Baby update

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for continuing to pray for the babies, especially Seth. There doesn't appear to be any infection, praise God, but it's baffling as to what is wrong with him. He is still on greatly increased machine settings but less oxygen (down in the 50s tonight). His blood gases looked okay this morning, but his x-ray tonight is still pretty bad/hazy from his chronically damaged lungs. As his nurse said, he needs to grow new lungs! Another nurse said miracles happen in the NICU and is praying for Seth (I love how many staff members are). We do pray Seth will be a miracle, of course, but we know God will glorify Himself whatever He chooses to do.

Psalm 138:2b "I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me. You encourage me by giving me strength."

He does encourage us, largely through you all and His own precious Word, and He gives us strength! Thanks for praying for that. We need it.

Seth is growing well, praise God, and is at 4 lb 12.4 oz. A HUGE praise (especially in my mind) is that he is comfortable and tolerating being touched and cared for and treated, all of this while he's been weaned down on the morphine and Versed. He's much more alert and active as a result. It's fun to look in his eyes. His one hand discovered the other yesterday and he was rolling them over each other while I visited with him, staring right into my eyes.

David is having a bit o' trouble gaining weight (but nursed - and burped - great today!) and is a little skinny boy compared to his "husky" brothers. He's only 4 lb 7 oz. He is stinkin' adorable, though! Please pray he gains well. He had to have a blood transfusion (not a big deal) and his feeds were stopped as a result of that since blood transfusions can increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, so he's coming back from that little set-back.

A praise is that Gracie has gained well! She is now 3 pounds 8.4 oz. We pray she can move off the CPAP and onto cannula soon, too. Tonight she's at room temperature in her isolette, happily swaddled. When we were there earlier she had wiggled out of her little cocoon (which is supposed to simulate the womb) and was all stretched out, spread-eagled, like she was sunbathing in her sleep. It was too cute, needless to say. ;)

Marcie needs to remember to breath. She's still on 5 liters of air per minute via nasal cannula "vapotherm." She has low heart rate spells too frequently to be weaned down on the pressure going in. Otherwise, she is doing great. She weighs 4 lb 6 oz.

Will is almost 5 lbs 13 oz! Wow, he's like a REAL baby! ;) Both he and David are taking their bottle well. He was too tired to nurse today when I was there. Oh well!

Love and gratitude,
Carrie