A Ripple in the Water

So this week we hit our first ripple in the water.  I think we all (Brent and I and all the staff in the NICU) had been waiting for our first little bump in the road.  Thursday, Paxton was given blood because his blood volume was very low, which was also causing him to have lots of heart rate and oxygen level drops.  The transfusion was given to him in two sessions and after the first session we could already see a big difference -- his color was pinker and he was having a lot fewer drops in heart rate and oxygen.  They re-checked his labs yesterday morning and his levels were back to normal.

Paxton having Kangaroo time with Daddy

Lennox's labs have also shown that his blood volume levels have dropped over the last few days, but they can tell that his body is trying very hard to start producing more red blood cells to increase his volume.  They are going to give him another couple of days to increase and re-check his levels -- if they haven't gone up he probably will be given blood as well.

Lennox having Kangaroo time with Daddy

I'm so thankful that the NICU staff is so wonderful and watch these boys so closely!  The boys are still doing incredibly well for how early they were.  We've been told that most babies born at 27 weeks usually need blood -- so this isn't anything abnormal.  We feel like if this is the worst ripple we hit, then we will be incredibly blessed.

In other news, this momma had a much needed girls night dinner the other night -- Thank you, thank you, Amanda and Lauren -- and Brent too!  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends that are so supportive and giving -- I can't even explain how much it means!

We were also lucky to get to spend a few hours playing with Lauren and her family at Shelby Farms yesterday.  Conley had the best time hanging with big kids, Paul Carter and Elle!  We were so glad we got to hang out while they were in town from South Carolina.

Conley and Elle playing

Conley, Elle, Lauren, and Paul Carter

Trying to be big. Paul Carter was playing with this stick,
so as soon as he put it down Conley picked
 it up and tried to play with it.