A step backward for one, good progress for two...

Brielle


Brielle started struggling on Wednesday night.  She was not able to keep her pulse ox up and her heart rate was dropping more than it had before and had to be bagged (given manual breaths to get her numbers back up) on Wednesday night.  The doctor decided to switch her from the CPAP to the vapotherm to see if that would help.  It was not the magical fix we were looking for.

Brielle after the CPAP was taken off trying to figure out what was going on.
Yes, that's Tony's nose.

 She had to be bagged again on Thursday morning so she was switched back to the CPAP with the extra vent breaths.  She had another spell Thursday afternoon and had to be bagged again.  The doctor decided to increase her vent rate and see how she did.  If she had one more spell they would intubate her and do a full work up to see if she had an infection.  I called at 2 AM on Friday and she had been doing fine.

Tiny Brielle before going back on the CPAP. She has this way of raising her eyebrows that makes you melt.

At 4 AM things went downhill again.  She had another bad spell and her work up began.  She was intubated, more blood was drawn, they put a catheter in to get a urine sample, they did a spinal tap to culture her cerebral spinal fluid, and took a sample from her airway to culture that as well.

Poor thing clutching the vent.

So far her blood sample is normal, her urine culture was negative, and her airway culture shows some staph.  We are still waiting for the full results of the airway and CSF cultures.

The vent has been helping her get some energy back.  She opens her eyes again and is moving around more then she had been.

Finally getting some life back in her.

Teagan

On Thursday Teagan got put on the vapotherm as well!  She did wonderfully.  The settings range from 1-6 liters of oxygen pressure.  She started at 6 and is now at 3 without any spells!  Our little peanut has now become the leader of the pack.  She is eating 10 ml's every 3 hours and weighs 2 pounds 2 ounces.

Teagan screamed the whole time they changed her from the CPAP.

 The nurses pleaded "Teagan, Help me to Help you!"

She can finally put her hands up without having big tubes in the way. Now she's doing the Pilates Flutter Kick.
Shellie Ship that's for you...

Won't be long before they are at the Ankeny Y swimming their hearts out!

We can finally see her face! Still not sure who she looks like.

Cuddle time with daddy. Why doesn't daddy have to wear a bonnet?

Rianne

Rianne was also changed from the CPAP and has been doing well.  She is currently at 5 liters and has been spell free for over 24 hours!  She is having a little problems with her feedings and is still at 7 ml's every 3 hours.  Her weight is up a bit to 2 pounds 5 ounces.

After the CPAP was taken off....Man, I have been trying to get to this booger for weeks!

Not sure who she looks like either. 

Rianne and Teagan have graduated to the next diaper size, not because they are bigger but because their ... excretions require a larger catcher's mitt.