Before you go on, realize that when we post bad news it is because we want to share/document some of the challenges of this journey. We're not crushed right now, but today was definitely one of the two-steps back kind of days.
We had a care-conference with the NICU staff at 1130 today. The most prominent reason for this meeting was because while a "normal" premie would be capable of eating mostly on their own by 37 weeks gestational age, our girls are now past the 38 week mark and their still only taking about 1/4 of their food on their own. Most of their food is feed to them thru the their feeding tubes. There are more than a few possible reasons for this delay, but today we confronted the issue together with the care team to come up with a plan. It was hard because, as well as our girls have been doing so far, they are now having a pretty considerable setback. They will not be coming home quite as soon as we had expected.
Hollister and Quinn are (surprisingly) having the hardest time. They both just seem to tire out immediately during their feeds. Keller is doing much better, but she still needs a little O2. The details are too numerous, and too mundane, to repeat here. The bottom line is that today was a reminder that our girls are fragile. Not the most fun facts to confront.
Then again...they're Renken girls. I'm sure they're just conspiring for the right moment to dazzle everyone with their progress.
we will take the punches as well as the advancements. All we want is for 3 healthy little girls to come home when they are fully ready. I was looking forward to meeting them next week, but I can wait for them to be ready for me to be there. So glad they have such a good care team watching out for them. The girls are going to catch on soon and be home.
ReplyDeletelove, mom
They will get there. Love you all ♥
ReplyDeleteJust checking in and I am impressed by your message--first by your honesty and articulate expression, and then by your strength and optimism. These girls are blessed to be so loved and supported! My hope for you all is bright days and forward progress!
ReplyDeleteThey will get it all figured out soon so they can come home
ReplyDeleteThis time seemed like the hardest for us... we were told the boys had no real issues, as long as everything stayed the same & they learned to take all their feeds by bottle they'd go home in a week... We came right down to the day before & each of them had an "issue" be it gagging, reflux, de-sats (issues they had not previously had,) we were suddenly on another week long countdown. Same thing happened a few days into that countdown, it wasn't until the 3rd countdown that they actually all made it home (within 2 days of each other) Keep your chin up, they will get there when the time is right for them. I just had to keep telling myself it was better to figure out these issues in the NICU than to have them at home and not know what to do or how to explain it to the doctor. Keeping you all in my thoughts & prayers...
ReplyDeleteWe are thinking of you mummy and daddy Renken and your 3 lovely girls. Hope things get better for you all soon.
ReplyDeleteMichelle and Mark, Ethan and Jacob