DAY 11 - MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008

ANDREW- Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be a big day for Andrew.  We spoke with the NICU doctor today about his progress and the procedure that have been scheduled back to back (to minimize his "travel" time from the NICU) tomorrow.  First, Andrew's left kidney will be drained.  It is the larger of the two kidneys and is putting pressure on his stomach. Doctor's feel this may be having an impact on his stomach and other internal organs.  The swelling he has had has been masking how swollen his kidneys have gotten. His right kidney has gotten so large that you can see its outline when you look at his abdomen.  Following the kidney drainage he will have the barium swallow test.  This was explained in detail in yesterday's blog under Andrew's section.  We are praying and hoping that the results of this test will show the repair to his esophagus has healed.  If there is no leakage his chest tube may be removed and a smaller feeding tube will be inserted into his stomach (rather than to the intestines like it currently is).  The main reason we have been unable to hold him is because of his chest tube and the ventilator tube.  We hope will be able to hold him for the first time tomorrow.  The doctor also said his lungs are clear and his breathing continues to improve.  Andrew has improved a lot since the ventilator tube was removed.  Now that the problem with the esophagus/trachea are (almost) resolved and now they can begin focusing on his kidneys.  They hope to do the VCUG-or vascular-test on Wednesday or Thursday.  This test involves putting barium through his urinary system to observe on x-ray the location of the blockage.  Then a diagnosis can be determined and the steps needed to resolve the problem. 

We LOVE the nurse that is caring for him today- she is our favorite.  She was his nurse last week and will be the rest of this week.  It is obvious the love and devotion that she has for her babies.  She takes seriously the responsibility she has as their nurse.  Andrew is very sensitive to noise around him.  When there's loud noises, lots of talking, and moving around his heart rate and blood pressure goes out of control.  It is a good thing he is in a far corner of the room but today she posted a sign on his bed- "SHHH, I need to grow" and she had to tell people around her to quiet down.  Andrew was also started on blood pressure medicine last night because his blood pressure sometimes reaches above 200.  Mine is high too but not that high.  Apparently, his high blood pressure is related to his kidney disorder, which makes him more susceptible blood pressure spikes.  Andrew is a miracle and continues to be a fighter.  We hope and pray that he will continue to defy the odds.  We are so grateful for your prayers in his behalf.

AARON- Aaron (and his parents!) has survived his first night home!  We love having him home!  Not that we didn't believe it before but we are beginning to get an idea of just how nonstop it is as a parent.  But it is so rewarding!  Aaron is a very content baby and seems to be adjusting well to his new environment. He has been eating and sleeping very well, and he received his first bath at home today. We wondered if he would be able to sleep OK because it is so much quieter at home than it was at the NICU and Special Care Unit. He has gotten so used to sleeping with the lights on, warning bells, and talking people around him we thought he might have trouble adjusting. We are also so grateful that his Grandma Rawlings could be here to help out for a few days. She has helped us so much giving us a crash course in infant care. Besides helping us learn the basic principles of infant care, she has helped us learn some of the tricks and short cuts which can make things a bit easier. Thank you very much Grandma Rawlings, we love you.