out. If you see a new post before Monday, that means something has happened and we have come home in a hurry. Thank you for your prayers and support again, we really can't get enough. Remember to watch the comments for the updates.

THE BEST NEWS EVER!!

Dr. Jenkins has said for the first time, that he thinks Lexey is going to make it!!!! That is big news! The doctor also removed her IV that went in her stomach. They put in a feeding tube and feed her a little milk at 11:00 AM. They will be doing this every 3 hours. Kim is pumping what she can and taking it to the hospital for Lexey. Kim also got to change one of Lexey's diapers today!! And she got to take Lexey's tempature! Needless to say it has been a great day and only getting better. Tonight Brian and Kim will go up and get to hold Lexey to their skin (its called skin to skin time). Thanks to you all and your faith! The Lord has blessed us so much with this beautiful girl for us to love and He has listened to our prayers to let us have her for a longer time than some thought possible. She is our little miracle baby!

5/19/08

Well today was another good day for Lex in the long run.. Let's do bad news first. Lexey is getting white blood cells as well as the red to help her fight the infection. They nurse told Kim earlier that they may put in another PIC line in Lexey's other arm, but we will know more later. Well maybe that it all the bad news! The doctor removed one line from her tummy that would take constant readings of her blood pressure. Now they put a minicuff on her foot every once and awhile to check it. She likes to suck on her fingers and it is so cute!! The nurses have been laying her on her stomach as it appears to be comfortable and they are always watching so there is no fear of suffocation. The nurse told Kim this morning, that it puts her in a more fetal position which relaxes her. On Wednesday the doctor is going to do an ultrasound of Lexey's tummy to see if she has any blood clots. They did one earlier on her head to check her brain. Kim and I got to see them weigh her tonight. She weighs 735 grams (roughly 1 lb 10oz). Oh and her blood sugar is better too. Tonight Lexey opened her eyes and looked at us, I have never been so excited. She smiled (well probably not but I am going to say that). She is just the cutest thing!

5/18/08

Lexey had a rough moring today. Brian and Kim went up to the hospital and Dr. Jenkins was there. They had to put a new PIC line into Lexey. They currently have one that goes through her naval, but her blood sugar dropped and she was not getting enough of the fliuids they tried to push. So the new PIC line goes up her arm and will go almost to her heart. If it will work as well as they hope, they will remove the line in her tummy. This morning her blood pressure also dropped. They are hoping that when they start pushing fluids through her PIC line that her blood pressure will go up. The nurse told Brian that they are going to probably give her milk in a couple of days if she keeps improving. When I went to see her, the nurse had put a bow in her hair! She is just about the cutest thing ever. My dad got a good picture of her and I will upload it tomorrow as I can't find my cord right now. Thank you for all of your prayers and love!!

Late Saturday Night

Brian called after going up to see Lexey. He had gone up earlier with the bishop to give Lexey a blessing. The doctor told Brian that Lexey was doing well. They stopped giving her the medicene for her blood pressure. So the only medicine besides the antibiotics tha Lexey is getting right now is caffine to stimulate devlopment. She has also lost some weight which is a good thing. She had been retaining a lot of water. So now she weighs 1 lb 8 1/2 oz. Believe it or not she is even smaller than before.