DECEMBER 31 UPDATE

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 (7 weeks)
34 WEEKS

The Miracle Babies are progressing well.  Fortunately Mckayla did not end up having to have her breathing tube reinserted.  She was given a blood transfusion after all the tests they did to determine why she was having so many bradys  (to stop breathing which then causes the heart rate to go under 80 beats per minute and continue to lower until breathing restarts). It is thought she had a reaction to the eye drops that were given to her for her eye test.   Her blood gases were low and her skin color not quite as pink as her sisters, so they gave her another blood transfusion.  She has endured several of these since her birth.  Her pneumonia collapsed a lung and she now has scar tissue in her lungs which is making it more difficult to get her breathing smoothly.   Mckayla now weighs three pounds, four ounces. She will probably be the last to go home as she struggles the most with all the milestones she needs to reach.

Madilynn is now on CPAP which is a wonderful progression towards breathing on her own.  She was very wide eyed and alert yesterday.  Her little eyes were bright and looking all over.  She and Mackenzie got to wear clothes today since they are both on CPAP.   Madilynn steadily improved every day this week.  Madilynn now weighs three pounds, fourteen ounces.

Mackenzie is being weaned off her CPAP in progression to breathe entirely on her own.  She is the calmest baby of the trio.  It is amazing to already be able to see their individual personalities emerging at such a young age.  Mackenzie rarely has alarms now.  She may be the first to be able to go home in six more weeks or so.    Mackenzie now weighs three pounds, seven ounces. 

Mommy has been able to hold Madilynn and Mackenzie together several times since their isolottes are close to each other and can accommodate all the wires the babies are attached to.  Michael held Madilynn and Mackenzie together for the first time yesterday.  

Mommy has been told that it is quite likely that the babies will not all come home together.  It will depend on when each of them  meet the necessary requirements.  Their due date of February 9 is six weeks away.  They have been in the hospital seven weeks.  We have less time to their due date than they have been in the hospital!!!

Please continue to pray that the babies' lungs will continue to mature and they will all be able to breathe on their own soon.  Pray that the twins' bradys will decrease in number.  Pray that the babies' will learn not to gag but to suck so they will be able to take a bottle once they are each breathing on their own.

Thank you for your prayers and have a wonderful and blessed New Year!