everybody poops!

and we are pleased to announce that Mary Louise and David do too! (I'm sure they will appreciate this post when they are teenagers!) Apparently, David had "multiple bowel movements" according to the doctor - his first since birth! When I changed Mary Louise's diaper today, she had an extra surprise - and has evidently gotten past her meconium finally. So, exciting day!

David looks much better but is still requiring extra ventilator support. Priority at this point is to wean the oxygen as much as he allows, followed by weaning of his blood pressure medications and finally the nitric oxide. They have started a tiny tiny amount of pedialyte every 6 hours as of this afternoon but I think the medications need to be weaned a bit prior to real feedings. He will be on antibiotics for at least 10 days and is responding a little slower than hoped - but is responding all the same. He's such a sensitive little guy (medically speaking)...they are still thinking it's pneumonia - his right lung fields showed cloudy as compared to earlier x-rays but his blood cultures remain negative. Today he weighed 1 pound 11 ounces I think.

Mary Louise is at 70% feedings now - she is getting 14 mls. every 3 hours! Today, she weighed 2 pounds 6 ounces - that's a one pound gain since birth. She is expected to be at full feedings by the end of the weekend as she seems to be tolerating them very well with little or no residual. She will also finish her antibiotics on Sunday I think and if full feedings get underway, she'll be off of IV meds from what I understand. They will, however, keep her PICC line in for now. This puts her at increased risk for infection, but until her little veins get a bit bigger, she needs to have some type of IV access in case of emergency. The doctor wants to leave it in until she has been on full feedings for at least a little over a week (maybe 2) - so they can know she is really tolerating them well. It is common for babies so small to have trouble and have to stop feedings numerous times apparently. Maybe she will once again surprise everyone (in a good way)? Her vent settings are ok - but she is not tolerating weaning as well as expected either - her carbon dioxide has been a bit high on her blood gases the last day or 2 so she needs to gain a bit of lung strength prior to weaning more.

There is a need to get them both as low as possible on the oxygen in hopes to prevent eye damage. David's blood pressure meds are of concern because with his heart working so hard, it can cause the muscle to thicken.

Overall, things are looking up - although they both still have tons of work to do. We are all enjoying a visit from Brent's parents - Ma Mere and Pop - this weekend and look forward to more family coming in the next week or so. The swine flu precautions have officially been lifted in the NICU and healthy adults are once again allowed in with parents of patients.

More photos coming soon...