Elliot has an infection. In preemies, the infection can travel around the whole body. They took blood and fluid samples from many areas to track and fight the infection. Unfortunately, he had to get a spinal tap about 2 hours before the baby shower. He is ok and there is no infection in the spinal fluid.
They both have the PDA (see post 5/13). The doctors are going to see if this will close in time or with another round of medicine. If it does not close soon, they will give Elliot a blood transfusion to and then he will get surgery. His PDA is causing complications and other symptoms. It needs to be dealt with and fixed. We should know in a week or two.
Ava has a PDA but it is not causing other complications. Therefore, we are going to be more patient. If there are complications from the PDA, then she will get surgery too.
Elliot has a narrow passage in one of his nostrils. Preemies do the majority of their breathing through their nose. Since he has had a breathing tube in his nose since birth, we are looking at inflamation as the main cause. However, if after medicine and time there is still a constricted nasal passage way, then they will be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist. Surgery is an option on the table.
Lastly, Elliot has a hernia. This is common in preemies and he will need surgery. Since this is not a pressing medical issue, we are going to wait until he is closer to 40 weeks.
We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Right now, he has trouble breathing every now and again. For the last few days, he would just turn blue and stop breathing while you hold him. This obviously sets off alarms and the nurses run to his side. We rub his back and then he snaps out of it. They usually tell us how this is "normal". We then wonder how a baby not breathing is normal in any situation. These are the type of "complications" from his PDA and his infection.
The NICU II is an odd place. It reminds me of an eastern European orphanage (long-story). It is one long room with the lights dimmed for the babies. There are about 30 cribs/incubators lined down the room. All you hear are babies crying and alarms going off. You start to recognize the alarms. The sounds determine the problem (out of medicine, temperature low, pulse ox low, heartbeat low). It is the latter alarms that send a chill down your spine. Especially when you look up and the alarm is for your kid. After a while this becomes "normal". I bring my ipod to block out the crying.
There are a lot of dedicated nurses and doctors there. I'm not knocking them or the NICU. We are grateful to have this hospital here. It is just an odd world. Lately, we have had a nurse that is pregnant. In particular we have had 2 nurses who are going to deliver next month. The baby in their belly is OLDER than our babies in the incubator. You can't help but to look at your kids and think "you should not be out here yet".
We appreciate the kind thoughts and need the continued prayers. We still ask, politely and respectfully, that everyone limit phone calls. We have very little time between work and the hospital. We are lucky if we have 2 hours to ourselves. If we are talking about what is going on, then we never get to escape it. Email and texting is fine and preferred. We hope everyone understands and once the babies come home, we will be happy to talk about them for hours!! Thank you again for the kindness and generosity of our friends and family. We feel better prepared for when we do bring them home safe and healthy. We love you all!
Ava modeling one of her new blankets, 5-26
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