Nicholas Back in VT

Hi, everyone!

Nicholas flew back to Vermont today. He still has his daily struggles but is recovering well!

Katie has had a little set back. They discovered that she has some kind of infection. It could be fungal or viral. They have to run some tests, and the results won't be available for a few days. In the meantime they've put her back on the vent to help her breathe. The way Sarah described it is that her little body just can't do everything at once. It's hard for her to fight an infection, breathe on her own, and do all of the other things that seem easy but are actually tough chores for her little body, like eat, digest, etc. We've seen so much strength in this little girl and know that she will continue to pull through. Nicholas and Anna will show her how, I'm sure!

Anna is doing great. She's still on C-PAP and eating well. Sarah says she has the cutest, fat, little cheeks! I can't wait to see them! As soon as I have new pics, I'll post them.

Sarah is without internet right now, so I'll continue to update as I hear anything new. We're going to try to meet up with Sarah and Louie this week for dinner, and I'll be sure to get lots of new info!

Love to you all,
Gretch

Update

I heard from Sarah this afternoon. Nicholas, in general, is recovering well. He goes through typical ups and downs but overall is doing okay. They feel he's stable enough to come back to VT and was supposed to today, but due to the weather, they delayed the trip. Now he's scheduled to come back on Monday.

Love,
Gretch

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

We're all so thankful that all 3 babies are doing well! Nicholas is recovering just fine from his surgery. I'll check in with Sarah today and update with any new info.

Love,
Gretchin

Nicholas in Surgery

• 9:53 - Nicholas is out of surgery! He did well. The doctor says he's a "good boy." :-) The entire surgery took 15 minutes and went well. He'll be in the operating room for another hour recovering. Then he'll go back to the NICU. Sarah says they'll be home in VT within 4 days. Again, the doctor said that this was a needed surgery. They expect that this will help the blood get to where it needs to go in his system so that he can keep getting better!
• 9:14 - They just made the incision. Praying that his surgery goes as quickly and easily as the girls'.
• 8:55am - Just got a call from Sarah - She says Nicholas is being stabilized and prepped for surgery.
• Nicholas went into surgery at 8:20 this morning. Sarah will keep me posted, and I'll let you all know as soon as I have more information.
  
  Love,
  Gretchin

Boston x 3

Off we go again...

Nicholas is headed to Boston. He will be flown to Boston tomorrow and hopefully have Surgery on Wednesday. Boston is aware of Nicholas's belly issues and current fungal infection and feel that it is okay to have surgery. I am so nervous but he is not eating and drops much needed weight everyday-they really can't feed him if his PDA is open so much. So off we go for the next few days.

Louie will stay back in Vermont with Anna and Katie, who are doing very good breathing on their own with CPAP. Oh yeah-Anna was put on the CPAP machine on Sunday. I am so happy with their incredible progress and pray that they will continue to head in such a great direction. We are staying very positive since these great accomplishments can change at any moment!!! We are very proud of Anna since she is still the smallest and has had the hardest time since birth.
Anna, Katie, and Nicholas show us everyday how strong they really are! Our little (really little) fighters.

So I will leave tomorrow after they pick up Nicholas and hopefully return over the weekend if all goes well with his surgery and recovery. My mother is able to come with me again so that will be nice. I will have Gretchin update everyone while I am gone with Nicholas.

We hope all is well with you and your families. Have a great Thanksgiving.

God Bless and be well!!!

Love;
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Mommy Gives Anna First Shampoo!

Mommy Getting Direction on How to Shampoo Anna's Hair - Listen For Anna's Soft Cry!

New Pictures!

Daddy and Nicholas Sleepy - Snuggle Time Before Nicholas's Trip to Boston


Mommy, Katie, and Anna - First Time Holding Both at the Same Time


Anna - Believe it or not, she's softly laughing as Mommy brushes her hair after her shampoo.


Nicholas - 1 Month Old


Anna - 1 Month Old - Quick Pic Without CPAP


Katie Grinning - Quick Pic Without CPAP On - 1 Month Old

More Changes...

Hmmm where do I start?

OK, Anna is back in Burlington and doing fine! Katie is still going strong on CPAP and continues to breathe on her own. Nicholas is NOT in Boston.

This morning when I got to the NICU one of the Neonatal Nurse Practioners approached me after receiving a call from the lab. Nicholas's blood culture from earlier in the week has started to grow a fungus. Most of these infections are rare and can be caused from central IV lines that are used for lots of fluids and nutrition. Bacteria can grow inside of the line and be pushed into the bloodstream. As of right now they believe they have figured out what has been causing all of his earlier in the week sickness by getting this result back this morning, so until he is now better from this infection he is still off feeds, getting another kind of antibiotic, and not going to have any surgery until 48hrs after discontinuation of treatment, probably 7-10 days from today. But as you can see things change real fast and who knows when he will end up in Boston, he does need to go though and by the way it sounds he needs the repair as soon as possible. Considering the new situation I think he looks good and his nurses say he has improved throughout the week, but this infection is slow to manifest.

So at 11:00am they cancelled Nicholas's trip and Surgery, flew Anna home and Louie was alone in Boston-Ricky went home yesterday as planned, Louie stayed since we thought Nicholas was going to sent on the return flight, and Grandpa Tony was leaving after work today to be with Louie in Boston. We cancelled all of that and I called Brittany so I had someone to go to Boston with to pick up Louie-Wow what a crazy day!

I would like to thank over and over again Ricky for going with his brother to Boston and being their to support him for Anna's surgery.

I would also like to thank Brittany for dropping everything at 11:30am today, picking me up in Vermont and driving to Boston to get Louie.

I hope you all have a great weekend and we will keep you updated on our precious children.

God Bless and be well.

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie, and Nicholas

Quick Boston Update

Nicholas is going to Boston on Saturday, was going to go tomorrow, but a rainstorm has delayed the flight crew. Louie is not coming home right away. He'll stay in Boston until Nicholas has his surgery. They're going to fly Anna back to Burlington and bring Nicholas to Boston on the return flight. We'll let you know as more develops in Boston.

As seen in the photo, Katie was put on C-PAP. It's a machine that forces oxygen in through her nose. They are required to breathe on their own with some mild support. They must do all the work. She has been on it since noon today. Premature babies can breathe on C-PAP for 1 hour, 24 hours, 3 days, or can stay on it until they don't need extra breathing support-which is the goal.

When I left this evening, she was still doing okay, but they told me don't be surprised if I come in tomorrow and she's back on the vent. But overall she's a strong girl and doing good.

Anna is doing just fine and is ready to come home. She has shown great improvement since her surgery. We are very pleased.

NEW PICS below thanks to Gretchin.

Have a good night to everyone. God bless and be well.

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie, and Nicholas

More Pics!

Today - Katie's New Headgear (C-PAP) Believe it or not, this is a good thing! First attempt to get her off the vent. She is breathing on her own for now!


Anna - Nov. 16th - Right before Boston


Nicholas - Nov. 16th - Inbetween vent changes


Katie - Nov. 16th

Hello Everyone...

Anna is still recovering in Boston, she had to be put on a different type of ventilator this morning to help expand her lungs better, and ease breathing. As of 6:00pm she was doing very good and if she continues in this direction they will consider getting her home on Friday.

Nicholas is still getting antibiotics for his bowel infection he has 2 more days to go-they may consider feeding him on Friday after they discontinue the antibiotics to see how his belly tolerates feeds again. He also has a hernia that is being monitored-that will be repaired before he goes home unless it gets worse sooner, it is common for small babies to get hernias and the staff is not concerned at this point because he has more "serious clinical issues" to deal with.
Boston was discussed today, the NICU team feels that if they can stabilize the bowel infection, fluid in his lungs and try to get him fed they will send him to Boston next. He over the last few days has pretty much proven to the doctors that he needs to get his PDA repaired also. The doctors know that he needs the surgery but they don't want to send a sick baby for surgery so I don't know when he will go, they mentioned the possibility of having him go on the return flight to Boston when Anna returns to Fletcher Allen but that depends on his progress with current concerns.

Katie is getting her food increased each day and is doing well, her nurses tell me that when it is time to eat she lets everybody know-it's true I have seen it. Katie gets very aggitated every 3 hours so when its time to eat she needs to eat!!! Katie is overall doing well, she of course has daily obstacles but she is hangin on just fine. My children want to be here as much as we want them here!!!

New pics coming soon...

I hope you are all doing good and have a great night.
God Bless and be well.


Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie, and Nicholas

Anna Out of Surgery

Anna's surgery only took 11 minutes. With prep time it was only 50 minutes.

The procedure went well, and she's recovering in the NICU.

Her blood pressure is already stabilized and better, so she's doing really well.

The surgeon also said that the procedure definitely needed to be done.

She'll still need a few days to recover, so Sarah is anticipating that she'll be back on Friday.

Love,
Gretchin (thru Sarah!)

Anna in Surgery

Anna went into surgery at 4:25pm. Will update as we have more info.

Love,
Gretchin

Boston Update

Anna made it safely to Boston yesterday! The flight team arrived at 1:00pm, got Anna ready and they left at 1:40pm. I thought it may be a touch easier watching the flight team get Anna ready and then take her since only about 10 days ago I went through this with Katie but it wasn't.
I am happy to report that she is on the surgery schedule today and we believe she will have her the procedure in the morning at some point. She had a good night and so far today is stable, I called at 7:30am to get the report from her nurse. I will keep you updated as I find out details-Louie is with her and he will update me throughout the day.

God Bless and be well...

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Changes

Hi everyone...

Anna's Boston trip was postponed today and they plan on flying her tomorrow (11/16/09.) There was no room for Anna on the surgical schedule so instead of making her wait in Boston they will pick her up tomorrow at some point and maybe get her on Tuesday's schedule-a lot of waiting. Overall though at this point Anna is doing good and remains stable.

Katie has been doing well also they are everyday increasing her feedings and as long as she gains weight and has no "clinical issues" they are planning on removing her ventilator tubes late next week, this can all change though daily. Katie looks very good and moves around quite a bit throughout the day-which is a good sign.

Now Nicholas... Well yesterday the doctors took an X-Ray of his chest and abdomen due to increased alarms throughout the last 3 days-alarms meaning that he is aggitated, irregularities in heart rhythm or breathing irregularities. X-ray showed some hazy appearance around his belly and bowel so they stopped his feeding and immediately put him on antibiotics to stop any infection that may be starting. This morning after repeat x-ray they believe that he has a bowel infection and may have responded to the antibiotics and they will continue this treatment over the next 7 days and continue to hold all feeds to keep the bowel quiet. This infection can come on over a few days, can be hard to diagnose , and is very serious so he is being monitored very closely. We are not able to hold him so that is very hard-I feel so helpless I just talk to him and tell him how much we love him. He does look good though and on examination has not had a "puffy belly," that is promising.

The stress and worry is overwhelming, everyday is exactly how the staff describes it to us, "a rollercoaster ride" for sure!!! So Louie will head to Boston tomorrow as planned so far and I will stay back with Nicholas and Katie. Nicholas's trip to Boston is postponed until his X-rays are normal and he is better. That is all the news I have to give, I hope everyone is doing well and we send our love to all of you. Thank you again for all the prayers, warm wishes, food, and gifts we still have such a long road ahead and appreciate all the help and support given.

God Bless and be well.

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Boston x 2

Anna is scheduled to be picked up on Sunday 11/15 by Boston Med Flight and flown to Childrens Hospital of Boston, she is on the surgery schedule for her PDA repair on Monday 11/16. Everything may change regarding surgery once she gets to Boston because they are sending Anna to Boston during a National Cardiology Conference. We are praying the plan stays the way we were told and she gets right in for her surgery on Monday. Nicholas is also going to Boston but of course they can't transport both at the same time so we need to wait a few days-Nicholas is not as severe as Anna so they may send him at the end of the week, all of these plans may change of course. Katie is doing well and they are already discussing taking her off her ventilator and putting her on a C-PAP machine (nasal oxygen system that fits over the head)-like discussed in earlier blogs babies usually become lazy with C-PAP (preemies can forget to breathe) and may require being put back on a ventilator after a couple days, we are trusting the NICU team obviously and hope Katie does great when the time comes. They are increasing Katie's feedings and giving her inhaled steroids, she is tolerating everything as well as expected.

Well please pray for our Anna as she travels to Boston and has heart surgery, she is strong like her sister and Boston will take good care of her. Louie will follow Anna to Boston and I will stay back with Katie and Nicholas. When Nicholas is ready for his trip I will follow Nicholas.

I hope all is well with all of you and your families we again miss everyone so much. Enjoy the videos and new pics-thank goodness Gretchin and Mark are pros on the computer! Have a great weekend everyone-God Bless and be well!!!

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Anna headed to Boston next!!!

Just got a call at 9:30pm-Anna had a repeat heart ultrasound today because she was backtracking a little with blood pressure stability and other symptoms that were similar to Katie before her PDA repair in Boston. We were there today when they did the ultrasound but didn't know the results until now. Anna's heart flap had closed slightly, so she had responded to the medicine given 2 wks ago but we just found out that obviously the flap can reopen. Anna will go to Boston, and we will know tomorrow what the plan is. Nicholas is now also showing the same signs as Anna and he will be re-evaluated with a heart ultrasound soon- we will know tomorrow when he will be rechecked. Pretty sure we will go to Boston x3! We will keep updating as we know more...God Bless and be well!

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie, and Nicholas

Video - Nicholas Stretching

Video - Anna Sleeping

More Pics!

Katie


Anna


Mommy and Anna


Mommy and Anna

New Pics!

More pics to come later!

Nicholas pointing to his penguin pal


Katie at Boston Children's Hospital

Today in the NICU...

First I must thank everyone over and over again for all the support, prayers and encouragment that you give our new family everyday. I must say that it is so nice to have all 3 babies in 1 room in the same state. The NICU at Fletcher Allen is home right now and I am so happy to have them all in the same aisle with familiar nurses watching over them. Boston was difficult-but the best place to be considering the heart surgery Katie needed. I am so thankful for Children's Hospital of Boston, they took such great care of Katie and consoled me all day for 5 days. The Cardiologist who did Katie's PDA repair came out to talk to me after the surgery was complete and told me that her surgery was absolutely necessary and she did very well. The surgery can last 45mins to an hour and Katie's lasted 15 mins, a good mix of incredible surgeons and one strong fighting baby who really wants to be here as much as we want her here. Today Katie is stable, moving all over the place in her incubator, nice consistent heart rate and blood pressure, and eating!!! They began feeds today of course only .9cc's just to "prime her gut" for larger feedings. She will most likely not need injected steroids because her lungs have always been stronger than her siblings from the start, she will get inhaled steroids though. Her eyes are open and she is starting to show signs of sucking-we tried a preemie pacifier and she sucked on it for a few seconds and fell asleep, it was cute but hard to fit a pacifier in a mouth full of tubes but worth the try. Overall Katie is still fiesty, a fighter, and our beautiful daughter.

Anna is well, she is breathing even more now on her own thanks to the steroid treatment. She looks around so much-she can only really see lights and some movement it will be a while before they will focus and see. They briefly discussed during rounds today taking her off the ventilator because she is so low on settings but they are going to wait until she is much more stable with her breathing and heart rate. The time will be soon which has us very nervous because babies usually after a few days get "lazy" with breathing on their own and they must be re-intibated (put back on vent support) which we have seen happen in the NICU with other babies, it is very emergent looking and lots of doctors and nurses have to get involved but they have to get off ventilators at some point. Anna shows us and the NICU team daily how strong she is . She is starting to slowly fill out around her face and looks like she has gained weight although she is 1 ounce above birth weight of 1lb 6ounces. All 3 babies go up and down with weight everyday. Anna is so beautiful and loves to hold our fingers she is our little snuggler.

Nicholas is also doing well. Nicholas and Anna are pretty much dealing with the same issues and showing improvement the same also. Nicholas loves to eat and at his last weight check was up to 1lb 12 ounces. I don't think I will be able to pump enought milk to feed all 3 if Nicholas continues to use up the whole supply-just kidding. He is very adorable with his huge dark blue eyes looking all over the place. The nurses comment on his red hair and white beard all the time, gotta love that fine hair that covers every inch of their small bodies-for some reason Nicholas has 3 times the amount. But he is so handsome!

Again, we are just so appreciative and thankful for what everyone is doing for us, food, gifts, prayers and warm wishes we thank you all!!! I can't wait for Anna, Katie, and Nicholas to meet all the wonderful and supportive people we have been blessed to know. Thanks to you all for being part of our lives!!!

God Bless and be well.

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Quick Post

Katie made it home yesterday to VT. So, she's safe and sound with Anna and Nicholas.

Sarah and Louie said that she was moving all around and trying to cry - "What a pumpkin," as Sarah would say! :-)

All the babies are doing well in VT!

Sarah is Home in VT!

Sarah is home in VT. After she and Aunt Linda checked out of their hotel in Boston and were ready to come home, they found out that Katie wouldn't be able to leave today. She's doing well and is stable, but may have to travel home by ambulance for insurance reasons - basically because she's stable, it's not considered necessary to fly her - even though another baby has to be picked up at Fletcher Allen, and they have to fly over anyway. All should be sorted out tomorrow, and she should be home!

But poor Sarah sounded so heartbroken to leave her for the night. What an amazing mom (and dad for sticking out these last few days alone and spending every waking moment with Nicholas and Anna). We know where these kids get their strength!

And Aunt Linda was so sad to leave Katie too, since grandparents can't visit Fletcher Allen, and she may not be able to see her for another few months. We'll pray that we can all see them soon!

Love,
Gretch

Nov 8th Update

All is still going well with the babies!

Nicholas had a rough night, but he's doing better today.

Katie was due to come back to VT Monday but may have to wait. She's doing fine, but the jet may not be available, and they could have to arrange for an ambulance to bring her home.

Anna is doing great and had her eyes open a lot today. :-)

Babies Doing Well!

Katie is still recovering well, and they plan to have her back in VT by Monday.

Anna and Nicholas are also still doing well! Louie got to hold Nicholas today for 2 hours.

Nothing else to report for now - will update when I have more info.

Katie Out of Surgery

Katie is out of surgery and doing well. The procedure took less time
than planned - only 15 minutes!

They said that it wouldn't have healed on its own and that she
definitely needed to have the procedure done.

She's in recovery and hopefully will be back in VT soon!

-Gretchin

Update

Sarah just sent me a text - Katie is just going into surgery (at 4:40pm) We should have another update in about 3 hours.

Update from Boston

I just got a call from Sarah! She says they're going to be able to do Katie's surgery today. They're prepping her right now, and she should be in surgery by 3pm today.

They said the surgery will take about 30 minutes to an hour, and then they'll stabilize her which could take 3-4 hours. Then she'll be in recovery for the next 3-7 days.

Aunt Linda cries every time she sees Katie. The doctors say that she's strong and that she's a fighter! We knew she would be! :-)

Sarah says the hospital is beautiful, and that she got to eat her first real meal in awhile - chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli! Yum!

Nicholas and Anna are doing great. Anna is eating "like a hog," and Nicholas is eating well too and going through diapers - a good sign! :-) And Louie got to hold Anna today at Fletcher Allen!

By the time I got off the phone with Sarah and Linda, they both had a case of the nervous giggles. Sarah says, "We're just going crazy at this point... we'll probably both leave in straight jackets - no offense to people who have to wear straight jackets." Haha! I love this family!

She also said she's preparing for the nervousness of seeing Katie go into surgery and that she'll update me as soon as the surgery is done, and I'll update the blog again as soon as I have more info!

-Gretchin

Sarah and Her Mom Are Off to Boston!

Hi, everybody! This is Cousin Gretchin writing, as Sarah is off to Boston with her mom, my Aunt Linda.

The team from Boston Children's Hospital came to get Katie yesterday. All went well. They gave her a muscle relaxer, because the flight can sometimes make babies nervous. She got a little fidgety in the air, so they gave her another muscle relaxer, and she made it to Boston safe and sound. We heard last night that she was resting comfortably.

Our little Katie is quite the traveler, and it sounds like she handled the flight better than I would have! :-)

The team let Aunt Linda see her before they put her on the plane. At the Children's Hospital, they also let parents and grandparents in to see the babies, so she and Sarah will both get to spend time with Katie there too.

The doctors in Boston also informed Sarah that Katie is doing well, that she's stable, and therefore she's not a priority. So there are other patients that will have access to the operating room before her. In fact, it's booked today, so she'll most likely have her surgery on Saturday.

Sarah and Aunt Linda are staying at a hotel close by, so they can take a cab over to the hospital each day to be with Katie.

We can't wait to get that baby home with her brother and sister, but we're so glad the trip went well and that she'll have her surgery and be with her mom and grammy for now.

Louie is still with us and visiting Nicholas and Anna daily. He constantly looks like a worried dad but still has his sense of humor. He and Sarah keep us laughing all the time with their funny stories. It's so nice to have family with us, to worry and laugh together.

I'll update as I find out more!

Beautiful Mom and Dad!

Found this pic of Sarah and Louie from this summer... had to post!
New baby pics below! Check out beautiful Anna with her eyes open. So precious!
Love, Cousin Gretch

Headed to BOSTON...

Hello everybody,

Just got back for the night from the NICU, they decided today that Katie's development is at a stand still unless the surgical procedure is done on her heart to close the flap. So the plan will be that a cardiac intensive care team from Boston's Childrens Hospital will fly in tomorrow around 11am to Burlington Airport. They have a jet not a helicopter that is a flying intensive care unit, the trip for Katie is 40 minutes in the air and they will begin the procedure right away once they arrive at the hospital in Boston. Weather tomorrow may delay the trip but we ofcourse won't know until the morning if the team will fly with the possibility of snow in the area. Katie will most likely be in Boston anywhere from 3-7days for recovery, she needs to be strong enough to be flown home (Fletcher Allen.) Louie will stay behind with Anna and Nicholas, it was a hard decision to split up but with 3 kids all needing our support we felt it was the only way. My mother is going with me thank goodness because this morning I was going alone. My Katie is strong and will pull through just fine I know this!!! Keep us in your prayers.

Nicholas and Anna are doing well. Anna has slowly started to respond to her 2 steroid treatments so far and has shown stabilization with all the other concerns she is dealing with daily, she is eating over 2cc's of breast milk, much more than her brother and tolerating feeds just fine. Nicholas I believe may have started his steroid treatment today but has also been doing well with feeds and has had a better day than yesterday and the night before-a few vent alarms today but not so many to make me hide in the corner like a couple days ago, boy those get scary!

So off to Boston tomorrow weather permitting and I will update as soon as possible. Thanks again for all the encouraging comments and big hugs to all of you!!! God Bless and be well.

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie, and Nicholas

Nov. 3rd and 4th Pics!

Mommy and Anna


Mommy and Anna


Daddy and Nicholas


Mommy and Anna


Mommy and Anna


Mommy and Anna

Hello Again...

Well yesterday was a very long day Nicholas had a difficult night and required increased ventilator support throughout the night and most of yesterday morning. During rounds they questioned lots of possibilities regarding the quick drop in his normally stable condition-infection, lung complicatons etc... As of last night before we left bloodwork came back normal so there was no sign of infection. So the plan for Nicholas and same with Anna is that it is now time to administer a 12 day taper of Steroids to increase and develop Lung function. With their premature age and so much vent support the only next step is to grow their lungs and try to get them off the ventilator. Ventilators are great short term although when used over long periods on very small babies all it does is irritate the lungs, so Anna received her first dose yesterday at 1:30pm and Nicholas will begin his treatment today (11/4/09.) We hope they do well and show immediate signs of the steroids working as do the entire NICU team.

Now our precious Katie...
Katie is in an entirely different situation and please let me remind everyone because I must be reminded everyday that these are all common issues that come along with preemies. Katie as well as Nicholas and Anna when they were born were born with a very normal flap on their hearts that allow bloodflow to their lungs and bodies in the womb that normally closes at normal gestation birth (36-40wks.) When they are born full term they cry and the rush of air into their bodies would close the flap on the heart right away and the lungs would begin to work normal for the rest of their lives. Preemies can't cry due to premature lungs and they are on ventilators so the flap stays open keeping the lungs continually underdeveloped. Medication was given to all 3 right away to help close the flap, Nicholas and Anna responded to 2 doses although Katie has not responded to 3 doses-3 doses is the max! Being that her flap on her heart has not closed she is unable to eat to "prime her gut" so they can start to administer Steroid treatment to her also. So today the NICU team during rounds will decide on sending Katie to Boston for a routine surgical procedure to close the flap. Fletcher Allen can not do the procedure because the cardiologists didn't have enough demand for it thoughout the years so they send children to Boston. Katie will go to the CIC unit (cardiac intensive care unit) in Boston at the Childrens Hospital by helicopter within the next couple days and both of us or one of will follow by car. She should be there anywhere from 3 days to 7 days. When the surgery has been completed she can begin to get small 1cc feeds to "prime her gut" and then can begin Steroid treatment like her siblings. She will be flown back to Fletcher Allen and continue to grow. This situation is very stressful for us and we are very nervous but this is the only option Katie has and we will be with her through it, her first surgery at 2 wks old (26 wks today.) We will keep you all updated on this and we will know around 1pm today if and when she will go. NICU team 98% sure she will be sent to Boston.

Other than all the crazy from yesterday the babies are doing the best they can and the NICU team tells us everyday that they are doing "preemie stuff," which is nice to hear they have seen all of this before-it is very scary for us to watch everyday over and over again.

I was able to hold Anna yesterday for the first time she grabbed my finger and held it the whole time, my entire hand fell asleep for 2 hours but it was so worth it! Louie held Nicholas again and I will hold Katie all day today if they let me. Well keep the prayers coming and we will keep you all updated on all 3 babies and Katies Boston trip. Love you all and be well.

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas

Today at the NICU

Hi to all...

Today was a good day, same series of ups and downs but our children are holding their own the best they can. All 3 had repeat heart ultrasounds(done weekly) results will be in at tomorrows rounds. Anna loves to eat and is currently eating the most! Katie is not eating again quite yet due to having medicine to close her heart murmur but has managed to stay above her birth weight. Nicholas is doing well with feeds although he has missed a couple today due to ups and downs on the ventilator-all very common for their situation.

We are also not at the Ronald McDonald house but staying with my cousin Gretchin and her husband Mark in Waterbury VT. Just a short drive to the hospital and very comfortable, also nice to have family and familiar faces after long emotional days. They are wonderful to take us in for a while and we are so greatful for that!!!

Well I again hope all is well with everyone and we miss you all. Thanks again for all the comments we look forward to reading them every night when we get back from the hospital.
Hope to update tomorrow, enjoy the new pics! Be well and God bless.

Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie, and Nicholas

Another Batch of Pics!

Mommy and Nicholas


Daddy and Nicholas


Daddy and Katie

And More Pics!

Sarah and Babies!


Sarah and Nicholas


Little Nicholas


Baby Anna!

New Pics!

Baby Nicholas in Sarah's arms


Nicholas with his green snuggie!


Sarah and Katie


Anna Opening Her Eye!