Day One of Life!

Both boys were intubated around 12:30 last night due to increased work of breathing. They were just struggling too much to breathe and were getting tired out. The doctor had done chest x-rays which showed worsening of the lungs, so they intubated them before they got too much worse. After the boys were intubated, they were given a medicine called surfactant. Surfactant is something our lungs make but since the boys are so early they don't make much yet. The nurses said as soon as they gave the medicine, they both pinked up (better skin color) and were breathing easier on the ventilator. They were able to wean their oxygen and vent setting down after the medications too. Jack needed a blood transfusion due to low blood level counts and also some Albumin to help get his blood pressure up. Luke needed Albumin too but did not need any blood. Both boys are A+ (blood type) like their mom!! Luke was getting a little jaundice (he had some bruising from delivery) and they put him on a biliary light. Even with everything that was done last night, they are still doing great and being little fighters. The nurse taking care of Jack says every time she changes his diaper, he pees at her and gets pee all over the head of the bed!! Luke is doing the best on the ventilator and oxygen settings.

I am doing good. VERY sore and tired. My left leg is still pretty numb and limp due to the epidural but I was able to get up and into a wheelchair and go see the boys around 5 this morning. The NICU nurses were surprised to see me up so soon but I couldn't stay away. One of the nurses is a friend of mine that I went to nursing school with and it makes me happy that she got to take care of Jack. We did not get much sleep--just dozed here and there. I am sure we will be napping off and on today. We are going to go see them in a little while and take some more pictures. I will have Ken load some more on the blog as soon as possible.

Thanks for the prayers. We really felt that God was with us and the boys and had a peace that could have only come from God. We have a long journey ahead but know that God is doing great things. Continue to pray for the babies as they have so far to go. Thanks again for everything and to everyone--those we know and to those who have never met us. We are amazed at the power of prayer and the strength God has given us!