Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Challenges continue

Here is a quick update today as we had a late night last night and was not able to update our blog. Yesterday the girls turned 6 weeks old. How time has flown by. They have all had their challenges and struggles since birth and they continue to struggle in various degrees. Ashlyn is the one we are the most worried about at this point. She is just not urinating enough to get the extra fluid off. She has roughly 3 pounds of fluid on her. All the extra fluid is putting a strain on her lungs. We worry about her a lot and are not sure what to expect in the coming days. Her doctors are trying everything they know. Rachel is sick as well, but seemed to be getting better as of late last night. This morning though her blood pressure was going low again. Even our superstar Haley has a new infection now. We were not able to hold her yesterday because of this new infection they found. She was put on antibiotics again. She is still getting the breast milk feeds and is tolerating them well. This journey has been tough and we hope and pray that these girls will get better and be able to fight these infections. Being so premature, they just don't have the immune system to fight infections right now. So all we can do is pray and leave it in the Lord's hands. Only time will tell.

40 comments:

  1. I pray everyday for your lil girls. My girls were in the NICU for 6 and 7 months - hardest part of my life. You have prayers coming in from everywhere. The blood pressure issue is a constant up and down - along with infections - my girls had these too - when one got one the other one got one - sisters they know. happy 6 weeks old

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  2. Praying for you all. Right now. :)

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  3. I am amazed by your strength and faith. I am praying everyday for you and your girls. God works wonders everyday!

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  4. I got the link to your blog from a preemie group and have been following your amazing journey. The NICU is such a difficult experience, and even when the doctors say they are trying everything, your presence by your baby's sides makes a HUGE difference. They can feel the obvious love you have for them and I really believe it helps them fight their battle. Hang in there! You have been through so much already and seem to be so strong - I am sure you have passed that down to your little ones :) You and your girls will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you get some good news in the days to come!

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  5. Oh my dears, if only tears and love could make the little ones well - i know that you know who is charge, i do. i just pray for whatever is best for the girls. They're working as hard as they can, so are you and their Drs so you know all will be well.
    i'm gone for a day or two - i pray all are okay. love, Erma

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  6. I'm sorry to hear that all the girls are having problems. The NICU rollercoaster is stressfull and exhausting. I will continue to pray for the girl's health and for you and Thomas to stay strong. We know He is in charge, and with Him by our side, all battles are worth fighting. Love, Claudia

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  7. I am praying for your precious girls!!

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  8. Prayers from Australia from our family to yours.

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  9. It is amazing how you think you get to pick and choose what is supposedly God's will. You took that will into your own hands when you decided to pack your uterus like a clown car. Either God makes all the calls on your fertility or he doesn't. You don't get to try every fertility treatment you feel comfortable with and then stop at selective reduction but then put it back on God just to make yourself feel better. You brought 6 lives into this world and God did not squeeze the syringe that made it possible. How do you live with yourselves when you look into those incubators and caskets? You created this mess and you refuse to face the fact that God had nothing to do with it. Take responsibility for your own actions and accept that the consequences are exactly what happens when people like you think that they can go to any extreme to have a baby. Some people actually get pregnant with high order multiples and their first solution is NOT making their availability for a reality show and donations their parachute.

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  10. We continue to pray for your little ones (and the two of you as well). Stay strong.

    -Jace and Lucrecia

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  12. Amanda & Thomas - I pray for you and your children every day. I have been following your story for quite some time now and I can only hope the best is in store for you and your family.

    Regarding the comment from Sarah...obviously infertility wasn't one of the issues she has had to battle or deal with in her life but it is one of mine. I have had several fertility treatments including IUI and IVF and I must say that those who have not experienced fertility issues cannot truly say what they would do had they been faced with this situation. You work so hard to get pregnant and when you do...It is extremely hard to choose to reduce. God was there when he allowed six of those embryo's to implant and grow and he will be there to pick you up and take you whichever way this ride may turn.

    Please disregard comments from foolish people like Sarah who have no clue what you have been through...obviously...and who have no desire to ever understand.

    I will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.

    Cindy Kirby

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  13. Sorry to hear about the new challenges. Your sweet little girls are as brave and strong as you are and they are following your positive outlook as they fight to overcome all the infections. Our prayers continue for all of you.

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  14. How do you justify alowing the continued torture and suffering of your babies? One is practically drowning in her own fluids, and you keep saying what progress, what hope?!?
    Wouldn't God want you to stop the torture? Your babies are suffering because you continue to allow it. The most gracious thing you can do for them, is to stop the treatments, pull the plugs and allow the little ones to find some peace. Your babies have known nothing but physical pain since the moment they were born. How long will you let it go on?
    Just because medicine CAN keep a human alive, doesn't mean it SHOULD. And yes, I am a Christian. I know what the Bible tells us that a loving, Heavenly father wants for His children. It's not this.
    And to all those that say ignore posts like this....any truly loving parent would NOT want their child to suffer unnecessarily. Certainly not encourage it in others!!

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  15. i'm back and mad a a wet hen! just where do these idiots come into your beautiful, busy, caring lives with their venom, ugly and nasty. take a pill Stacey and Sarah and keep your mean thoughts in your evil little brains where they are comfortable. THERE i've said it and i mean it.
    I hope the babies are doing better this afternoon and that you blessed parents who gave wonderful, though tiny, bodies to these sweet spirits continue to know that you are instruments in the hands of God. love, Erma

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  16. What part of either Sarah's or my post is "evil"?
    Do you not think the suffering of little babies is evil and awful? These "parents" selfishness is infuriating! God is not responsible for the problems these children have. The parents are.
    As a mother, I weep for these poor children's suffering, and can't comprehend a mother allowing her child to be subjected to the agony these girls are obviously feeling. Unfortunately for the babies, God has not taken them home yet. MY prayers are that He does, and soon.

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  17. I'm with gram! I'm so mad I can't think! Stacy and Sarah are so far from right it's not even funny.

    We can't pretend to know the will of the Lord. I believe that you were able to get pregnant for a reason, and that 6 babies formed for a reason as well. No one has a right to tell you otherwise. We are told to multiply and replinish the Earth!! Some of us just have the faith to know that when we follow that commandment, miracles happen! Miracles like your sweet children! They might be suffering right now, but down the road when they're going to college or getting married and starting familes of their own, I'd love to see idiots like Sarah or Stacy try to tell them that they don't have a right to be here or that mom and dad should have pulled the plug.

    You've got more support than you know! I hope that helps you push out the thoughts of these fools and their horrible thoughts & statements. Please, don't let it get you down for one second!

    I really hope that you get to hold your girls soon and that this "bump" will pass as all the others have.

    Praying for you always,

    Christina McKinney

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  18. I pray for love and comfort for you, beautiful Stansel family! I'm sure you are stretched to the breaking point right now. I wish I could delete hurtful comments for you.

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  19. I have been praying for you guys every night. Please ignore the two above posters. Just keep your faith in God. He is an amazing God and does mircales all the time. Even knows I lost my son Hayden I still am very thankful that I had the time with him that I did. I was choosen to be his mommy and I am very proud of that.

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  20. I think if someone can't say anything nice, they should not say anything at all. Unkind posts are not necessary to this family! Thomas and Amanda, we are a family of high order multiples and made the decision to proof our comments before we post them due to unkind readers. Stay strong and I wish and pray for all the best for you! Kami

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  21. I am praying for your babies and you guys.

    I would have to guess that "Stacey and Sarah" are the same person. Someone who enjoys going around voicing their opinions about others.

    Jesus does care about every baby no matter how or why they were brought into this world.

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  22. Thomas and Amanda,
    I hope writing on this blog and sharing your experience is helping you deal with the worries that you are having. Honestly, your blog is the first thing I check when I get home from work. I hope things turn out for the best.

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  24. You are always in our prayers. The numerous infections, ups and downs with bp, and oxygen requirements, along with brain bleeds, etc. are so draining. I pray for your girls like I did with my children that God is with them each moment, guiding them along their way and giving them strength to fight their battles.

    Hugs,
    Jamie

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  25. So sorry you’re being forced to deal with incompetent idiots who are so unhappy in their own lives they are forced to spew negativity towards others. We who have been there are truly the only ones who are capable of knowing what this is. I am so surprised at the horrible things people come up with. They are brave enough to rant, but not make their blogs/profiles public.

    I will second what has already been said. Our son had a 5% chance of survival at birth and a vaginal birth was recommended for me, as it was deemed unnecessary to cut for a c-section. I chose the c-section to give our twins the best possible chance. We struggled with the potential pain our baby endured in the hospital, but we were confident that his fantastic team of doctors were monitoring it and controlling it adequately. I never had the feeling he was uncomfortable. Doctors abide by a code of ethics and during our many conversations with our son’s physicians we were assured they wouldn’t be treated him for the sake of doing it… they’d continue treating him as long as they felt it was being useful. Keep your faith and continue on as you’re doing… it’s really all you can do. The early days are so hard, but it does get easier. God Bless! Candice

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  26. I don't usually stop to read the comments-but I just wanted to add that 37 YEARS AGO in a little hospital in McAllen Texas I was born at 27-28 weeks and was just at 2 pounds. They told my mom I would not make it through the night. I am still here today. She was a single mom then and when she remarried she had infertility issues for the rest of her life. I was her only and the OB from Texas Women's later told her he was shocked she carried me that long! So keep the faith! You are always in our prayers!

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  27. the very idea that sarah or stacey would intrude into something that is so far above their ken that they would/could never understand it, is repulsive.
    their self proclaimed ignorance is offensive to any one who happens to come across it.
    quite obviously their relationship with God is a little shakey or they would know without even asking what or why we are offended.
    both of these dear and good people deserve one whale of a lot better than any low life's messing with them.
    your ARE entitled to your opinion - just don't clutter up the air waves with it.
    Love to you Amanda and Thomas and your precious much loved AND WANTED little girls. i know they will be all right. love, Erma

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  28. This is my 2nd post tonight, both of my others were deleted! they were not cruel but why not post them & let everyone else bash them. by the way, I agree with stacey & sarah, you want medical help in getting pregnant but you leave these shildrens sufferings in god's hands? go ahead, don't post this, I have already copied several radio/tv stations-like i said before I am a christian & have only asked questions & given my opinion-right or wrong. Let's not pretend these babies have a healthy chance at life. Maybe if the parents would wake up & express some remorse I could feel more. As of now, I feel only for these babies! They are my only concern, not the "parents"

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  29. Our family prays for you daily. Even my almost 8 year old has been thinking about you a lot. We love you so much and admire your resilience as you've made difficult choices. We love you! It hurts us to read those unkind comments, but we know that they just don't have the eternal perspective that we have. Life is so sweet and your princesses deserve a chance. Hang strong you guys. We're all rooting for you.--The Bigneys

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  30. One thing that I have been wondering since these babies were born is: Do you have insurance? I know this is probably not your main concern at the moment, but this must be costing a fortune.

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  32. I am saddened to see some of the comments that are posted. This family is giving us the privelege of following their difficult journey, the fact that people have posted comments about their personal beliefs and opinions is just in poor taste. This family is going through alot right now and this should only be a place where they get encouragement and hope. Those who left inappropriate posts clearly have no class or compassion (whether they think they do or not) - if you don't agree with what they are doing, then don't read their blog and mind your own business. And for the record, I am the proud momma to a baby concieved through IVF that was born very early and very sick and if I would have listened to people who told me to "end their suffering", my PERFECTLY healthy, happy and completely loved child would not be here. Although they have a rough start so many babies like the Stansel's go on to have great lives and luckily, don't remember the tough NICU experience. Keep the faith Stansel family!

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  33. Please do not tell "us" others that we do not know what they are going through! The only difference is that I chose not to go this route-very low survival-as I said before, think before you speak, noone one be here if they did not care about these children. I believe the most upsetting thing is, who would leave their very ill children in the hospital while thry are 7 hours away? Please save me the, God will take care of them, why do you not leave it in God's hands, not the drs.? Your children are on morphine, but not in pain, get a brain. Also, why has nothing been brought up about the three children that have passed away? maybe out of sight, out of mind? Please people grow not a brain but a heart, these children are in pain. Quit being so selfish. They did not ask for this, also, please let us know when they will quit accepting donations & talking to the media. P.S. Don't judge what i ahve been through because i would never make it the publics business!!!!!

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  34. Dear dede02,

    I wonder after reading your post if perhaps you were pregnant and then made the difficult decision to not continue the pregnancy. Do you think this may possibly have something to do with your thoughts and feelings toward the stansels? If so, I am sorry for your loss.

    Please try to keep in mind that what may have felt right for you does not mean that same thing is right for other families.

    Peace be with you

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  35. Thomas and Amanda,
    Please don't take these horrible "Christians" to heart! I know it's hard. My son had a low percentage rate to survive and he is a beautiful happy HEALTHY 1 year old now! Remember, there are more people who support and love you then the select few who don't understand what you are going through and in turn bash you.

    For the "Stacey", "Sarah" and Dedeo2"'s out there, read my son's blog...go ahead! www.parkertoday.wordpress.com He was a 26 weeker and was 2lbs at birth...during his first few months of life there were many a few times we almost lost him...should we have "pulled the plug"? If I had made that choice, I wouldn't have my PERFECT son right now! HIS "quality of life" is amazing! He has NO lasting effects of being born over 3 months premature. Even if he was with any disabilities, he is my son and I would love him. You are obviously ignorant and have been blessed with only "perfect" full term babies and can not comprehend what struggles and heartbreak goes into each and EVERY second of being a NICU mom! If God forbid one of your children have a problem are you going to cast them away?

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  36. My prayers are will you and your family. My son was born at 37 weeks and was in the NICU for over a month because his lungs were not developed. We had him blessed and was told that there was nothing else they could do for him. We prayed and prayed and never gave up hope. We were able to bring him home with no medical devices and he is now 2 1/2 years old. It doesn't matter what actions one takes on whether they were conceived with medical help or not. God has a plan. Both my children were conceived with medical help.

    Hugs to you!

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  37. I'm also wondering if you have good insurance. Even those with the best coverage may have been dropped by now.

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  38. Diaz family has and will pray for you and your family. stay strong and believe in your faith and yes god will guid you , we had twins at 26 weeks and my son had 4 grade bleed on one side and three grade on the other he was in pain Dad and I maked the choice to lethim go back to gods hands its still hard but we know we made the right choice or daughter die 2 weeks after due kindayand heart faliure we know that the are in heaven wating for us to join them 8 months later one year later we give birth to quads three boys and one girl at 32 weeks ... stay strong god bless love diaz clan

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  39. Thomas, Amanda and your 3 precious girls I will continue to pray for you. I once again thank you for continuing with your blog I check for updates daily and I know you are great parents and love all your children so much. It shows through in every word you type.

    I will also pray for those who put the hateful comments on here. I think those 3 need our prayers most of all.

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  40. While I do not neccesarily agree with all the posts on this blog, I do not think that Amanda and Thomas deserve the criticism they are recieiving in this post. If you have not been through the NICU journey, there is no way you can possibly understand their actions. "Pull the plug"?!? Really? My babies have been in the NICU for 12 weeks and I have seen countless miracles walk out of those doors happy and healthy. Being a NICU parent is one of the hardest things that anyone can ever go through - do NOT act like Amanda and Thomas are making an easy decision by being there for their sick babies and having hope. Sometimes hope is all you have. Be thankful that your children are at home and healthy and keep your nasty and ignorant opinions to yourself.

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