Update and a year in review

As many of you know by now our journey thru the NICU wasn't an easy one, I took notes everyday and wanted to post them along with some stat's since today our handsome sweet boys are 4 months old.

9/7/2013
 Jacob Alan: Jacob started on donor milk today and weighs in at 3 pounds 5 oz, he decided that he was done with his vent and pulled it out, what a fighter we have on our hands.

Joe Robert: weighs in at 3 pounds 3 ounces and opened his eyes for the first time for me. I got to take his temperature and change his diaper for the first time, this mommy is one happy lady.

9/8/2013
Jacob: was doing good on the ram cam until things changed for the worse
Joe: was sleeping so soundly the whole visit

9/9/2013
Jacob: is back on the vent and weighs 3 pounds 5 oz, he is taking 4 ml of feedings, I got to change his diaper and take his temp, and I signed for steroids to help his lungs.
Joe: is doing good and still on the vent he weighs 3 pounds 8 oz and was resting my whole visit

9/9/2013: PM nurse update:
Jacob: has a good/ evening and is doing better than this afternoon.
Joe: had a good evening

9/10/13:
Jacob had a brain bleed and a PVL, he is doing better and got his 2nd dose of steroids and got breast milk, he is on bili light and had PT.

Joe: is still on the vent and had PT also, he got lasiks today to bring down the fluid

9/13/13
Jacob: got 4ml of food and is on lasiks every 12 hours until Dr. Benton says otherwise his vent settings are on 15 breaths per minute from 25, so we are making small steps in the right direction.

Joe: they might increase his feed's yay :)

9/14/13: PM nurse update:
 Jacob: got labs drawn and is still on the vent and he weighs in at 3 pounds even

Joe: has to have sedation meds and he has a residual in his tube, he weighs in at 3 pounds 11 ounces.

9/15/13
Jacob: had a good night he weighs in at 3 pounds 6 ounces

Joe: had .1 residual in his tube, his stomach bile is less greeny, his rate of his vent went down to 38 from 40 and his biliruben went up.

9/21/13: 
Joe: today Joe was running a fever, had to get labs, drawn and because I was heading home for my shower I got to hold him for a second or two.

Jacob: had no temperature thank God but he did get really hot all of the sudden.

9/21/13 PM nurse update from Janella:
 Jacob:  had a good afternoon and no temp
Joe: had an okay afternoon but did have to get a transfusion
nurse Janella was going to snuggle with the boys and tell them I love them.

9/22/13
Jacob: had a good day and still not running a temp
Joe: was doing better, his WBC was down, but he is still not able to have food.

10/1/13: Nurse Penny
this week the boys transitioned in to Step down :-)
Jacob: had 1 heart rate drop and needed stimualation, he weighs in at 3 pounds 9 oz
Joe: have no throwing up from reflux and got to transition in to a big boy bed, he weighs in at 4 pounds 2 oz.

10/2/13
Jacob: had 3 heart rate drops :( but he weighs in at 3 lbs 12 oz
Joe: we have to start holding before feeding due to reflux, he weighs in at 4 lbs 4 oz

10/3/13:
Jacob: was sleeping, we weighted in at 3 lbs 13.7 oz
Joe: was awake, had 6 spit ups and 1 heart rate drop, he weighted in at 4lbs and 6.4 oz

10/4/13:
Joe had 3 heart rate drops, 1 pulse ox drop, they had to go up on his oxygen to 2 liters and he had 6 spit ups, they are thinking he was has acid reflux.
Jacob: had 2 heart rate drops, and was doing okay

10/5/13
Jacob had 2 heart rate drops and weighted in at 4 lbs .5 oz, his crit was low and so he got blood and was unable to eat for 6 long hours.
Joe : did really good, he took 1 bottle today and weighted in at 4 lbs 8 oz

10/21/13 
Jacob: is doing okay,  he had to be stimualated, they also had to turn up the oxygen for him. He weights 5 lbs 4 oz.
Joe: took all his bottles today, and they are pulling his feeding tube, he weighs 5 lbs 9 oz.

10/22/13
Jacob had a great night for Aunt Tori, he weighs 5 lbs 4.5 oz, Jacob also gave aunt Tori quite a scare as he had to be bagged.
Joe: had a good night except he didn't pass his hearing screening on his right ear. He weights 5 lbs 8.9 oz

11-3-13
 Joe got to come home last week :-)

Jacob: got to see Aunt Tori who we love and he weighs in at 6 lbs 3.3 oz

11-4-13
Jacob: weighs in at 6 lbs 4.9oz

11-6-13
Jacob: weighs in at 6 lbs 6.1 oz. We got to see some of our favorite nurses as today was the day that we headed home from Baptist with both boys. We also got to make sure we thanked our NICU doctor's lead by Dr. Sotomara, Benton, Nesterd and Zierlign.

 Here are some amazing stat's on Jacob and Joe :As I sit here on a cold wintery day and writing this post, I think of everything they have gone thru in their 3 months of life: so here are some amazing stat's on them 
Joe spent 54 days in the NICU, had 3 blood transfusions, was on a vent for 19 days. Jacob spent 67 days in the NICU, had 4 blood transfusions, was on the vent for 22 days and spent numerous days on oxygen. I can't believe their adjusted age is almost 2 months  — feeling blessedwith Bobby Davidson.

The next few weeks we have many medical appt's. Jacob, Bobby and I will head back to LR for a neurology appt, Jacob and Joe also have an eye appt here locally. Then I have an appt here next week with my OB. Jacob has an appt with an Ear Nose and Throat guy here locally and then of course Jacob's surgery is the 5th of February in Little Rock. 

This week Jacob and Joe get their 4 month shot's I can't believe today they are 4 months old. Were does time go. Bob and I have been togeather 4 years today and what a crazy ride it has been but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yes like any couple we have our up's and down's but I am blessed to be married to my amazing husband. 

3 month and 6 day update

As I sit here on a very snowy day and a sweet boy Jacob sleeping on my chest and my awesome hubby hanging out at home with us and Joe in his play pen all is good in the Davidson household.

Joe: is weighing in at 8 pounds even and will be getting round 2 of his synergis shot any day :) He is drinking 3 oz of formula and enjoys snuggling with me. He likes to smile in his sleep.This is Joe enjoying some tummy time yesterday evening. The black bag is his monitor.

Jacob: is weighing in at 7 pounds 5 ounces, he will be getting round 2 of his synergis shot on Tuesday. He is drinking 2.5 ounces of formula, he also enjoys snuggling. He also likes sitting in his swing and looking around. Jacob will be having some surgery in May due to his bi-lateral hydrocele and he is getting circumsized. We decided to wait til May because he has to be totally put under. 

I can't believe my boys are already 3 months and 6 days old and their adjusted age is 3 weeks. 

We have so many things to look forward to in the next coming weeks. 

Jacob and his girafee :)

Jacob and Joe

While I sit here and drink my afternoon cup of tea. The boys are resting in their crib and my handsome hubby is taking a nap. Yesterday would have been my due date with Jacob and Joe. They have come a long way in such a short time. Yes, we have had a few setbacks with Jacob but we have gotten thru them with the help of our amazing medical teams. I seriously believe the boys have the best ped's doctor. Just last week after Jacob's follow up from getting home he prayed with us and told me if I needed anything to not hesitat to call him. This is the doctor that was suppose to deliver our miracles. I remember the day I had them he wasn't on call but called the hospital to check on us. I seriously believe this man was one of our angel's during the right time. 

Jacob: has set off his apnea monitor several times and is constantly spitting up from acid reflux. Dr. Robinson said that he probably will order an upper GI to be done to make sure we aren't missing anything. Jacob got to go and visit my work this past week. He also got to meet his new cousin Desley.

Joe: is doing good and enjoy's being held. Joe also got to visit my work and got to meet his new cousin Desley.

Life is crazy busy but we are loving being home with our two sweet boys. 

new born pictures

This week has been a crazy week. Last Saturday morning when Bob and I got to the NICU with Joe we were told to go and get Jacob's car seat :) We went and picked it up and then headed back to the NI and they were giving him his two month immunizations along with his RSV shot. The doctor rounded around 2 or so and he was like if things go well then we can plan for the discharge on Wednesday :) Bob and I got to visit with a few of the nurses from the very beginning. Then we met up with a friend for dinner and after dinner went back to the NI to say good night to Jacob. On Sunday when we arrived everything was good and they didn't make any changes. My mom arrived around 2 ish and we went to dinner and then headed to the NI. My mom got to feed and love on Jacob. Then we headed back to the hotel and rested for the night. On Monday, I arrived early for rounds and they upped Jacob's caffine and then started discharge paperwork. On Tuesday we took newborn photo's and this is one of them and then went to lunch with my sweet NICU friend Melanie. Wednesday morning I arrived plenty early for rounds and got to thank our medical team and give them a huge hug. They finished the discharge paperwork around 12:30 and we were on our way by 1:00. It was so nice leaving the hospital with both of my handsome boys. Yes, I cried tears of joy. Joe is doing well and getting bigger and stronger. I imagine in the next month that both boys will be rolling over :)

2 month update :)

Wow, I can't believe our boys just hit the 2 month mark in the NICU. The past week or so has been amazing. We have kept plenty busy.

Joe~ has been home a little over a week now and has kept us plenty busy. We have been staying in Little Rock for the most part to be with Jacob. Joe had his 2 month appointment yesterday and weighs in at 6 pounds and 10 ounces. He also got his 2 month shots and got an eye exam. He has an appt at Children's on Thursday for his finger. He is a pretty good sleeper and only wakes up every 3-4 hours. He enjoys sleeping in his pack and play or his car seat. 

Jacob~ is doing great and as of 2  this morning he got his feeding tube pulled. If all goes as planned this should be our last weekend in Little Rock. He is getting to be a big boy :) He weighs in at 6 pounds and 1.9 ounces. Jacob's bleed seems to have disapated but he still does have a Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). 

Bobby and I have been doing good and trying to get adjusted to the roll of being parent's. Today we are taking the first pictures of becoming a family of four. 

This journey has not been an easy one, in fact their are many times just walking in to the NI to see our boys that I have shed tears, while I am thankful that we have an amazing medical team their have also been many times I have gotten frusturated with their some what lack of communication. As this journey being a NICU family comes to an end and as we take our sweet and handsome boys home please continue to pray for all the other NICU families and their babies. As I have said many times before and as my medical team has said this journey isn't a sprint it's a marathon that saying is so very true. 

This photo is from last week when I got to snuggle with both boys together :) Joe is on the left and Jacob is on the right.

update on Jacob and Joe week 7 :)

I wanted to post an update on Jacob Alan and Joe Robert. I probably will do one major update a week also I have created a facebook page for our sweet boys on facebook under the name of J and J 2013.

Jacob: weighs in at 5 pounds .2 ounces. He received 2 blood transfusions on Sunday and Monday. We are so thankful for people that donate blood. He got baptized on Monday by our pastor. He also gave me a very huge scare on Tuesday, the doctor's decided to lower his oxygen rate and he has been having heart rate declerations and he decided to lower his heart rate to 70 for a few minutes, they ended up having to bag my sweet boy. I was holding Joe during this time and so all I could do was look at Joe and wipe away tears from my eyes. It was a very scary few minutes. We have already been told that Jacob will be coming home on oxygen and monitor's, I also have to learn how to bag him should the need arise. As many aren't aware Jacob suffered a brain injury right after birth. While we don't know the prognosis of how normal of a life he will have we celebrate each day. He has a grade 1-2 brain bleed.

Joe: weighs in at 5 pounds 7 ounces. He is taking majority of his bottles by mouth. He just has to pass a few more steps and then we can bring him home. If all goes well he may be able to come home towards the end of the week. He will also be coming home on monitor's. He also got baptized on Monday :)

I am doing pretty well, just been trying to keep busy. Life is going to get pretty busy once Joe and Jacob are home with many appointment's in Little Rock. The big news from this week for me is that I got to room in with the boys on Monday night. It was great getting to see them for 24 hours. 

Bob and I are so blessed by so many during this difficult time. I can't believe our boys are 7 weeks old today. I can say this journey hasn't been easy and their have been many tough decisions made but we are so thankful for all the prayers and support.

Update on the boys

Life in the NICU:

Jacob: has had a pretty good few days along with snuggle time with grandma and my self. He now weighs in at 3 pounds and 12 ounces and loves his pacifier

Joe: is doing well also and has got his oxygen lowered this afternoon :) He now weighs in at 4 pounds and 4 ounces and loves his pacifier also.

A few of these photo's are from the morning of my emergency c-section, from my babe and I right before they took me back and from the first time of seeing and touching my boys.