Ray of Sunshine!

Can I tell you I can hardly keep from jumping for joy all day today!!! Our babies are doing GREAT! Nich took Brennan & Brookyln to their audiology follow up appointments and heard good news - they think most (if not ALL!) of the hearing loss is conductive. Conductive hearing loss is fixable! They have another appointment in 4 months to evaluate. They might have fluid in their ears or need some kind of reconstructive surgery if there's something wrong with their ear canals. Their ears are still to small to tell right now. This is huge, since they originally thought both of them had moderate/severe hearing loss that was permanent.

Our other great news - Landon is off the ventilator today! Here's our strong boy on CPAP! His PICC line with all the IV's was pulled this afternoon (after Nich took the pic). All of his meds are oral, well through the feeding tube (NG tube). He is just remarkable! I look at him and am just in AWE of God. 3 weeks ago, the docs were just trying to get through the next couple hours at a time. They prepared us that he might go home on a stable ventilator or need a tracheotomy. Now, they are only thinking of a possible trach if he doesn't do well on CPAP (needing lots of support or can't transfer to nasal cannula). Landon is so strong - he is amazing the doctors and even us! There are so many things he should not have overcome (on paper, they don't figure in God and the power of prayer!). We've been thinking of hiring U of M's marching band to play when he finally comes home! Hopefully more great news to come! We are so blessed!

Oh, by the way! Brennan's 7lb 7oz, Brooklyn's 7lb 12oz and Landon's over 9lbs!!

Brennan and Brooklyn playing!

Two peas in a pod - they're even holding hands! :)

Brennan is having a ball with Brooklyn being home! She...not so much! Whenever they're both awake, we put them on the floor together for some brother/sister bonding time! Well...here's the result!



Yes, Brennan did rip off Brooklyn's cannula 3 times! Later (after this video) she got her hands too close to his mouth and he started sucking on her fist! It's SOO fun having 2 home! I love watching them interact! They do feed off each other all the time and Brooklyn usually leads the pack. When Brooke's happy everyone's happy, when she's not - watch out! That video coming! :)

Brooklyn's Home!!

Day of Life 1 - 1lb 3.5 oz


Day of Life 139 - 7lbs 3oz

I've overcome...

Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Anemia of Prematurity Requiring Transfusions
Pulmonary Interestitial Emphysema
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA ligation 10/09)
Chronic Lung Disease
Pneumonia
Collapsed Lung
Extremely Low Birthweight (550 grams or 1lb 3.5 oz)
Respiratory Failure Requiring Mechanical Ventilation
Moderate/Severe Hearing Loss Bilaterally
Retinapothy of Prematurity (laser eye surgery 1/10)
Suspected Early and Late Onset Sepsis
Infant Feeding Difficulties (no problem now!!)

Brooklyn all dolled up in her homecoming outfit! Proud Parents and nurses and Brennan's cheering her on!

Getting ready to check out of Ronald McDonald house after 137 days!

I can't believe we have two babies home! It's been really busy and crazy! Hence the late post! Brooklyn has been such a joy since we brought her home! She definitely is a drama queen and goes from 0-100 in 2 seconds, but when she's awake and happy. She's taking everything in and so sweet! She's just like her sister! We tried for about 3 weeks to get off oxygen, but just couldn't. She's home on 1/8 liter of oxygen 24 hours a day. We'll go to a Pulmonary Appointment next Thursday to see how much and how long she really needs it. 1/8th is just a wiff! We are so proud of our kids! When we were walking out of the hospital we felt like we needed a fanfare - we had 23 weekers coming home!!!!

We are so thankful, words cannot even express how blessed we are! We have seen His power and are so in awe! Just need Landon home too!

The Toughest Kid on the Block!

Girls beware! You may think he is tough like the Fonz, But he is so sweet with his big brown eyes! He'll capture your heart if your not careful!

Say hello to my friend Mr Iguana! Landon is such a cutie! It brought tears to my eyes just watching him. He was able to connect with me and stay focused on me. He even wrapped his fingers around mine. He was amazing feeling to see that Landon's sweet personality was still there even though he was still heavily sedated.

Landon's Monitor. The green is his heart rate- 148, red is his blood pressure 79/46 with a map of 62, and the blue is his oxygen saturation which has been in the 90's. When he was really sick his heart rate with really low, his blood pressure was low for a period of time but was able to come off dopamine quickly and his O2 saturation was constantly in the high 70's low 80's. They placed Landon on a heart medication to help his heart relax and take in more blood to be oxygenated. Since that point he has gradually recovered from this whole ordeal.

This is Landon's friend, Mr. Oscillator. What it basically does is puts pressure into the lungs and shakes oxygen into them instead of a normal breathe. It looks like a pilot console connected to a boom box and sounds like one too! I wonder what station he is listening to some times. Currently,He is on a pressure of 19, rate of 40 and 8 hz. When Landon was critically ill, his settings read 28, rate of 55 and 6 hz. He was also on 100% oxygen and now he is on 45% oxygen. They hope to be able to transition him back to a normal vent once his pressure comes down to around 12ishHe is amazing, THe doctors feel that Landon would take a long time to recover, and though it probably will he has been steadily improving his vitals everyday!

Doing the Mr Mom thing!

Today I got my first major taste of being Mr. Mom lol.  Jen and Hailey went to Nana's house for her birthday, so I had Brennan.  Sooo Mr. Little Man and I went to visit his brother and sister at the hospital.  When I got there it was time for Brooklyn to eat.  So I put Brennan in the swing, which made Brooklyn upset because I was not feeding right then and there!  So I began to feed Brooklyn and was trying to burp her and Brennan when began to cry and need his soothie.  I gave Brennan his soothie, and fed Brooklyn a little longer.  After about five minutes Brennan pooped and wanted out of the swing.  The nurse took Brooklyn while I changed Brennan.  Then he was hungry, so I gave him his medication, which he hates and spits everywhere and fed him.  Meanwhile Brooklyn spit up on the nurse and we had a good laugh, until Brennan puked all of me lol!  Luckily I had extra clothes for him.  Though it was chaotic it was a great moment for me to sit back and thank GOD for the both of them.  They are going to work us hard, but I know the outcome is going to be great!

Nich

Brennan's Flown the Coop!

Sunday we brought our first baby home!  Here's Brennan's story - what a miracle!

Day of Life - 1, 1lb 4oz

Day of Life - 130, 6lbs 5oz!

I've overcome...

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA ligation 9/09)

Retinapothay of Prematurity (laser eye surgery 1/10)

Anemia of Prematurity Requiring Transfusions

Apnea of Prematurity

Moderate/Severe Hearing Loss Bilaterally (hearing aid fitting Tuesday)

Bilateral Grade 3 Intraventricular Hemorraghes (they're gone!!)

Necrotizing Entercolitis (Intra-Abdominal Drain Placement 9/09)

Chronic Lung Disease

Hypotension Requiring Pressor Support

Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Extremely Low Birthweight (567 grams or 1lb 4oz)

Respiratory Failure Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

Suspected Early and Late Onset Sepsis

Infant Feeding Difficulties

Acute Renal Failure

Atrial Septal Defect

Hyperkalemia

Biotindase Deficiency

Saturday night we spent the night in the nesting room across from the hospital.  It really was wonderful to have him to ourselves, but have the NICU staff close by if we needed anything.  We were responsible for his feedings (fortifying the breastmilk), giving his meds, well...everything!  We wheeled him into the room and looked at each other like "Now what?!"  We were so excited to have him, but it had been so long having the nurses do his primary care!  We figured it out and had a wonderful night!  He did throw his own party and stayed up all night though!  He's had his days & nights confused ever since...hence the tardiness of this post.  When he's sleeping, so am I!

Happy family on our way to the nesting room!!

Going for a ride - one proud Daddy!

All packed up and ready to go on Sunday!  We were so giddy! :)

 

Saying good-bye to Brooklyn

 

 Good-bye Landon!

Hello Big Sister Hailey!!

We are so happy to have Brennan home!  Words can't express how thankful we are!  Our kids are such fighters and have really beat the odds!  Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and support that have gotten us through this incredible journey!  1 down - 2 more to come!