Together Again!

The first thing we would like to say is that all the girls are in the same room now. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to go to the same room to visit them. However, choosing which girl to spend time with first, second, etc, etc is very trying. All the nurses are great so far. They are always eager to answer questions, and so proud of Teri for her accomplishment.



Makaila has both good news and bad news. First, she is the only baby on formula and gaining weight. However, she has Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Basically, her being strong enough not to need the ventilator when she was born turned out to be a bad thing. The lungs produce a substance called surfactant which allows the inner surface of the lungs to expand properly. Because everyone else needed the ventilator when they were born they received artificial surfactant. Therefore, they are progressing very nicely with their breathing. Unfortunately, Makaila has had to be placed on the ventilator while her lungs develop. The doctor's explained to us that the normal progression of RDS is to struggle on CPAP, revert to the ventilator, and then start to get better. So far that has been the progression. We expect her to get better over the next couple of days. Keep your fingers crossed!



One word stands out in describing Hannah, and that work is FEISTY! She is constantly kicking and letting everyone know she needs attention! Ha Ha! She is now off of CPAP and on to Nasal Cannula. Which means that she does get some oxygen, but she does not need any extra flow or pressure. In other words, her lungs are progressing nicely! She spit up her food a couple of times so they are going to wait a day or two to proceed with the feedings. We think she is waiting for Mom's Milk (which is really starting to come it now).



Samantha is our "Touchy Feely" baby. She has to touch or feel everything around her. The Nurse's had to give her the stuffed animal that we brought to her to keep her from tugging at her feeding and nasal tubes. Samantha is also on Nasal Cannula now, and is only waiting for her magnesium levels to go down before she starts formula/breast milk. We both agree that she looks more and more like her mother every day!



Sandra is such a little darling! Everyone is immediately smitten with her, and who could blame them! She is still doing very well on CPAP, and we think she will be on Nasal Cannula very soon. She is the first to open an eye as you can see in the pictures. We are also waiting for her magnesium levels to come down so that she can start her feeds. Magnesium relaxes the muscles (including the stomach muscles). Therefore, since the magnesium levels are high she might not be able to digest her food properly. For clarification, if they are not on feeds (formula/breast milk) then they receive IV fluids, lipids (fats), and electrolytes.

We would just like to take a quick second to thank everyone for the wonderful comments and emails you all have sent to us regarding the birth of our four beautiful children! We are truly blessed to have all of you in our lives!