First we need to thank so many people for all the gifts we have been given throughout the holiday, we are so blessed and so very thankful!!! We appreciate everything so much and please know that nothing goes unnoticed. So please let me say it over and over THANK YOU ALL!!!
So let me start off by letting everybody know that the we have left the NICU since the kids no longer require intensive care. Katie was the first to leave the NICU on 12/31/09 and Anna and Nicholas followed on 1/3/10. We are now on the 5th floor located inside the Pediatric wing in a large unit called the Neonatal Transition Suite (NTS). At NTS the focus is feeding and growing so eventually we can go home. We found out today that hopefully the kids can start getting discharged towards the end of January and into February.
Anna is doing so well, growing nicely and requires no nasal oxygen support. Anna takes about 1-2 bottles a day but as expected still needs to be fed through a feeding tube for all the other feedings. Every day she gets stronger and can stay awake for longer periods of time to try to take bottles. Anna now weighs as of today (1/10/10) 4lbs, 15oz. She smiles all the time and loves to cuddle.
Katie is also doing okay, she requires additional oxygen support from time to time throughout the day but mostly does well. Katie at this point doesn't make any real noise like crying due to a voice box condition that they haven't fully diagnosed yet, but they have informed us that whatever it is will heal over time. This week Katie will have a series of airway tests to see what is limiting Katie's "voice". Overall though Katie is just precious and happy all the time. Her weight today was 5lbs, 3oz.
Nicholas, A.K.A "Mad Dog" is just fine. He has been given this nickname by the NTS nursing staff because of his angry eating style-he gets hilariously aggressive when eating from a bottle and if the bottle isn't just perfect in his mouth he will cry and loudly grunt until it is. He has no patience when it comes to eating. He will need plastic surgery within the next year or two on his nose due to a damaged septum from the CPAP equipment against it for so many weeks. Before he is discharged from the hospital he will undergo surgery on his very large hernia and hopefully make it out without requiring retinal laser surgery. Nicholas is full of personality and also just like his siblings is happy and loves to smile. Todays weight is 4lbs, 8oz.
Life is great and we are so blessed-even though this is the hardest situation we have been up against we are all just hanging on and each day is a new day. The kids are growing and considering they were 16 weeks early are surprisingly pretty healthy, they will be closely followed for many months after discharge. We can't wait to get home and we miss you all so much. Louie goes home Tuesday through Friday to work and I haven't been home since Sunday October 18th so let me just say, I MISS HOME!
We hope you are all doing good and again we must yell out a huge Thank You for all you have done for us. God Bless and Be Well.
Love,
Sarah, Louie, Anna, Katie and Nicholas
7 comments:
Sarah + Louie, We continue to pray everyday for you and Louie,and these three miracles!! Can't wait to hold our newest family members! Uncle Tony + Aunt Sher
To the wonderful new family. Your new little ones have come so far sense the begining and you as the parents have had more strength and love to pull through all the challenges. I cant wait for all of you to return home where you all will be welcomed home with open arms. God bless to you all and keep your chin up. You have made it through the worst and you will continue to grow as years go on. Love you all and stay well. You all have each other and thats what counts. Lots of love Stephanie Stevens and Tyler!
Sarah,Louie,Anna,Katie,and Nicholas,
We love and miss you guys it was great to talk to you today Sarah I did go on and see the pictures they are GREAT. Keep up the great work with those miracles. We will keep praying for you here come home soon.
hey guys, love the xmas pics they are beautiful babies u guys look great al together..they have come so far and are growing great little fighters they are just like there mommy and daddy..by the way sarah i like ur comment when u were holding anna katie and nicholas and said wow i just realized i have 3 kids lol so cute cliffs chuckled..we miss u guy sooooo much i cant wait to see u guys and the babies...i bet u can wait to come home i cant believe u havent been home in that long seems like and eternity..well miss u guys cant wait to see u's..sarah cliff nathan shawn and keegan
Dear Louie and Sara,
It was amazing to see how your beatiful babies have grown so much. I can't believe its been 16 weeks. They are so adorable. It will be so exciting for you guys to get to go home with these little bundles of joy. You have all been such troopers. So strong. It seems like so long ago that we got the phone call while we were still on the boat that you had the babies. I will never forget your mother's face. She was so dissapointed that she wasnt there but so excited. I love talking to her about the babies because she so happy for you two and thrilled to be a grandma. Alan and I look so forward to coming up there to see everyone. Now I'll nver get your mom down here!!!
Just checking in to see how everyone is doing! The babies look fantastic! I know our prayers have been answered! I know you can't wait to get home, I hope your days at the hospital are growing shorter, God Bless you! Hugs, Love, Jeanie and John, Hugs to Gramma Linda Too!
Do you know that today is the 21st more than ten days and no update :(
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