The Long Overdue Update

Okay, this update is so late in coming becuase I've been trying to write up the whole story. But I haven't had time yet, so I, so I'm just going to post stuff day-by-day, and maybe later I'll eventually get to putting up the whole thing.

As of yesterday,Chloe and Owen were diagnosed with pneumonia and have been put on special antibiotics. In about 7-10 days, we should know if it's cleared up. It's pretty common for premies of their age and size to get pneumonia, so don't worry too much about that.

By the way, today is their 2-week birthday. Unfortunately, they don't make little birthday hats small enough for their heads.

Chloe's head ultrasound came back from evaluation by the pediatric radiologists at Primary Children's Medical Center (in Salt Lake), and they confirmed that she doesn't have any grade-4 bleeds (where the bleeding has leaked into the brain tissue). She only has grade-3 bleeding (where the ventricles have filled more then 50% with blood and have swolen somewhat). Her head doesn't seem to be swelling or anything, so we have high hopes.

On the other hand, the neonatologist have also delivered a preliminary diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia, a condition surrounding the ventricles in the brain. At this point, there is a good chance of this meaning nothing at all, but it could progress to the point where there is some brain tissue loss in that area. The main prognosis in that case would be cerebral palsy to some extent (or no effect at all). And cerebral palsy could be as minor as an unnoticable limp in one leg or as severe as lack of muscular control throughout her body. At any rate, right now she just has some of the warning signs. We'll get a more definitive diagnosis in about a month. Again, we have faith in her recovery.

Owen and Chloe are both being fed breast milk (through a feeding tube down their throats and into their stomachs). Julie pumps 8 times a day. Just ask her and she'll tell you how fun it is to wake up at 3 am for the pump. Anyhow, Chloe is being fed one and a half CC's of milk every 3 hours. That's an increase from only 1 CC last week. Owen gets 10 CC's every 3 hours and he'll start getting 11 CC's tomorrow. He's a hungry little bugger.

Due to his super-hungriness, Owen now weighs 2 lb 10 oz (up from 2 lb 5 oz birth weight). Chloe was born at 1 lb 15 oz, and she lost a few ounces during her first week, but now she's back to her birth weight again.

Finally, the kids have also been moved into big plastic boxes (incubators). It's a good sign, because they only put kids into the incubators after they've stabalized somewhat. Also, it's nice for them because it's quieter and darker inside the incubator.

Well, that's it for today. Pray for these kids.