Saturday, August 15, 2009

Progress and goals

Today we met face to face with one of the Neonatologist working with our babies. She wanted to give us a more in depth report. She discussed the progressions the babies have made. They are tolerating IV nutrition (TPN and lipids). Ashlyn has not needed platelets the past 48 hrs. Rachel is still doing well. She loves that pacifier! Haley and Braden are still doing OK. The doctor also discussed the goals she would like to see soon. She talked about starting very slow feeds of breast milk. I have been breast pumping and will be so excited when they can start taking it. The babies will get weekly head ultrasounds to monitor the bleeds. We hope and pray that they will get better and not worse. So all in all there are small steps forward and still some struggles.

16 comments:

  1. I just can't believe how strong those babies are, I am sure they can feel the love from their parents all the time. I always keep you in my prayers everyday and think about your little ones and pray for them through out the day.

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  2. Such good news! it is so wonderful to hear of the progress of these little tiny people!. i was just bringing my granddaughter age 10,up to speed on the babies and she is so sad about your loss and so happy about the progress of Braden, Haley, Ashlyn and Rachel I told her Rachel is fiesty and she liked that. i am so excited for you to be able to breast feed them. it is sooo good for them! love and prayers always. Erma

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  3. I am so glad you are able to pump for your babies. It is hard but very rewarding thing to do! I have pumped for two preemies. If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask me!

    Lots of prayers for your whole family. What special spirits they are and amazingly strong to have made it as far as they have.

    Amanda, please make sure to take care of yourself and get the rest that you need to heal. I know it is so hard to leave those babies! I hated leaving my little ones there but I learned quickly that if I didn't take care of myself, I couldn't be there for my babies and mine were singletons. You are a beautiful and strong women!

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  4. Praying for you and your sweet babies.

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  5. Keep up the good work pumping! I did it for 13 months for my triplets & don't regret 1 moment. Glad to hear the babies are the fighters that they are. Stay strong in God!

    Astrid

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  6. You all are so amazing. Sounds like you have some strong, fighting babies. I hope you two are doing well. Please let us know if we can help you in any way. I'm glad you are pumping. That is going to be so great for those little babies. We would like to see you soon. We are moving labor day weekend. Let us know if we can bring you dinner some time.

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  7. I'm so glad to hear things are improving even if it is slow. I am also so glad to hear that they are going to start feeds with breast milk that will hopefully really help. I just wanted you to know we are praying for all of you and I have put your names on the prayer roll at the Denver temple. It is so amazing how many people are praying for your sweet family.

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  8. I am so happy to open your blog and hear about the progress your children are making. It seems like they are improving a little each day. I am praying for all of you and thinking of you often!

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  9. Amanda and Thomas, I check your blog and Twitter multiple times a day to see how you and your little ones are doing. =)

    It's great to hear the babies are doing well. And excellent job pumping! My daughter was only three weeks and a day early, but she would have nothing to do with a boob. She would rather cry with milk running out of her mouth then take it from me. I ended up pumping until she was seven months old. I had to stop because we were starting our second round of IVF. I pray they're little tummies can handle the BM and they start improving from it.

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  10. Amanda, kudos on the pumping! It can get so tedious and is difficult to schedule your day around, but I am so glad that I stuck with it for the 8 months I did. It can make a really big difference in how the babies do with eating! I'm really glad to read the update on the babies. They still have a lot to work through, but remember that those small steps are huge - just look at the size of their tiny feet they are taking those steps with! :)

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  11. what a tiny bunch of fighters! Keep on fighting babies!!!

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  12. Amanda & Thomas, thanks for the updates. I am so glad to hear that the babies are holding their own and making progress. They are some real troopers for sure. I pray that they continue to get stronger and are able to consume some of your breast milk. That will make them strong. Keep Fighting, Braden, Haley, Ashlyn and Rachel. God Bless, Sherri

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  13. Our son had a grade III bleed on his left side, but has done great so far. I think ultimately it is making meeting some of his milestones a bit more challenging for him, but he's doing it. Keep your faith and believe! I am convinced breast milk has helped our son stay well. That and paranoid germaphobes for parents. As you say, it is more challenging, but it is rewarding and it can be done! God Bless, Candice

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  14. I am praying for you guys. It sounds like you are in wonderful hands with your neonatologists. I'm thinking about you guys.

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  15. It was so good to see you at church today. Thanks for the update. I can't wait to meet these beautiful strong babes.

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  16. Wishing you strength and much deserved love in the coming weeks. Thanks for sharing your touching story.

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