It's getting harder and harder to have faith that Emma's tummy is going to heal itself. With the first rounds of feeds a couple of weeks back she was pooping and had no breast milk stool coming out until her of feeds had increased to around 12 mL every 3 hours. The way to tell the difference between drainage and her stool is the breast milk stool is yellow and seedy looking. (I'm sure most of you moms already know that.) They stopped her feeds only because her belly was becoming very red and swollen. They started antibiotics, and things seemed to be better. The started feeding her again this week, and she's around 7 mL a feed. She has had small amounts of the breast milk stool coming out of her drains and none in her diaper. The nurse told me that last night it looked like she was trying to go but there was nothing in her diaper and the amount of stool around the drains had increased. I don't know, but I wouldn't think that's a good sign. The docs haven't been in today to examine her, so I don't know what will happen. The plan had been to wait 6 wks from the time the drains went in (April 28) and hope that the drainage stopped. The end of this week will be the 6 wk mark, and we are praying hard for the drainage to stop. If the drainage stops, great. They would close her drain sites. If not they may have to do contrast studies to see if they can see where the problem is on x-ray, but no matter she would have to undergo yet another surgery. Ugh!!! This tiny little girl doesn't need one more thing to endure.
Other than the issues with the drains, the girls are doing great. The staff in the NICU are so wonderful to us. Nurses come in all the time to see the girls and to check on how Patrick and I are holding up. They genuinely seem to care about our little family. Nurses who haven't seen our girls in a week or so drop by to check on them, and they all are amazed at how well the girls are doing. One of our nurses yesterday kept saying "The girls look so good. I can't believe how big they are." You could really hear the sincerity in her voice. She took care of them the first week of their lives so she really knows how far the girls have come. our girls are getting big. Emma is a little over 3 lbs, and Abby is 3 lbs 5 1/2 lbs. Their little checks are filling out. Everything else is going well.
I know that many of you are faithful prayers, so I ask for extra prayers this week for little Miss Emma's tummy. We really need for her bowels to heal so she doesn't have to go through another surgery. We also would like to ask for prayers for a family up at the NICU. Their little boy is doing great, but he is having some apnea spells which are keeping him from being able to go home. The rule is all the babies have to be free of these spells for 5 days in order to graduate from the NICU. His count down has started over once again, and we know how disappointing things like this can be.
Patrick took this picture, and it is one of my favorites.
5 comments:
I just read today's post and am so sorry about Emma. I agree that she has certainly had her limit of problems..I was so in hopes that it would be all uphill now. The little knowledge that I have about breast feeding (I only tried with Greg and then only for a couple of weeks), I am wondering if maybe that might be causing some of Emma's problems. Has it been discussed that perhaps she should be taken off of it and go on straight formula? It might be worth a "talk-about" with your doctors. I am sure that the nurses are so fond of the girls..they are so dedicated to "their" babies. One of my good friends here works at Children's Memorial and she shares a lot of her feelings with me. Rest assured that many prayers are being offered for the girls and you...and so is our love and hope that it will soon be back to normal and the girls will be wearing the 'pink' again.
Fondly, Vonnie
I will make sure and say extra prayers for Miss Emma. I know the Lord will continue to bless the both of them and will take care of Emma.
You guys are in my thoughts always!
Emma's tummy has been lifted in prayer. I will continue to pray for all of you. I pray you and Pat have sustained strength and faith, that Abby continues to grow and that Emma's tummy issue soon heals. My sister-in-law was a NICU nurse, I believe that profession is a calling in life. Isn't it wonderful that God gives us those special care givers to be His physical arms here on earth. May He place His healing hands on you all.
I'll be praying for little Emma and her tummy problems. I'm praying for the two of you, also, for peace and comfort that only our Heavenly Father can give. Also, of course, for Abby's continued improvement.
What an absolutely beautiful picture of you and little Abby...that is one to frame for sure!! Emma is on our minds and in our prayers. It should be crib time, not surgery time for that sweet girl. You are right when you say how loved your baby girls are by the staff...it will be so much fun for the nurses when you bring them back in a year to show how big and even more beautiful they have become!! Love ya! Corinne
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