More of the same, and also I'm losing my mind

Babies are stable. Improving slowly. But neither one is eating or drinking to the satisfaction of their doctors, and so we live under the constant threat of NG tubes still. So far I've argued against them effectively, but Lauren did have to get a new IV put in. Yesterday, her intakes and outputs were just too iffy, and when today also got off to a slow start, the doctor stopped messing around and started her on fluids again. I'm bummed. Another IV. Yet another thing to have to be rid of in order to go home.

Both babies are only on bi-paps now while they're sleeping. While they're awake, we're busy trying to stuff their gullets full of food and drink, and we fit in some playtime, too. The play center next door brings us new toys every few days to cycle through. Which is considerate of them, since the babies can't leave their rooms since they're considered "contagious" still. I don't think they're considered non-contagious until discharge. Which is annoying, because I've asked all the doctors if they're still contagious, and they agree that they're pretty much not. But whatever.

Another main issue right now is oxygenation. Neither baby can keep himself/herself oxygenated while sleeping. I guess there's still enough RSV crud in their lungs to prevent their little alveoli from doing their job well enough. And the doctor says no going home until they're completely weaned from O2, so I guess we just wait. They do great on normal room air while they're awake, but require an O2 "bleed-in" in their bi-pap hoses at night right now. So I guess it's just a matter of time for their lungs to completely get with the program. And so we wait.

I am so freaking tired of this place. Tired of nighttime nurses who think nothing of banging into the room at 2am like we all should be awake if they have to be. Or any nurse, day or night, who lets the IV alarm go off and takes 15 minutes to bother coming in to reset it even after I've already pressed the call button. And other people whose babies scream bloody murder (I know nobody can help this, but still, I'm done with it). And pulse oximeters that don't stay on right and therefore trick the monitor into thinking that the babies have no oxygen and make them start beeping loud as hell. Tired of ordering what is essentially "bar food" for every meal. And knowing that there are probably about a hundred really bad germs in this building that we could catch at anytime so long as we're still here. Blarg.

Lunchtime with Grandpa:

Hooray--No NG tubes today

Lauren did better with her eating today, but she hasn't had enough wet diapers. They want to start her back on the IV. I've begged them off for now, but they're making me feel like I'm really pushing things to the limit. So we are push push pushing liquids on her. But as the saying goes, you can only bring a horse to water, you can't make her drink. We're doing what we can. Anything to avoid her having to be tethered to her bed like that. An IV at this point is just one more thing she has to be rid of in order to go home. So I want to avoid it. But her appetite is good overall, so right now an NG tube is not emminent. And her lungs sound awesome. Tomorrow I think they'll try to completely wean her off her oxygen in her bipap. She's a happy and chatty girl right now.

Kyle is having a little rough of a day. He's been fussy and more congested. But his appetite has been pretty good, so we're pleased with that. He still has his IV, but there's no concern over an NG tube while his appetite is so healthy.

Jenna had her Valetine's Day party at preschool today, and tomorrow her school has a big family field trip to the Phoenix Zoo. I'm bummed I have to miss it, but I'm glad that she still gets to do fun stuff while her family is split into pieces like this. Kim will drive up to Phoenix Friday night and take Jenna back to Tucson with her for the holiday weekend, and my parents will drive down to pick her up in a couple days. And with any luck, we'll all be discharged or nearly discharged by the time she returns.

I miss home. I bet the babies do, too.

A Better Day

Today was a slightly better day. Lauren's IV needed to be replaced, but she's been doing so well that they just took it out. We are on a mission to feed and hydrate her like nobody's business, or else she may find herself with a new IV soon. But she's had a decent appetite today and has happily eaten fruit, mac and cheese, chocolate ice cream, and french fries. She's finding herself off her bipap more and more, since the emphasis right now is on getting food into her mouth. It's so nice to see those sweet cheeks again, and kiss them all over as God intended!

Kyle finally got his IV today. He was getting dehydrated and wasn't interested in consuming a thing over the past couple days. It seems to be already working--he's a little perkier, and his appetite has returned a little bit. He has eaten two Yoplait yogurts today, which is a lot better than is diet over the last few days.

Both babies may require NG tubes. We're supposed to find out tonight, or maybe tomorrow first thing in the morning, whether or not we've dodged that bullet for another day. The good news is that as of this evening, Lauren has gained back a little of the 1+ pounds she's lost in the last week. We're hoping that will convince the doctors that she's getting back to her old self and will regain those pounds in no time. Kyle, on the other hand, is further behind and not doing as well as Lauren is, so we're sort of expecting that he'll need to have an NG tube sometime. I hate that he might need it, but I also don't want to starve the kid to death, you know?

So long 'til tomorrow.

A happy day.