Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
2010 quickly approaches to a close with the holidays near, and the Cordova family is very much looking forward to enjoying time with friends and family for the twins 1st Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year festivities! It's a time of reflection, celebration, and thanks, and although our family, friends and our world has each had its own unique struggles, difficulties and trials, we continue to give thanks to the Lord Almighty for each blessing He bestows upon us and ask him to be beside us, and behind us as we overcome our obstacles, whatever they may be.
The kids have been progressing and growing by leaps and bounds; Jacob is slowly learning to crawl; it takes him a little bit to traverse his path, but in the end, he manages to arrive at his destination with a hearty grin and giggle. He also is growing a decent amount of peach fuzz on his head (no more bald-headed Jacob for this kid), which we are excited about; and with the cooler days we have observed recently, we want him to have as much natural protection as possible!
Jordan has learned to roll over both ways and is beginning to teach herself how to draw her legs up in the beginning stages of crawling. Where she distinguishes herself from her brother in development is her voice. While Jacob still coos, grunts and grins, Jordan has been projecting her voice to whoever will listen, smiling all the way. And her babblings are more toward the "ga ga goo goo", "ba ma" and "ma ma" phrases. I haven't heard Jordan say "Mama" to where it is distinguishable yet, but Sheri swears up and down that she has. Oh, and Jacob (not sure where he learned this) has now begun to shake his head back and forth, regardless of what he is doing. Whether on the floor trying to crawl, or someone holding him as he stands up, he shakes his head and just smiles the biggest smile! (I even took a video clip of that so you all could see, so cute):
Also, here is a clip of the kids gettin' in some floor time...
The kids also had a recent trip to the doctor for routine check ups; here is their latest stats:
Jacob - 15 lbs. 5.8 oz, 2 ft. 1.79 in. tall, head 16.732 in.
Jordan - 13 lbs. 13.17 oz, 2 ft. 1.08 in tall, head 15.945 in.
As you can see, we have much to be thankful for. We pray that our friends, family and all those that diligently visit this site to have a safe, prosperous and blessed holiday season.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 9-11-10
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
My apologies for so much time passing beyond the last update. With football season in full swing for me and Sheri and our parents having their hands full with growing babies, life at the Cordova household had been anything but dull.
The baptism was a great success! It was a wonderful day; we got to see many of our good friends and family we haven't been able to see for a while, and the ceremony and setting was absolutely breathtaking! For those who were not able to attend, we missed you, but we know that you were there with us and the kids in spirit!
See the photo album above for excerpts taken of the blessed event!
I am also happy to report that Jacob's surgery went off yesterday without a hitch. As you may know, Jacob was born with a hernia in his bellybutton and his scrotum. This is a commonality for male babies, especially preemie boys, but the good thing was that both were causing him no pain. We had to wait until Jacob was older and a considerable size larger than his birth weight (By the Way [BTW], Jacob is now 13 lbs. 12 oz and 24 in. long according to his last assessment) so he could handle the surgery without any major complications. The longest we could wait was up to a year old, and you really don't want to wait that long because complications can occur beyond that where the intestinal track can worm itself out of its normal configuration and deposit waste into your scrotum (bad stuff). Needless to say, we got it taken care of before it was allowed to cause serious damage. Here are some photos of Jacob before and after the procedure.
Today, Jacob is doing better; the anesthesia has worn off, and we are keeping any pain he may have at bay with Children's Tylenol. His appetite had returned yesterday afternoon, so, since then he is eating like nothing ever happened.
While Jacob was undergoing his procedure, Mom and Dad kept a vigil at home with Jordan. Here is a short video of her that Mom took with her camera phone.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
My apologies for so much time passing beyond the last update. With football season in full swing for me and Sheri and our parents having their hands full with growing babies, life at the Cordova household had been anything but dull.
The baptism was a great success! It was a wonderful day; we got to see many of our good friends and family we haven't been able to see for a while, and the ceremony and setting was absolutely breathtaking! For those who were not able to attend, we missed you, but we know that you were there with us and the kids in spirit!
See the photo album above for excerpts taken of the blessed event!
I am also happy to report that Jacob's surgery went off yesterday without a hitch. As you may know, Jacob was born with a hernia in his bellybutton and his scrotum. This is a commonality for male babies, especially preemie boys, but the good thing was that both were causing him no pain. We had to wait until Jacob was older and a considerable size larger than his birth weight (By the Way [BTW], Jacob is now 13 lbs. 12 oz and 24 in. long according to his last assessment) so he could handle the surgery without any major complications. The longest we could wait was up to a year old, and you really don't want to wait that long because complications can occur beyond that where the intestinal track can worm itself out of its normal configuration and deposit waste into your scrotum (bad stuff). Needless to say, we got it taken care of before it was allowed to cause serious damage. Here are some photos of Jacob before and after the procedure.
Today, Jacob is doing better; the anesthesia has worn off, and we are keeping any pain he may have at bay with Children's Tylenol. His appetite had returned yesterday afternoon, so, since then he is eating like nothing ever happened.
While Jacob was undergoing his procedure, Mom and Dad kept a vigil at home with Jordan. Here is a short video of her that Mom took with her camera phone.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 8-15-10
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
The twins continue to advance and grow, and we wanted to share a few videos of those advancements captured on film! Also, the babies will be baptized next weekend at Parkway United Methodist's Sea of Galilee. We are very much looking forward to this occasion as well as sharing the blessed event with all that will be able to make it. If you are not able to attend, we know that you will be with us in spirit. In the meantime, enjoy the vids below!
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
The twins continue to advance and grow, and we wanted to share a few videos of those advancements captured on film! Also, the babies will be baptized next weekend at Parkway United Methodist's Sea of Galilee. We are very much looking forward to this occasion as well as sharing the blessed event with all that will be able to make it. If you are not able to attend, we know that you will be with us in spirit. In the meantime, enjoy the vids below!
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 7-31-10
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
Despite the babies fighting allergies/cold/sinus drip (as the doctor told us on the last visit on Friday, we can't officially call it allergies because of their age, but the good thing is there is no discoloration in their mucus), Jacob and Jordan continue to grow and thrive. As you can see from the numerous photos and movie files attached below, the kiddos will not let a little thing like boogers and coughing stand in their way of blowing and growing (no pun intended).
The official weight for Jacob as of Friday's doctor visit was 11.62 pounds, and Jordan weighed 11.02 pounds. We also had the pleasure this last week of Sheri's 2nd cousin, Terri, staying with us while Bruce & Suzanne took a week trip to Nashville, TN for some much needed R&R (which we very much enjoyed and were thankful that Terri could help and spend some time with us, and our sincere thanks go to Sheri's cousins, Pam and Johnny for letting Terri come down to be with us).
Sheri and I appreciate all of the help Bruce & Suzanne provide during the weeks that we are at work staying with the babies, and this was a well deserved trip to recharge their batteries and visit with Bruce's sisters and stepfather.
Also, this August we have the twins baptism at Parkway United Methodist's Sea of Galilee, Saturday, August 21, which all participants are very much looking forward to.
Please pray for continued success for all and quick healing for the twins from whatever ails them!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Despite the babies fighting allergies/cold/sinus drip (as the doctor told us on the last visit on Friday, we can't officially call it allergies because of their age, but the good thing is there is no discoloration in their mucus), Jacob and Jordan continue to grow and thrive. As you can see from the numerous photos and movie files attached below, the kiddos will not let a little thing like boogers and coughing stand in their way of blowing and growing (no pun intended).
The official weight for Jacob as of Friday's doctor visit was 11.62 pounds, and Jordan weighed 11.02 pounds. We also had the pleasure this last week of Sheri's 2nd cousin, Terri, staying with us while Bruce & Suzanne took a week trip to Nashville, TN for some much needed R&R (which we very much enjoyed and were thankful that Terri could help and spend some time with us, and our sincere thanks go to Sheri's cousins, Pam and Johnny for letting Terri come down to be with us).
Sheri and I appreciate all of the help Bruce & Suzanne provide during the weeks that we are at work staying with the babies, and this was a well deserved trip to recharge their batteries and visit with Bruce's sisters and stepfather.
Also, this August we have the twins baptism at Parkway United Methodist's Sea of Galilee, Saturday, August 21, which all participants are very much looking forward to.
Please pray for continued success for all and quick healing for the twins from whatever ails them!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 7-6-10
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
The Cordova twins have been blowing and going these past two months (and keeping their parents and grandparents) VERY busy.
Jordan continues to put away the pounds; at last official weight via routine doctor's visit she was 9 lbs (she probably is 10 lbs now, but we will confirm that officially upon her next doctor's visit). She still has her yerping sessions (baby speak for spit-ups), and those vary depending on the level of activity she experiences each day. She is still on the feeding tube, but we know once she transitions to a bottle she will do very well (we constantly re-inforce the suck/swallow/breathe reflex by giving her a pacifier to suck on as she is feeding). We also have routine visits from Early Development representatives who measure her process from being preemie to a developing newborn, and these folks are working with her development to ensure she stays with the growth curve. Jordan also still has the stridor, acid reflux, and partial paralysis of one of her vocal cords, but that also improves each day. With the visiting nurse care, ECS reps, gradparents and Sheri and I on constant vigil, Jordan is progressing well to overcoming her difficulties. Jordan also has begun to smile and grin a lot more, and I have even caught her smiling in her sleep upon some of my check-ins.
Jacob also is developing very well. He is about 9 lbs (again, this will be confirmed upon the twins' next routine checkup) and is coming along very well. He has begun cooing and letting out big grins (which lights up anyone who he is smiling at), and if you support him under his armpits and stand him up, he will, to some degree, walk in the direction you point him. Of course if you weren't supporting him, it would be a whole different story, but this proud papa gives him kudos for being able to do that. He has also figured out how to roll over from his stomach to his back, but still hasn't quite figured out how to roll back over to his tummy. Only a matter of time. And, he is holding his head up very well; if he is on his stomach and awake, he will raise up with his arms and be looking around, and if you are holding him, his head is up and looking at everthing he can focus on. He is a very curious baby. Don't let his smile fool you though; he can still throw a tantrum when he wants something, and usually when he wants it, he wants it NOW.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
The Cordova twins have been blowing and going these past two months (and keeping their parents and grandparents) VERY busy.
Jordan continues to put away the pounds; at last official weight via routine doctor's visit she was 9 lbs (she probably is 10 lbs now, but we will confirm that officially upon her next doctor's visit). She still has her yerping sessions (baby speak for spit-ups), and those vary depending on the level of activity she experiences each day. She is still on the feeding tube, but we know once she transitions to a bottle she will do very well (we constantly re-inforce the suck/swallow/breathe reflex by giving her a pacifier to suck on as she is feeding). We also have routine visits from Early Development representatives who measure her process from being preemie to a developing newborn, and these folks are working with her development to ensure she stays with the growth curve. Jordan also still has the stridor, acid reflux, and partial paralysis of one of her vocal cords, but that also improves each day. With the visiting nurse care, ECS reps, gradparents and Sheri and I on constant vigil, Jordan is progressing well to overcoming her difficulties. Jordan also has begun to smile and grin a lot more, and I have even caught her smiling in her sleep upon some of my check-ins.
Jacob also is developing very well. He is about 9 lbs (again, this will be confirmed upon the twins' next routine checkup) and is coming along very well. He has begun cooing and letting out big grins (which lights up anyone who he is smiling at), and if you support him under his armpits and stand him up, he will, to some degree, walk in the direction you point him. Of course if you weren't supporting him, it would be a whole different story, but this proud papa gives him kudos for being able to do that. He has also figured out how to roll over from his stomach to his back, but still hasn't quite figured out how to roll back over to his tummy. Only a matter of time. And, he is holding his head up very well; if he is on his stomach and awake, he will raise up with his arms and be looking around, and if you are holding him, his head is up and looking at everthing he can focus on. He is a very curious baby. Don't let his smile fool you though; he can still throw a tantrum when he wants something, and usually when he wants it, he wants it NOW.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 5-25-10
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
A quick update: Jacob & Jordan had their 4 month check-up yesterday, along with both receiving their Hepatitus B, Haemophilus Influenzae type B, Diptheria/tetanus/pertussis, and Polio vaccinations. Currently:
Jacob:
7 lbs. 9 oz., 20.1 in in length, Head = 14.1 in.
I took this of Jacob this morning as he was sleeping with my camera phone
Jordan:
7 lbs. 10 oz., 19.2 in. in length, head = 13.5 in.
(Taken with my camera phone)
Our little ones are growing away! Their sleep patterns are still giving us issues; Jordan is a pretty good sleeper. And even if you are messing with her (i.e. changing her diaper, setting her feeding tube up), she will fuss and grunt only while you are messing with her. Once you finish, she settles down pretty quick.
Jacob is a little more vocal about his wants. When he is hungry, wet, dirty, whatever, he lets you know it and wants it taken care of now, regardless of who hears it, or what is going on around him. One of the questions Sheri asked the doctor was how to help it so Jacob can sleep longer through the night. The doctor suggested having more feeds during the day and having one final feed about 11 pm. We are going to slowly transition this in and see how it works.
Sheri also brought up our concerns with Jordan's throw up sessions to the pediatrician. Even though they have lessened, we wanted to get the doctor's input if there was anything else we could do, which was, given Jordan's situation right now, the doctor didn't really want to switch to a new acid reflux medication just yet. With the feeding tube, acid reflux, stridor and shortened air flap, Jordan has too much going on right now to make a drastic adjustment for that. The doctor did however suggest giving Jordan Pedialyte in small doses to replenish her electrolytes, which we have started doing. In the meantime, we make sure to have plenty of spare burp rags, or if all else fails, catching the yerp in the swaddling blankets (they are machine washable after all).
Ah, the joys of childhood!
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
A quick update: Jacob & Jordan had their 4 month check-up yesterday, along with both receiving their Hepatitus B, Haemophilus Influenzae type B, Diptheria/tetanus/pertussis, and Polio vaccinations. Currently:
Jacob:
7 lbs. 9 oz., 20.1 in in length, Head = 14.1 in.
I took this of Jacob this morning as he was sleeping with my camera phone
Jordan:
7 lbs. 10 oz., 19.2 in. in length, head = 13.5 in.
(Taken with my camera phone)
Our little ones are growing away! Their sleep patterns are still giving us issues; Jordan is a pretty good sleeper. And even if you are messing with her (i.e. changing her diaper, setting her feeding tube up), she will fuss and grunt only while you are messing with her. Once you finish, she settles down pretty quick.
Jacob is a little more vocal about his wants. When he is hungry, wet, dirty, whatever, he lets you know it and wants it taken care of now, regardless of who hears it, or what is going on around him. One of the questions Sheri asked the doctor was how to help it so Jacob can sleep longer through the night. The doctor suggested having more feeds during the day and having one final feed about 11 pm. We are going to slowly transition this in and see how it works.
Sheri also brought up our concerns with Jordan's throw up sessions to the pediatrician. Even though they have lessened, we wanted to get the doctor's input if there was anything else we could do, which was, given Jordan's situation right now, the doctor didn't really want to switch to a new acid reflux medication just yet. With the feeding tube, acid reflux, stridor and shortened air flap, Jordan has too much going on right now to make a drastic adjustment for that. The doctor did however suggest giving Jordan Pedialyte in small doses to replenish her electrolytes, which we have started doing. In the meantime, we make sure to have plenty of spare burp rags, or if all else fails, catching the yerp in the swaddling blankets (they are machine washable after all).
Ah, the joys of childhood!
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Monday, May 17, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 5-17-10
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
Soon we will be sending out homecoming announcements on Jacob and Jordan (since we didn't get to do birth announcements). To ensure that we reach everyone that has been with us along this journey, in case we don't have your address or we run out of cards (supplies are limited), I have included it below, as our way of saying the kids are home and Thank You for all you have done for us:
Since the announcement picture is a screen capture, you may not be able to read our message included on the card. I have therefore added it below:
"The Cordova Family are all home as of May 5, 2010! Through God and everyone's thoughts, prayer networks, warm wishes and kind gestures, Jacob and Jordan can now enjoy being term babies and beyond. Challenges still exist, but with everyone's support, the coming years will be plentiful of enrichment and heavenly grace for all.
We look forward to many years of our families growing in Christ. God Bless You! Love, Andy & Sheri."
We can't thank everyone enough for everything our family has received!
This last weekend was pretty eventful and included many "firsts" for the kids. Rae took some time to herself Friday through Sunday afternoon, so Friday and Saturday morning it was just Sheri and I and the kids. Friday night we had a real downpour that carried over to Saturday early afternoon, but suprisingly enough the kids were unaffected. Saturday morning we had a two-hour nap with the kids in our bed; I held Jordan and Sheri had Jacob. At one point before Sheri and Jacob laid down, Sheri had come into the bedrom and looked in on us and caught Jordan smiling in her sleep while she was in my arms. Saturday afternoon/evening Sheri and I took some time to ourselves to attend a graduation/birthday party in Simonton, Texas (complete with crawfish [needless to say, I ate it up]). While we were away, Mom and Dad got to spend some time with the kids babysitting. And Sunday, Jacob got to spend some time in the afternoon watching one of his dad's favorite pastimes: playing on the computer. Yes sports fans, I am starting him out early on becoming a gamer like his ol' man. At one point, Sheri snuck in behind us and was watching Jacob's expression as we were playing. When I clued into her sitting on her office chair behind me, she shook her head saying "Oh no, not another gamer...", a silly grin spreading across her face. What can I say...Jordan! Come sit with daddy! I'll have them playing Star Wars flight simulators, Doom and Quake arena matches, and Perfect World RPG's before you know it!
Jordan's throw up sessions have gotten a little better since we lengthened the duration of her feeds and switched her acid reflux medication to an hour before each feed. She still has some moments where she will spew like a can of beer, but it is nowhere near what it was before. At least that is saying something. We'll bring it up again to the pediatrician on her next visit.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Soon we will be sending out homecoming announcements on Jacob and Jordan (since we didn't get to do birth announcements). To ensure that we reach everyone that has been with us along this journey, in case we don't have your address or we run out of cards (supplies are limited), I have included it below, as our way of saying the kids are home and Thank You for all you have done for us:
Since the announcement picture is a screen capture, you may not be able to read our message included on the card. I have therefore added it below:
"The Cordova Family are all home as of May 5, 2010! Through God and everyone's thoughts, prayer networks, warm wishes and kind gestures, Jacob and Jordan can now enjoy being term babies and beyond. Challenges still exist, but with everyone's support, the coming years will be plentiful of enrichment and heavenly grace for all.
We look forward to many years of our families growing in Christ. God Bless You! Love, Andy & Sheri."
We can't thank everyone enough for everything our family has received!
This last weekend was pretty eventful and included many "firsts" for the kids. Rae took some time to herself Friday through Sunday afternoon, so Friday and Saturday morning it was just Sheri and I and the kids. Friday night we had a real downpour that carried over to Saturday early afternoon, but suprisingly enough the kids were unaffected. Saturday morning we had a two-hour nap with the kids in our bed; I held Jordan and Sheri had Jacob. At one point before Sheri and Jacob laid down, Sheri had come into the bedrom and looked in on us and caught Jordan smiling in her sleep while she was in my arms. Saturday afternoon/evening Sheri and I took some time to ourselves to attend a graduation/birthday party in Simonton, Texas (complete with crawfish [needless to say, I ate it up]). While we were away, Mom and Dad got to spend some time with the kids babysitting. And Sunday, Jacob got to spend some time in the afternoon watching one of his dad's favorite pastimes: playing on the computer. Yes sports fans, I am starting him out early on becoming a gamer like his ol' man. At one point, Sheri snuck in behind us and was watching Jacob's expression as we were playing. When I clued into her sitting on her office chair behind me, she shook her head saying "Oh no, not another gamer...", a silly grin spreading across her face. What can I say...Jordan! Come sit with daddy! I'll have them playing Star Wars flight simulators, Doom and Quake arena matches, and Perfect World RPG's before you know it!
Jordan's throw up sessions have gotten a little better since we lengthened the duration of her feeds and switched her acid reflux medication to an hour before each feed. She still has some moments where she will spew like a can of beer, but it is nowhere near what it was before. At least that is saying something. We'll bring it up again to the pediatrician on her next visit.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 5-10-10
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
Happy Belated Mother's Day All! I would like to thank everyone who sent cards and/or verbally gave warm wishes for Sheri's 1st Mother's Day with both babies at home. It was a quiet weekend; Rae took off for some R&R at her house early Saturday afternoon, and Mom and Dad went to Arkansas to visit friends and for a cabin retreat (Mom shopped, Dad fished) so it was just Sheri and I and the kids.
As far as the kids go, we are slowly getting used to having them at home. Jacob continues to grow, gripe, feed, sleep, poop, etc., everything growing boys do. He continues to do well with his feeds and grow. The more I look at him, the more I see his uncle Jay. My mother would disagree though; she says I looked a lot like he does at that age too, the only difference is he is fair complected instead of olive complected like me (Jordan got that feature). I've spent many hours looking at him as he looks at me, wondering "What is he thinking about?" We've had many moments like this and that is always something that goes through my mind as I watch him. It's fascinating to see those big eyes looking back at me (personally, I think he is watching his reflection in my glasses)but there definitely is an intuitiveness about him. I can't wait to see how he relates to the world when he gets older knowing I will be a part of that.
Jordan continues to perplex us. While her monitor has remained silent (which we are very thankful for no bradys), she continues to have throw up and spit up spells at about half of her feeds. This weekend we tried to adjust when she got her prevacid and captopril; instead of giving it during her feed, we tried giving it to her an hour before. We also tried to increase the duration of her feeds in the hopes that the longer we stretch it out, the longer it will stay down. At any rate, Jordan's midnight and 4 am feeds went well (no puke). Sheri will make it a point today to call the doctor and get their input. It may just be able to be chalked up to acid reflux and hasn't been long enough for the new medication to take hold, we'll have to see what the doctors say today. When I hold her (I usually try to time it between the feeds and spit up sessions ;) ), or I am looking at her as she lays in her bassinet, regardless of her awake or asleep, I can't help but notice just how beautiful she is. I can't wait to see the stunning determined beauty she will grow into be.
I truly am a lucky man.
We give thanks and praise to God for all he has given to the kids so far, and all the time we have got to spend with them as well. Please pray for their continued well being, and that Jordan's issues will work themselves out, or we are presented with a new way to overcome her spit up sessions.
At any rate, that's the extent of our lives for the moment...feeding, changing diapers,etc while working overtime to maintaining our sanity. We are very thankful for all of the help we have had from Rae, Mom and Dad, and our friends who have spent some time with the kids when we have a shortage of manpower or just visiting to wish them well.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Happy Belated Mother's Day All! I would like to thank everyone who sent cards and/or verbally gave warm wishes for Sheri's 1st Mother's Day with both babies at home. It was a quiet weekend; Rae took off for some R&R at her house early Saturday afternoon, and Mom and Dad went to Arkansas to visit friends and for a cabin retreat (Mom shopped, Dad fished) so it was just Sheri and I and the kids.
As far as the kids go, we are slowly getting used to having them at home. Jacob continues to grow, gripe, feed, sleep, poop, etc., everything growing boys do. He continues to do well with his feeds and grow. The more I look at him, the more I see his uncle Jay. My mother would disagree though; she says I looked a lot like he does at that age too, the only difference is he is fair complected instead of olive complected like me (Jordan got that feature). I've spent many hours looking at him as he looks at me, wondering "What is he thinking about?" We've had many moments like this and that is always something that goes through my mind as I watch him. It's fascinating to see those big eyes looking back at me (personally, I think he is watching his reflection in my glasses)but there definitely is an intuitiveness about him. I can't wait to see how he relates to the world when he gets older knowing I will be a part of that.
Jordan continues to perplex us. While her monitor has remained silent (which we are very thankful for no bradys), she continues to have throw up and spit up spells at about half of her feeds. This weekend we tried to adjust when she got her prevacid and captopril; instead of giving it during her feed, we tried giving it to her an hour before. We also tried to increase the duration of her feeds in the hopes that the longer we stretch it out, the longer it will stay down. At any rate, Jordan's midnight and 4 am feeds went well (no puke). Sheri will make it a point today to call the doctor and get their input. It may just be able to be chalked up to acid reflux and hasn't been long enough for the new medication to take hold, we'll have to see what the doctors say today. When I hold her (I usually try to time it between the feeds and spit up sessions ;) ), or I am looking at her as she lays in her bassinet, regardless of her awake or asleep, I can't help but notice just how beautiful she is. I can't wait to see the stunning determined beauty she will grow into be.
I truly am a lucky man.
We give thanks and praise to God for all he has given to the kids so far, and all the time we have got to spend with them as well. Please pray for their continued well being, and that Jordan's issues will work themselves out, or we are presented with a new way to overcome her spit up sessions.
At any rate, that's the extent of our lives for the moment...feeding, changing diapers,etc while working overtime to maintaining our sanity. We are very thankful for all of the help we have had from Rae, Mom and Dad, and our friends who have spent some time with the kids when we have a shortage of manpower or just visiting to wish them well.
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 5-6-10 Jordan is Home!
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
Sheri brought Jordan home last night, so officially, we have all the Cordovas under one roof! Jordan had two bradycardia episodes yesterday morning, but they were written off to her acid reflux.
Currently, Jordan has:
* a feeding tube (called a "G" Tube) in her stomach to give us a way to feed her until she can get her stridor, acid reflux, partial vocal cord paralysis and air flap resolved. Most of these will be overcome by maturity as she gains more weight and gets older, but for now they are conjoining together and causing Jordan not to be able to swallow without aspirating
* a monitor to let us know when she has bradycardia episodes (lowering of her heart rate below the tolerable threshold for her [80 Beats Per Minute]). Right now, these are caused by when Jordan is constipated and bears down to push, or if the mild acid reflux she has gets bad enough to well up in her throat, causing her to aspirate
* blood pressure medicine, captopril - Jordan takes this every 8 hours to assist with keeping the stenosis (tightening/closing) on her left ventricle aortic valve to a minimum
* acid reflux medicine, prevacid - Jordan takes this once a day, usually with her midnight feed, to help with keeping her mild acid reflux to a bare minimum until she can grow out of it, or gets much older and needs a different medication to control it (we are hoping and praying for the first)
Sheri and Jordan arrived back at the homestead about 7:30 pm last night.
The homecoming was a simple one (Sheri, Jordan, Jacob, me, Rae) and we set about getting her Sheri's car unloaded from the last remnants of the NICU, and settled in to her new surroundings. She first was held by her grandma Mia (Rae), then Daddy, then into Mommy's arms to ready her 8 pm feed while Mia observed how to set up the tubes. Very shortly after all that was setup, Jordan got to lay in her bed for the first time with Bubba Jacob observing in the crib next to her until his bottle warmed up (we are going to make every effort to keep them on the same feeding schedule, every 4 hours [12, 8, 4, 12]).
Thankfully, during the night, Jordan's monitor never sounded, which is a very good sign. We hope and pray that it will continue on and she can be off of it real soon (which will be determined by her pediatrician, and her first visit with the doctor is tomorrow). We learned when we did Care by Parent (which is required for at least one of the parents if the baby is being released from the NICU with any kind of monitoring system or special apparatus) just before Jordan was released, that she is a good sleeper (at least for now, I'm sure that will change).
Hopefully some of that will rub off on Jacob, which I think has started (or maybe its just wishful thinking). Usually I can set my alarm clock by him waking up for his 4 am feed about 3:20 am fussing and ready, or just coming around. This particular morning, he was still asleep. Go figure.
Now the real fun begins! At any rate, Sheri got her Mother's Day Wish (she wanted both of her kids home, sitting around the house in her pajamas for Mother's Day), and with Jordan being home, now she has it.
As for Jacob, Rae and I did a quick comparison between the two last night...Officially we both agree the babies are looking like they are related as they fill out and get bigger. Jacob's appetite definitely has increased; where it used to be average that he would take two to three ounces per feed, now it seems more like three. He still has some moments where he only will take two, or sometimes one and a half depending on how fussy he is, but it is a very good progressional sign for him!
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Sheri brought Jordan home last night, so officially, we have all the Cordovas under one roof! Jordan had two bradycardia episodes yesterday morning, but they were written off to her acid reflux.
Currently, Jordan has:
* a feeding tube (called a "G" Tube) in her stomach to give us a way to feed her until she can get her stridor, acid reflux, partial vocal cord paralysis and air flap resolved. Most of these will be overcome by maturity as she gains more weight and gets older, but for now they are conjoining together and causing Jordan not to be able to swallow without aspirating
* a monitor to let us know when she has bradycardia episodes (lowering of her heart rate below the tolerable threshold for her [80 Beats Per Minute]). Right now, these are caused by when Jordan is constipated and bears down to push, or if the mild acid reflux she has gets bad enough to well up in her throat, causing her to aspirate
* blood pressure medicine, captopril - Jordan takes this every 8 hours to assist with keeping the stenosis (tightening/closing) on her left ventricle aortic valve to a minimum
* acid reflux medicine, prevacid - Jordan takes this once a day, usually with her midnight feed, to help with keeping her mild acid reflux to a bare minimum until she can grow out of it, or gets much older and needs a different medication to control it (we are hoping and praying for the first)
Sheri and Jordan arrived back at the homestead about 7:30 pm last night.
The homecoming was a simple one (Sheri, Jordan, Jacob, me, Rae) and we set about getting her Sheri's car unloaded from the last remnants of the NICU, and settled in to her new surroundings. She first was held by her grandma Mia (Rae), then Daddy, then into Mommy's arms to ready her 8 pm feed while Mia observed how to set up the tubes. Very shortly after all that was setup, Jordan got to lay in her bed for the first time with Bubba Jacob observing in the crib next to her until his bottle warmed up (we are going to make every effort to keep them on the same feeding schedule, every 4 hours [12, 8, 4, 12]).
Thankfully, during the night, Jordan's monitor never sounded, which is a very good sign. We hope and pray that it will continue on and she can be off of it real soon (which will be determined by her pediatrician, and her first visit with the doctor is tomorrow). We learned when we did Care by Parent (which is required for at least one of the parents if the baby is being released from the NICU with any kind of monitoring system or special apparatus) just before Jordan was released, that she is a good sleeper (at least for now, I'm sure that will change).
Hopefully some of that will rub off on Jacob, which I think has started (or maybe its just wishful thinking). Usually I can set my alarm clock by him waking up for his 4 am feed about 3:20 am fussing and ready, or just coming around. This particular morning, he was still asleep. Go figure.
Now the real fun begins! At any rate, Sheri got her Mother's Day Wish (she wanted both of her kids home, sitting around the house in her pajamas for Mother's Day), and with Jordan being home, now she has it.
As for Jacob, Rae and I did a quick comparison between the two last night...Officially we both agree the babies are looking like they are related as they fill out and get bigger. Jacob's appetite definitely has increased; where it used to be average that he would take two to three ounces per feed, now it seems more like three. He still has some moments where he only will take two, or sometimes one and a half depending on how fussy he is, but it is a very good progressional sign for him!
Please pray for continued success for all!
Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute! May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 5-4-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Quick update...Jacob is doing well at home. We are still sorting out his days and nights, and sporadic moments where he doesn't want his bottle (go figure), but overall he is adjusting well to home life. He currently weighs 5 lbs. 9 oz, and takes between two and three ounces per bottle every 4 hours (12, 4, 8, & 12).
Yesterday, Sheri and I had a meeting up at the hospital with the doctor for this month, the cardiologist and the case worker, so we could all get on the same page about Jordan. Sheri and I did a care by parent session to learn how to use the monitor and the workings of her feeding tube, starting last Thursday through last Sunday. Originally, Jordan was to come home last Saturday, but last Tuesday she had 9 brady cardia episodes (where her heart rate dropped), and on some of those episodes Jordan had to be stimulated to breathe. As we found out yesterday, while the brady cardia episodes are still a cause for concern, it is more so the type of brady cardia episodes that are occurring and keeping Jordan from coming home sooner.
Originally, it was laid out that three things needed to happen with Jordan in order for her to be released. 1. Jordan had to have a full seven days without any bradycardia episodes and desats. 2. Jordan had to be on full feeds. 3. Jordan had to be breathing entirely on her own. The feeds and breathing unassisted have always been in Jordan's favor. However, Jordan has not had a full 7 days brady free. With the feeding tube in her stomach to keep her fed until the partial vocal cord paralysis and stridor can be resolved, (frustratingly by growth and maturity [or until she is much older and weighs significantly a lot more]) our little girl has had a lot thrown at her for the first three months of her life. God is definitely watching this little one though, for all of her difficulties, she has continuously thrived.
Our conference also resulted in changing Jordan's blood pressure medicine. One of the secondary effects of propanalol, which Jordan has been on for a little over a month now to help with her blood pressure and lighten the load on her aortic stenosis, also lowers her heart rate. Given the extensive amount of bradycardia episodes she had last Tuesday and the 8 bradycardia episodes she had yesterday, the decision was made to put Jordan on captorpril, a blood pressure medication that works the same as propanalol, but does not lower the heart rate.
So now, we have to wait to see if this new medication produces better results. It was started yesterday at Jordan's 4 pm feed, so far no reported bradycardia episodes. We have a little more external aid to getting Jordan home with her being on the monitor. The monitor is temporary, to ensure that brady episodes are self resolved and alert us when and if they occur. If things continue to track as they are and Jordan continues to be brady free for Monday and Tuesday, we hope to bring our little girl home very soon.
Jordan's weight is currently 5 lbs. 10 oz.
Please pray that this new medicine will meet all of Jordan's needs.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I get another minute!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Quick update...Jacob is doing well at home. We are still sorting out his days and nights, and sporadic moments where he doesn't want his bottle (go figure), but overall he is adjusting well to home life. He currently weighs 5 lbs. 9 oz, and takes between two and three ounces per bottle every 4 hours (12, 4, 8, & 12).
Yesterday, Sheri and I had a meeting up at the hospital with the doctor for this month, the cardiologist and the case worker, so we could all get on the same page about Jordan. Sheri and I did a care by parent session to learn how to use the monitor and the workings of her feeding tube, starting last Thursday through last Sunday. Originally, Jordan was to come home last Saturday, but last Tuesday she had 9 brady cardia episodes (where her heart rate dropped), and on some of those episodes Jordan had to be stimulated to breathe. As we found out yesterday, while the brady cardia episodes are still a cause for concern, it is more so the type of brady cardia episodes that are occurring and keeping Jordan from coming home sooner.
Originally, it was laid out that three things needed to happen with Jordan in order for her to be released. 1. Jordan had to have a full seven days without any bradycardia episodes and desats. 2. Jordan had to be on full feeds. 3. Jordan had to be breathing entirely on her own. The feeds and breathing unassisted have always been in Jordan's favor. However, Jordan has not had a full 7 days brady free. With the feeding tube in her stomach to keep her fed until the partial vocal cord paralysis and stridor can be resolved, (frustratingly by growth and maturity [or until she is much older and weighs significantly a lot more]) our little girl has had a lot thrown at her for the first three months of her life. God is definitely watching this little one though, for all of her difficulties, she has continuously thrived.
Our conference also resulted in changing Jordan's blood pressure medicine. One of the secondary effects of propanalol, which Jordan has been on for a little over a month now to help with her blood pressure and lighten the load on her aortic stenosis, also lowers her heart rate. Given the extensive amount of bradycardia episodes she had last Tuesday and the 8 bradycardia episodes she had yesterday, the decision was made to put Jordan on captorpril, a blood pressure medication that works the same as propanalol, but does not lower the heart rate.
So now, we have to wait to see if this new medication produces better results. It was started yesterday at Jordan's 4 pm feed, so far no reported bradycardia episodes. We have a little more external aid to getting Jordan home with her being on the monitor. The monitor is temporary, to ensure that brady episodes are self resolved and alert us when and if they occur. If things continue to track as they are and Jordan continues to be brady free for Monday and Tuesday, we hope to bring our little girl home very soon.
Jordan's weight is currently 5 lbs. 10 oz.
Please pray that this new medicine will meet all of Jordan's needs.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I get another minute!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Friday, April 30, 2010
Jacob & Jordan General Update 4-20-10 onward
Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors:
I apologize for it being so long since I have put an update for ya'll. Sheri and I can never thank enough all of our prayer warriors, friends, family, of us, our children's progress and those who read the blog on a daily basis. Since Jacob's arrival at home, it has been run run run nonstop, with everyone trying to juggle his feeds, visit Jordan at the hospital, work, breathe, sleep, a million things flying around at once.
To make things more difficult, I have a bunch of backlogged information to release on here, but there just are not enough hours in the day to get to it all right now. And once Jordan comes home (which to date should be this Monday), it will be even harder to post on here all the information that our little ones (and us) are going through and making.
The best thing that I can tell you is, for all of our difficulties, time constraints, etc... Jacob is doing fine. He weighs 5 lbs 9 oz. at his last doctor visit, has his days and nights mixed up, and takes about 2 to 3 oz. per feeding right now. Otherwise, he is a healthy growing baby boy.
Jordan will be coming home with the G tube (feeding tube) in her stomach and on a apnea monitor at night. Recently she had a bunch of brady cardia episodes, which prompted the doctors and nurse staff to require she be on it especially at night. I'm supposed to find out the inner workings of this device upon my weekend stay, in addition to learning how to work the pump, insert and remove the feeding tube which for the moment will be how we feed her. Although the excessive brady cardia episodes can somewhat be chalked up to feeding and constipation (she went for 5 days without a poop before the doctors' agreed to giving her a suppository, at which point she filled three diapers full when she finally got one). Part of this weekend will hopefully give us a better understanding on what is causing those episodes; it seems like she was brady free prior to the feeding tube insertion. Sheri and I will have to do some deep probing to determine what exactly is going on with that. At last weigh in, Jordan weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz.
That's the best I can tell you right now, especially with Jordan, things change on a hour-to-hour basis.
Please continue to pray for the growth, stability and improvement for our babies (not to mention the continued stabilization and growth of mine, Sheri's and everyone else who is helping us out's sanity). May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
I apologize for it being so long since I have put an update for ya'll. Sheri and I can never thank enough all of our prayer warriors, friends, family, of us, our children's progress and those who read the blog on a daily basis. Since Jacob's arrival at home, it has been run run run nonstop, with everyone trying to juggle his feeds, visit Jordan at the hospital, work, breathe, sleep, a million things flying around at once.
To make things more difficult, I have a bunch of backlogged information to release on here, but there just are not enough hours in the day to get to it all right now. And once Jordan comes home (which to date should be this Monday), it will be even harder to post on here all the information that our little ones (and us) are going through and making.
The best thing that I can tell you is, for all of our difficulties, time constraints, etc... Jacob is doing fine. He weighs 5 lbs 9 oz. at his last doctor visit, has his days and nights mixed up, and takes about 2 to 3 oz. per feeding right now. Otherwise, he is a healthy growing baby boy.
Jordan will be coming home with the G tube (feeding tube) in her stomach and on a apnea monitor at night. Recently she had a bunch of brady cardia episodes, which prompted the doctors and nurse staff to require she be on it especially at night. I'm supposed to find out the inner workings of this device upon my weekend stay, in addition to learning how to work the pump, insert and remove the feeding tube which for the moment will be how we feed her. Although the excessive brady cardia episodes can somewhat be chalked up to feeding and constipation (she went for 5 days without a poop before the doctors' agreed to giving her a suppository, at which point she filled three diapers full when she finally got one). Part of this weekend will hopefully give us a better understanding on what is causing those episodes; it seems like she was brady free prior to the feeding tube insertion. Sheri and I will have to do some deep probing to determine what exactly is going on with that. At last weigh in, Jordan weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz.
That's the best I can tell you right now, especially with Jordan, things change on a hour-to-hour basis.
Please continue to pray for the growth, stability and improvement for our babies (not to mention the continued stabilization and growth of mine, Sheri's and everyone else who is helping us out's sanity). May the good Lord bless and protect us all.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports as soon as I can spare another minute!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-17-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
According to Sheri, Jacob had a rough night last night. Apparently, his gas issues are making themselves known in the evening time frames, which makes him being fussy after and between his 9 and midnight feeds, and hard to get to lay down and go to sleep. Both of the kids have had gas issues all along, but especially where Jacob is concerned, the adjustment to a new environment on top of the gas makes things rough for him and for us. But, we will keep pressing along and bring the issue up to his doctor upon our next visit to see if he can make any suggestions for over the counter medication, drops, etc., or something prescribed to help him work through it. Here are a couple of pictures I snapped with my camera phone of Jacob when I got back this afternoon (I left the hospital around 2, so Sheri could come up and see Jordan, and Rae was taking a breather to go home, get some rest, go to church on Sunday and visit with Jordan).
Jordan continues to heal up from her endoscopy and bronchioscopy yesterday; no results as of yet (probably Monday). She was more alert this afternoon, but still a little worn out from the surgery, so that has kept her pretty quiet. See below, snoozing and enjoying her paci:
Jordan will have a acid reflux PH probe scheduled for Monday, which will be a tube inserted into her nose along with her feeding tube, and will stop about midway down the back of her throat. Once inserted, it will take the PH levels of when she has acid reflux episodes/aspiration (or something similar) for 24 to 36 hours. This probe study is the 2nd part of analyzing Jordan's difficulty swallowing, stridor, problems with vocal cords, and determining where exactly the reflux is coming from (above or below), then will define what kind of feeding tube Jordan will need to send her home, until such time as these issues can be worked out to allow her to take bottles again and swallow properly without choking.
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 5 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
1/2 liter Nasal Cannula 21% Room Air
48 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 CC residual
taken off Prevacid for acid reflux until Tuesday to allow for proper assessment of reflux symptoms (or similar)
1.2 mg. Proponalol (bloood pressure medicine)
.2 mg. Dexamethasone (restarted for a day to help bring slight swelling with vocal cords and esophagus (if any) to lower level to better place PH probe
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
According to Sheri, Jacob had a rough night last night. Apparently, his gas issues are making themselves known in the evening time frames, which makes him being fussy after and between his 9 and midnight feeds, and hard to get to lay down and go to sleep. Both of the kids have had gas issues all along, but especially where Jacob is concerned, the adjustment to a new environment on top of the gas makes things rough for him and for us. But, we will keep pressing along and bring the issue up to his doctor upon our next visit to see if he can make any suggestions for over the counter medication, drops, etc., or something prescribed to help him work through it. Here are a couple of pictures I snapped with my camera phone of Jacob when I got back this afternoon (I left the hospital around 2, so Sheri could come up and see Jordan, and Rae was taking a breather to go home, get some rest, go to church on Sunday and visit with Jordan).
Jordan continues to heal up from her endoscopy and bronchioscopy yesterday; no results as of yet (probably Monday). She was more alert this afternoon, but still a little worn out from the surgery, so that has kept her pretty quiet. See below, snoozing and enjoying her paci:
Jordan will have a acid reflux PH probe scheduled for Monday, which will be a tube inserted into her nose along with her feeding tube, and will stop about midway down the back of her throat. Once inserted, it will take the PH levels of when she has acid reflux episodes/aspiration (or something similar) for 24 to 36 hours. This probe study is the 2nd part of analyzing Jordan's difficulty swallowing, stridor, problems with vocal cords, and determining where exactly the reflux is coming from (above or below), then will define what kind of feeding tube Jordan will need to send her home, until such time as these issues can be worked out to allow her to take bottles again and swallow properly without choking.
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 5 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
1/2 liter Nasal Cannula 21% Room Air
48 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 CC residual
taken off Prevacid for acid reflux until Tuesday to allow for proper assessment of reflux symptoms (or similar)
1.2 mg. Proponalol (bloood pressure medicine)
.2 mg. Dexamethasone (restarted for a day to help bring slight swelling with vocal cords and esophagus (if any) to lower level to better place PH probe
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Friday, April 16, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-16-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jordan (ready for Bronchioscopy and Endoscopy procedure)
Before:
After:
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 4 oz
0 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Nasal Cannula put in for purposes of assistance after procedure, will be removed when she comes out of anesthesia and breathes on her own
46 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 CC residual
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
Sheri and I shifted watches for tonight; she went home to love on and be with Jacob, I came up to the hospital and spent the night looking after Jordan, and am look forward to a restful night's sleep with no interruptions. I'll let you know tomorrow how Sheri's night with Jacob went.
Also, Abby, one of the great nurses we had in the beginning looking after the twins, has been freed up since one of our original podmates in Giraffe Pod A went up to the 8th floor, and she has graciously agreed to be one of our nightly primary's! We are so excited to have one more great nurse looking after our kids! See the picture below, so has already bonded with Jordan!!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jordan (ready for Bronchioscopy and Endoscopy procedure)
Before:
After:
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 4 oz
0 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Nasal Cannula put in for purposes of assistance after procedure, will be removed when she comes out of anesthesia and breathes on her own
46 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 CC residual
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
Sheri and I shifted watches for tonight; she went home to love on and be with Jacob, I came up to the hospital and spent the night looking after Jordan, and am look forward to a restful night's sleep with no interruptions. I'll let you know tomorrow how Sheri's night with Jacob went.
Also, Abby, one of the great nurses we had in the beginning looking after the twins, has been freed up since one of our original podmates in Giraffe Pod A went up to the 8th floor, and she has graciously agreed to be one of our nightly primary's! We are so excited to have one more great nurse looking after our kids! See the picture below, so has already bonded with Jordan!!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-15-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jacob's 1st trip to doctor:
Recorded weight and assessment from doctor for Jacob:
4lbs. 15 oz.
irregular pooping is normal due to adjustment to new environment and formula, normal poop is a paste, irregular poop is hard, he has had good poops
every four hour feeding schedule, 22 ca. formula, 60 CC's (equiv. 2 oz. / feeding)
Growing boy!, developing his own personality, including fussiness!
Doctor will not need to see him again until 2 month visit
Jordan:
Renal Ultrasound & Urinalysis results = good kidney function
Endoscopy and Bronchioscopy scope procedure set for tomorrow after 7:30 am (good luck baby girl, we're all praying that it goes well for you!)
put on blood pressure medication (1.2 mg propanolol) every 8 hours
5 lbs. 2 oz
0 dirty diaper
6 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
46 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 CC residual
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob's 1st trip to doctor:
Recorded weight and assessment from doctor for Jacob:
4lbs. 15 oz.
irregular pooping is normal due to adjustment to new environment and formula, normal poop is a paste, irregular poop is hard, he has had good poops
every four hour feeding schedule, 22 ca. formula, 60 CC's (equiv. 2 oz. / feeding)
Growing boy!, developing his own personality, including fussiness!
Doctor will not need to see him again until 2 month visit
Jordan:
Renal Ultrasound & Urinalysis results = good kidney function
Endoscopy and Bronchioscopy scope procedure set for tomorrow after 7:30 am (good luck baby girl, we're all praying that it goes well for you!)
put on blood pressure medication (1.2 mg propanolol) every 8 hours
5 lbs. 2 oz
0 dirty diaper
6 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
46 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 CC residual
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-14-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jacob had a much better night last night being at home (we were surprised and excited how quickly he adjusted). Between all of our efforts, Jacob is now on a every four hour feeding schedule (12, 4, 8, 12), and in between feeds, he is sleeping beautifully! The report from Mia Rae today is that Jacob had one big poop this morning, but not has had any since, and during the day did well all day. She kept him in the living room pretty much (even squeezed in an hour nap); he seems to do better where all the activity is happening. For now, we will chalk his lack of many poops up to him adjusting to his environment (I'm sure that is all it is), but we will also bring it up to his pediatrician tomorrow (Sheri and Rae will be taking him to his first doctor's appointment since being released from the hospital on Monday in the Medical Center, across from Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital). Good luck baby boy, you will be just fine. We are so proud of your progress!
Jordan also had another progress hurdle lept over successfully; the doctors and nurses finally said she had come far enough long that she no longer needed her nasal cannula! Way to go! Here is the first photo of our little daughter breathing entirely on her own (we never had any real doubts anyway, she made her feelings known about well in advance...every time we looked at her after her PDA surgery, she somehow managed to get the nasal prongs out of her nose and blowing on her face instead)
Jordan also had a Renal Ultrasound and Urinalysis ran on her today; it seems her high blood pressure readings warranted a test to ensure her kidneys are functioning properly. Jordan also received a suppository this morning; we had asked the nurses to give her one because of the many days that had gone by with little to no poop action. To coin a phrase, mentioning that she was going to get one seemed to "scare the crap out of her", because she had two little poops at various points during the morning before she ever received the suppository, and then one big one later after getting it. Go figure :). Sheri had been able to go this morning and be with her (until she is released, the family is doing everything we can to make sure that Jordan is either not alone, or is by herself in the NICU for a very short time. We don't want her to get scared and lonely, do we?) Here is a picture Mom took of her when she arrived to be with her this afternoon:
And, I had a neat and exciting experience upon my visit tonight (Sheri and I had discussed it earlier, and we had opted for me to go up to the NICU tonight, and she come home to be with Jacob for the evening and get to bed earlier (which I was happy to do). I got to bathe Jordan! It was my first time, but I think I did alright (you be the judge) and enjoyed looking at my smiling baby girl all the while!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 0.2 oz
3 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Nasal Cannula removed, breathing Room Air completely unassisted (yeeaaahhh!)
46 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
3.3 CC residual
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
Renal Ultrasound & Urinalysis to test kidney function as a result of high blood pressure readings (results tomorrow)
Echo Cardiogram scheduled for tomorrow a.m.
Update on my ankle: I visited the podiatrist today. The MRI results say one of the outer tendons is 50% torn (see update with photo on April 6, 2010 for full explanation). At this point, surgery is on the low end (about 20% chance) and we should be able to heal it up with being in the boot cast for at least another three weeks, then a follow up visit where the doctor will poke and prod and measure my mobility and ankle strength, and see about transitioning to a smaller brace. For the rest of this season though, officiating baseball is officially out.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob had a much better night last night being at home (we were surprised and excited how quickly he adjusted). Between all of our efforts, Jacob is now on a every four hour feeding schedule (12, 4, 8, 12), and in between feeds, he is sleeping beautifully! The report from Mia Rae today is that Jacob had one big poop this morning, but not has had any since, and during the day did well all day. She kept him in the living room pretty much (even squeezed in an hour nap); he seems to do better where all the activity is happening. For now, we will chalk his lack of many poops up to him adjusting to his environment (I'm sure that is all it is), but we will also bring it up to his pediatrician tomorrow (Sheri and Rae will be taking him to his first doctor's appointment since being released from the hospital on Monday in the Medical Center, across from Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital). Good luck baby boy, you will be just fine. We are so proud of your progress!
Jordan also had another progress hurdle lept over successfully; the doctors and nurses finally said she had come far enough long that she no longer needed her nasal cannula! Way to go! Here is the first photo of our little daughter breathing entirely on her own (we never had any real doubts anyway, she made her feelings known about well in advance...every time we looked at her after her PDA surgery, she somehow managed to get the nasal prongs out of her nose and blowing on her face instead)
Jordan also had a Renal Ultrasound and Urinalysis ran on her today; it seems her high blood pressure readings warranted a test to ensure her kidneys are functioning properly. Jordan also received a suppository this morning; we had asked the nurses to give her one because of the many days that had gone by with little to no poop action. To coin a phrase, mentioning that she was going to get one seemed to "scare the crap out of her", because she had two little poops at various points during the morning before she ever received the suppository, and then one big one later after getting it. Go figure :). Sheri had been able to go this morning and be with her (until she is released, the family is doing everything we can to make sure that Jordan is either not alone, or is by herself in the NICU for a very short time. We don't want her to get scared and lonely, do we?) Here is a picture Mom took of her when she arrived to be with her this afternoon:
And, I had a neat and exciting experience upon my visit tonight (Sheri and I had discussed it earlier, and we had opted for me to go up to the NICU tonight, and she come home to be with Jacob for the evening and get to bed earlier (which I was happy to do). I got to bathe Jordan! It was my first time, but I think I did alright (you be the judge) and enjoyed looking at my smiling baby girl all the while!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 0.2 oz
3 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Nasal Cannula removed, breathing Room Air completely unassisted (yeeaaahhh!)
46 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
3.3 CC residual
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
Renal Ultrasound & Urinalysis to test kidney function as a result of high blood pressure readings (results tomorrow)
Echo Cardiogram scheduled for tomorrow a.m.
Update on my ankle: I visited the podiatrist today. The MRI results say one of the outer tendons is 50% torn (see update with photo on April 6, 2010 for full explanation). At this point, surgery is on the low end (about 20% chance) and we should be able to heal it up with being in the boot cast for at least another three weeks, then a follow up visit where the doctor will poke and prod and measure my mobility and ankle strength, and see about transitioning to a smaller brace. For the rest of this season though, officiating baseball is officially out.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-13-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jacob's first night at home was its own exciting and LONG adventure. Apparently, he needed to make sure everyone in the house KNEW he was home, so it was a round robin between Sheri, Rae and I on getting him to take his feedings and used to a new bedding and nightly sounds (or lack thereof). Perfectly normal, but tiring to us three (I know, I know, get used to it, its only the beginning...I can hear each of you who are experienced in this saying these very words ;) )
One of the things we got at the shower from Mom and Dad (which I am very grateful for) is a cradle swing. This will allow us to breathe a little easier; Jacob does very well when he is in it...see below
Armed with this, we expect to have some recourse to occupy his time when we need to switch gears (and he likes being in it, so hey, another perk!). Jacob is also still taking his bottles well, and pooping and peeing up a storm (nice to see some things don't change!)
Jordan is doing well at the NICU (I'm sure she misses her brother, but she continues to do well given the circumstances). Dad went up and spent some time with her during the lunch hour, and Sheri went up to be with her after work. And, our princess has hit THE 5 LB. MARK OFFICIALLY THIS EVENING!!!! YEAH JORDAN! Here are some photos of our growing baby girl!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 0.8 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
1 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1/2 Liter flow
45 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 residuals
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
Both our kids still have some adjustments now they are in different places, but we will all be together again very soon. Please pray for continued success for both!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob's first night at home was its own exciting and LONG adventure. Apparently, he needed to make sure everyone in the house KNEW he was home, so it was a round robin between Sheri, Rae and I on getting him to take his feedings and used to a new bedding and nightly sounds (or lack thereof). Perfectly normal, but tiring to us three (I know, I know, get used to it, its only the beginning...I can hear each of you who are experienced in this saying these very words ;) )
One of the things we got at the shower from Mom and Dad (which I am very grateful for) is a cradle swing. This will allow us to breathe a little easier; Jacob does very well when he is in it...see below
Armed with this, we expect to have some recourse to occupy his time when we need to switch gears (and he likes being in it, so hey, another perk!). Jacob is also still taking his bottles well, and pooping and peeing up a storm (nice to see some things don't change!)
Jordan is doing well at the NICU (I'm sure she misses her brother, but she continues to do well given the circumstances). Dad went up and spent some time with her during the lunch hour, and Sheri went up to be with her after work. And, our princess has hit THE 5 LB. MARK OFFICIALLY THIS EVENING!!!! YEAH JORDAN! Here are some photos of our growing baby girl!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
5 lbs. 0.8 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
1 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1/2 Liter flow
45 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
0 residuals
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
Both our kids still have some adjustments now they are in different places, but we will all be together again very soon. Please pray for continued success for both!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-12-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
JACOB IS HOME!
Sheri had to go out for a little while, so it was just me and the boy. We put him in the bassinet to get him used to his new environment, see below!
Tonight will be the telltale what we need to do (if any) to help him adjust further, but for now he is sleeping comfortably.
The ENT doctor came to visit Jordan with a checkup before we left for home. He admitted that his bedside scope was limited; he could not see past Jordan's vocal cords, and there was a lot of swelling in Jordan's vocal cords and throat. The ENT doctor also noted that out of the two vocal cords which are situated in a "V" shape, only one was moving. This lead the ENT doctor to surmise that there might be something going on below Jordan's vocal cords, which led him to set up a bronchioscopy and endoscopy hopefully for this Friday. Jordan will receive a gas anesthetic to calm her, and the ENT doctor will use a camera scope to see all the way down her esophagus and into the lungs. Our only objection to this procedure initially was we did not want her intabated again; it was our feeling that the ventilator when Jordan had her PDA surgery is what caused the swelling in the first place. The doctor agreed that the PDA surgery did contribute somewhat to the stridor in her vocal cords, which will heal with time, however, this procedure should not initially warrant Jordan having to go through that again. The anesthetic would be given in gas form, and the ENT doctor would perform his assessments once the anesthetic took effect. The ENT doctor also told us the procedure was necessary due to Jordan's squeakiness when she is breathing out; it was too loud to be caused by a swollen vocal cord and esophagus alone, which was cause for concern. This feeling was also confirmed by Jordan's attending pediatrician. Ultimately, it needs to be determined what is causing the squeak when Jordan exhales, and why she still has trouble swallowing to allow her to take the bottle properly.
Please pray that Jordan's issues are small and fixable...poor little girl has been through so much already!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 15.7 oz
0 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1/2 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
JACOB IS HOME!
Sheri had to go out for a little while, so it was just me and the boy. We put him in the bassinet to get him used to his new environment, see below!
Tonight will be the telltale what we need to do (if any) to help him adjust further, but for now he is sleeping comfortably.
The ENT doctor came to visit Jordan with a checkup before we left for home. He admitted that his bedside scope was limited; he could not see past Jordan's vocal cords, and there was a lot of swelling in Jordan's vocal cords and throat. The ENT doctor also noted that out of the two vocal cords which are situated in a "V" shape, only one was moving. This lead the ENT doctor to surmise that there might be something going on below Jordan's vocal cords, which led him to set up a bronchioscopy and endoscopy hopefully for this Friday. Jordan will receive a gas anesthetic to calm her, and the ENT doctor will use a camera scope to see all the way down her esophagus and into the lungs. Our only objection to this procedure initially was we did not want her intabated again; it was our feeling that the ventilator when Jordan had her PDA surgery is what caused the swelling in the first place. The doctor agreed that the PDA surgery did contribute somewhat to the stridor in her vocal cords, which will heal with time, however, this procedure should not initially warrant Jordan having to go through that again. The anesthetic would be given in gas form, and the ENT doctor would perform his assessments once the anesthetic took effect. The ENT doctor also told us the procedure was necessary due to Jordan's squeakiness when she is breathing out; it was too loud to be caused by a swollen vocal cord and esophagus alone, which was cause for concern. This feeling was also confirmed by Jordan's attending pediatrician. Ultimately, it needs to be determined what is causing the squeak when Jordan exhales, and why she still has trouble swallowing to allow her to take the bottle properly.
Please pray that Jordan's issues are small and fixable...poor little girl has been through so much already!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 15.7 oz
0 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1/2 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-11-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Everything is a go for Jacob to go home tomorrow! His car seat test (where he had to sit in a car seat which we got from the shower for an hour and maintain his saturation levels and be brady cardia free) was a success last night! The plan is to leave with our son by noon for homeward bound and his own room!
Melinda took the opportunity to have one last hurrah to feed Jake before his departure tomorrow, see below!
I also caught a great shot of Sheri holding Jordan as she was getting her feeds tonight. Tonight was a good night for both momma and baby girl.
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 9.6 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day
2 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Eye exam went well; will not need to visit eye doctor until 1 year old
Jordan will have to remain a few weeks longer while we get her reflux and stridor under control. As it is now, she takes her feeds via tube very well, and she is able to maintain her stats while getting them. However, she cannot swallow yet without aspirating, so these next few weeks will be chock full of physical therapy and assessment so she can take her feeds successfully by bottle.
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 15.4 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
ENT Doctor and Developmental Assessment Doctor visits tomorrow to assess acid reflux, vocal cords swelling, and possible floppy air valve
Eye exam went well; will not need to visit eye doctor until 1 year old
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Everything is a go for Jacob to go home tomorrow! His car seat test (where he had to sit in a car seat which we got from the shower for an hour and maintain his saturation levels and be brady cardia free) was a success last night! The plan is to leave with our son by noon for homeward bound and his own room!
Melinda took the opportunity to have one last hurrah to feed Jake before his departure tomorrow, see below!
I also caught a great shot of Sheri holding Jordan as she was getting her feeds tonight. Tonight was a good night for both momma and baby girl.
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 9.6 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day
2 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Eye exam went well; will not need to visit eye doctor until 1 year old
Jordan will have to remain a few weeks longer while we get her reflux and stridor under control. As it is now, she takes her feeds via tube very well, and she is able to maintain her stats while getting them. However, she cannot swallow yet without aspirating, so these next few weeks will be chock full of physical therapy and assessment so she can take her feeds successfully by bottle.
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 15.4 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
ENT Doctor and Developmental Assessment Doctor visits tomorrow to assess acid reflux, vocal cords swelling, and possible floppy air valve
Eye exam went well; will not need to visit eye doctor until 1 year old
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-10-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 9 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day
3 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 15 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
dexamethasone discontinued
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 9 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day
3 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 15 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air nasal cannula 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
dexamethasone discontinued
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-9-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 8 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day, avg. 50-60 cc's/feeds
3 dirty diapers
8 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Pulsox monitor taken off today
circumcision done today (ouch >o )
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 14 oz
1 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid 2 mg. 1 x day
dexamethasone .2 mg every 12 hrs.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 8 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day, avg. 50-60 cc's/feeds
3 dirty diapers
8 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Pulsox monitor taken off today
circumcision done today (ouch >o )
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 14 oz
1 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid 2 mg. 1 x day
dexamethasone .2 mg every 12 hrs.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Friday, April 9, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-8-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Tonight's Infant CPR training class went well. The attendees for the Cordova family were: Suzanne, Bruce, Andy, Sheri and Rae.
This class also allowed us to visit the 8th floor where babies are moved to once they improve to a level two or even level 1 status (Jacob and Jordan were originally at level 3 status when they first arrived to Children's Memorial Hermann [critical care]). It's was also interesting to see that Roger and Debbie Clemens had donated some money to the floor, and their contribution is noted by signs that you see upon entering the floor from the elevator and as you approach the receptionist desk. The layout is setup where each pod has a central nurse station and a bunch of individual rooms around it. Each room has a pleather love seat that can fold out into a single bed if a parent wants to stay overnight.
As far as Jordan's situation is concerned, she still has a raspy cry and although her feeding amounts are progressively increasing, she has been restricted to getting her milk and formula by feeding tube only. Jordan's acid reflux is also still presenting a hindrance; it is adding to the irritation of her already inflamed vocal cords. It is the doctor's diagnosis that her recent symptoms could suggest she has a floppy airway in addition to underdeveloped or irritated vocal cords; this could be contributed to prematurity, and unfortunately there is no surgery to fix them, Jordan will have to outgrow it. In the meantime, Jordan has been started on Prevacid to help with her acid reflux and dexamethasone, which is a steroid to reduce the inflammation on her vocal cords (a condition known as Stridor). And, the Ear-Nose-and Throat doctor and Developmental Assessment techs will come by Monday to see if the next few days of Jordan being on both of these medications has made any improvement and a next course of action. Please pray for Jordan's issues to resolve without drastic measures.
Jacob is now taking his feeds ad-lib; he takes as much or as little as he wants. It will be our goal to still keep him on the feeding schedule we currently have for him (every three hours), but the amount he takes now is up to him. Jacob's feeding tube that deposits directly into his stomach was also taken out today; the only lines he has tied to a monitor now is the one that reads his heart rate!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 6.2 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day
3 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 12.6 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
dexamethasone (steroid, help with swelling of vocal cords) .2 mg every 12 hrs.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Tonight's Infant CPR training class went well. The attendees for the Cordova family were: Suzanne, Bruce, Andy, Sheri and Rae.
This class also allowed us to visit the 8th floor where babies are moved to once they improve to a level two or even level 1 status (Jacob and Jordan were originally at level 3 status when they first arrived to Children's Memorial Hermann [critical care]). It's was also interesting to see that Roger and Debbie Clemens had donated some money to the floor, and their contribution is noted by signs that you see upon entering the floor from the elevator and as you approach the receptionist desk. The layout is setup where each pod has a central nurse station and a bunch of individual rooms around it. Each room has a pleather love seat that can fold out into a single bed if a parent wants to stay overnight.
As far as Jordan's situation is concerned, she still has a raspy cry and although her feeding amounts are progressively increasing, she has been restricted to getting her milk and formula by feeding tube only. Jordan's acid reflux is also still presenting a hindrance; it is adding to the irritation of her already inflamed vocal cords. It is the doctor's diagnosis that her recent symptoms could suggest she has a floppy airway in addition to underdeveloped or irritated vocal cords; this could be contributed to prematurity, and unfortunately there is no surgery to fix them, Jordan will have to outgrow it. In the meantime, Jordan has been started on Prevacid to help with her acid reflux and dexamethasone, which is a steroid to reduce the inflammation on her vocal cords (a condition known as Stridor). And, the Ear-Nose-and Throat doctor and Developmental Assessment techs will come by Monday to see if the next few days of Jordan being on both of these medications has made any improvement and a next course of action. Please pray for Jordan's issues to resolve without drastic measures.
Jacob is now taking his feeds ad-lib; he takes as much or as little as he wants. It will be our goal to still keep him on the feeding schedule we currently have for him (every three hours), but the amount he takes now is up to him. Jacob's feeding tube that deposits directly into his stomach was also taken out today; the only lines he has tied to a monitor now is the one that reads his heart rate!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 6.2 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Ad-lib feedings of 22 calorie fortified milk, 8 bottles a day
3 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 12.6 oz
1 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air 1 Liter flow
42 CC's fortified milk 22 cal.
Prevacid (for acid reflux) 2 mg. 1 x day
dexamethasone (steroid, help with swelling of vocal cords) .2 mg every 12 hrs.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-7-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jacob continues to perform well with now 7 full days of no brady cardia or desaturation episodes as of today. Technically, he could go home, however the doctors and nurses have opted to keep him in for a few more days just to make sure that all is working as it should be. We still have the car seat test to run on him; he will have to sit in a car seat (endorsed by the hospital) for an hour without any brady cardia or desaturation episodes, one night of care-by-parent assessment(where Sheri and I are in one of the Ronald McDonald houses and take care of him on our own, but still have the nurse staff checking in on us to help if needed), and Sheri and I will need to take and pass a child CPR class (which Mom and Dad and Sheri's mom will be taking also). As long as he keeps on track, and we pass all of our tests, he will still be released to go home on Monday.
Although Jordan's respiratory rate has drastically improved since her PDA surgery last week, she is still struggling with the suck swallow breathe reflex which she needs to master in order to bottle feed to the hospital's requirements to allow her to be released with no support backup (i.e., oxygen, feeding tubes, etc). The goal is to get Jordan completely off of the feeding tube in her nose, and use the bottle entirely. Earlier this week she was taken down for some routine tests and another echo cardiogram to monitor her progress. Upon being put in the transport box, she freaked out and her saturation levels dropped significantly, which caused the nurses to have to crank up her oxygen to calm her down. Then she failed her swallow test by aspirating violently during the exam, which sent up a red flag to the doctors.
Despite all the difficulties Jordan is experiencing, the doctors and Sheri and I are still confidient that Jordan will be able to overcome this, given her progressional history to date. After tonight's assessment by the doctors, which range from the doctor's hypothesis' for her swallowing issues being chalked up to her surgical procedure on her PDA (which required her to be put under anesthesia and a ventilator and could be causing strain), prematurity to her vocal cords, to cerbal palsy, Jordan will begin physical therapy tomorrow to work on improving the suck swallow breathe reflex to allow her to effectively bottle feed so she will not have to be released from the hospital with oxygen and a feeding tube in her stomach. This assessment and physical therapy should go on for about two to three weeks.
Please pray that Jacob continues to stay on track to departure home on Monday, and that Jordan's issues will correct themselves and she will be able to come home with her brother and mom and dad with no issues other than being a preemie.
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 4.6 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
55 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 8 bottles a day!
1 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9.4 oz
2 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics cancelled as of today
Potassium 4 x day cancelled as of today
21% Room Air, with 1 Liter flow
38 CC's fortified milk 24 cal.
The official word on my condition by my podiatrist is: my right ankle is in between moderate to severely sprained.
As shown on the diagram, the top picture shows the outer side of the human foot. The three lines that are circled represent tendons which provide support and movement. As it was explained to me, because of the way our feet are designed, this is where 99 % of all the injuries occur (hairline fractures, compound fractures, sprains, etc) due to the design. The second diagram is the inner side of the human foot. This side has a triangular tendon that is much more durable and can withstand a lot more activity. In my case, with my fall and rolling my ankle under, there is probably a good chance that I tore the first tendon on the left side. However, since the swelling is confined to my ankle, and I don't have any blood or bruising under my skin or further down along my foot or heel, it is probable that the second tendon is just strained and not torn. The podiatrist took x-rays which did not show any hairline fractures, or broken bones. Tonight at 9:30, I had a MRI, which the results should be transmitted to the doctor's office by tomorrow or Friday to determine the full extent of the injury. In the meantime, I am wearing a prosthetic boot to allow for support and mobility (at a much slower pace than my normal walk, but at least I can stand and walk again) which I will need to wear for at least a month. Once the MRI results get back to the doctor, we will determine the next course of action of any.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob continues to perform well with now 7 full days of no brady cardia or desaturation episodes as of today. Technically, he could go home, however the doctors and nurses have opted to keep him in for a few more days just to make sure that all is working as it should be. We still have the car seat test to run on him; he will have to sit in a car seat (endorsed by the hospital) for an hour without any brady cardia or desaturation episodes, one night of care-by-parent assessment(where Sheri and I are in one of the Ronald McDonald houses and take care of him on our own, but still have the nurse staff checking in on us to help if needed), and Sheri and I will need to take and pass a child CPR class (which Mom and Dad and Sheri's mom will be taking also). As long as he keeps on track, and we pass all of our tests, he will still be released to go home on Monday.
Although Jordan's respiratory rate has drastically improved since her PDA surgery last week, she is still struggling with the suck swallow breathe reflex which she needs to master in order to bottle feed to the hospital's requirements to allow her to be released with no support backup (i.e., oxygen, feeding tubes, etc). The goal is to get Jordan completely off of the feeding tube in her nose, and use the bottle entirely. Earlier this week she was taken down for some routine tests and another echo cardiogram to monitor her progress. Upon being put in the transport box, she freaked out and her saturation levels dropped significantly, which caused the nurses to have to crank up her oxygen to calm her down. Then she failed her swallow test by aspirating violently during the exam, which sent up a red flag to the doctors.
Despite all the difficulties Jordan is experiencing, the doctors and Sheri and I are still confidient that Jordan will be able to overcome this, given her progressional history to date. After tonight's assessment by the doctors, which range from the doctor's hypothesis' for her swallowing issues being chalked up to her surgical procedure on her PDA (which required her to be put under anesthesia and a ventilator and could be causing strain), prematurity to her vocal cords, to cerbal palsy, Jordan will begin physical therapy tomorrow to work on improving the suck swallow breathe reflex to allow her to effectively bottle feed so she will not have to be released from the hospital with oxygen and a feeding tube in her stomach. This assessment and physical therapy should go on for about two to three weeks.
Please pray that Jacob continues to stay on track to departure home on Monday, and that Jordan's issues will correct themselves and she will be able to come home with her brother and mom and dad with no issues other than being a preemie.
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 4.6 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
55 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 8 bottles a day!
1 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9.4 oz
2 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics cancelled as of today
Potassium 4 x day cancelled as of today
21% Room Air, with 1 Liter flow
38 CC's fortified milk 24 cal.
The official word on my condition by my podiatrist is: my right ankle is in between moderate to severely sprained.
As shown on the diagram, the top picture shows the outer side of the human foot. The three lines that are circled represent tendons which provide support and movement. As it was explained to me, because of the way our feet are designed, this is where 99 % of all the injuries occur (hairline fractures, compound fractures, sprains, etc) due to the design. The second diagram is the inner side of the human foot. This side has a triangular tendon that is much more durable and can withstand a lot more activity. In my case, with my fall and rolling my ankle under, there is probably a good chance that I tore the first tendon on the left side. However, since the swelling is confined to my ankle, and I don't have any blood or bruising under my skin or further down along my foot or heel, it is probable that the second tendon is just strained and not torn. The podiatrist took x-rays which did not show any hairline fractures, or broken bones. Tonight at 9:30, I had a MRI, which the results should be transmitted to the doctor's office by tomorrow or Friday to determine the full extent of the injury. In the meantime, I am wearing a prosthetic boot to allow for support and mobility (at a much slower pace than my normal walk, but at least I can stand and walk again) which I will need to wear for at least a month. Once the MRI results get back to the doctor, we will determine the next course of action of any.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-6-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Day two of the mad dash to get everything ready for Jacob's homecoming...I took off from work at Aker today and was very grateful to have Robby and Dad set some time aside to help me. Thank you very much guys!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 4 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
45 CC's of 22 calorie fortified milk
4 dirty diapers
8 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9 oz
4 dirty diaper
8 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
Potassium 4 x day
30 mg. baby tylenol every 6 hours (discontinued today)
21% Room Air, with .5 Liter flow
38 CC's fortified milk 27 cal.
Murphy's Law seems to be running pretty rampart tonight; it waits until you are all alone to show itself vehemently. Once Robby and Dad had left, and after I finished putting everything in the attic out of the spare bedroom and the baby's room, I misjudged the second-to-last rung of the attic ladder and fell, rolling my right ankle. After sitting on the hallway floor for 30 minutes and loudly shouting some "R" rated explicits, the pain had subsided enough for me to put my weight on it. So, everything was OK, right? No no, remember Murphy's law? By the time I finished cleaning up, and spent some time visiting with my next door neighbor, my ankle is now swollen up to the size of a tennis ball. Great. So, I'm off to take a Epsom-salt laden bath, put some ice on it and hope I can walk on it tomorrow. Sigh, the pains of parenthood...
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Day two of the mad dash to get everything ready for Jacob's homecoming...I took off from work at Aker today and was very grateful to have Robby and Dad set some time aside to help me. Thank you very much guys!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 4 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
45 CC's of 22 calorie fortified milk
4 dirty diapers
8 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9 oz
4 dirty diaper
8 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
Potassium 4 x day
30 mg. baby tylenol every 6 hours (discontinued today)
21% Room Air, with .5 Liter flow
38 CC's fortified milk 27 cal.
Murphy's Law seems to be running pretty rampart tonight; it waits until you are all alone to show itself vehemently. Once Robby and Dad had left, and after I finished putting everything in the attic out of the spare bedroom and the baby's room, I misjudged the second-to-last rung of the attic ladder and fell, rolling my right ankle. After sitting on the hallway floor for 30 minutes and loudly shouting some "R" rated explicits, the pain had subsided enough for me to put my weight on it. So, everything was OK, right? No no, remember Murphy's law? By the time I finished cleaning up, and spent some time visiting with my next door neighbor, my ankle is now swollen up to the size of a tennis ball. Great. So, I'm off to take a Epsom-salt laden bath, put some ice on it and hope I can walk on it tomorrow. Sigh, the pains of parenthood...
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-5-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Today was cleaning day for the house by Sheri's friend Angie, which was done very well. The nursery was set up (functional only; decorations still have to be put up), cleaned and hospital-grade sterilized, and a good portion of the house received the same treatment from stem to stern. There are still some rooms left to clean, and with my construction crew (Dad & Robby) coming tomorrow to take care of some last minute house errands (decking over the garage in the attic, replacing the two torn up baseboards in the living room and installing the storm door we got from our next door neighbor (if it will fit), Sheri thought it was best to leave some to clean this weekend after the baby shower. We have a lot to cram in to get done before Jacob comes home; we have now been told he is scheduled to come home Monday Apr. 12 instead of Saturday Apr. 10. Here we go!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 2 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk
3 dirty diapers
8 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 8 oz
0 dirty diaper
9 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
Potassium 4 x day
30 mg. baby tylenol every 6 hours (to help manage the pain of surgery and keep her comfortable)
21% Room Air, with .5 Liter flow
35 CC's fortified milk 27 cal.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Today was cleaning day for the house by Sheri's friend Angie, which was done very well. The nursery was set up (functional only; decorations still have to be put up), cleaned and hospital-grade sterilized, and a good portion of the house received the same treatment from stem to stern. There are still some rooms left to clean, and with my construction crew (Dad & Robby) coming tomorrow to take care of some last minute house errands (decking over the garage in the attic, replacing the two torn up baseboards in the living room and installing the storm door we got from our next door neighbor (if it will fit), Sheri thought it was best to leave some to clean this weekend after the baby shower. We have a lot to cram in to get done before Jacob comes home; we have now been told he is scheduled to come home Monday Apr. 12 instead of Saturday Apr. 10. Here we go!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 2 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk
3 dirty diapers
8 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 8 oz
0 dirty diaper
9 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
Potassium 4 x day
30 mg. baby tylenol every 6 hours (to help manage the pain of surgery and keep her comfortable)
21% Room Air, with .5 Liter flow
35 CC's fortified milk 27 cal.
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Monday, April 5, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-4-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jacob had another good day on bottle feeds, especially without any of his breathing assistance. When he is awake, he is bright eyed, bushy tailed, and rearing to go! Depending on how he takes the rest of his bottles tonight, tomorrow will be set for him to take feeds at his own pace. It will be our plan to keep him on the current schedule we have for him, but if all goes well, it will be up to him how much he has at each feeding. Also, the countdown is on for him to be sent home...possibly this weekend! We are nervous as can be, and this week will be a mad dash in between everything else, but we will bust arse to get it done so Jacob has a clean and safe environment to come home to. We also have a CPR training class for Sheri and I scheduled this Thursday at 7. It is required that we have it before he is released. The major stipulation for Jacob to go home now is 7 days with no brady cardia episodes, no desats, completely feeding on his own and breathing on his own. Hold on to your lugnuts, it's time for an overhaul!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 2.5 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
breathing Room Air completely unassisted
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 8 bottles a day!
5 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan is struggling a little with her bottle feeds, but the most important thing is to keep at it so she gets it down. Please pray for to take off running at this task with little to no effort so we can get her home too real soon (as it is now, Jacob will be going home before her, so we have a real task ahead of us!)
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9 oz
0 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
Potassium 4 x day (restarted when tube feeding began)
30 mg. baby tylenol every 6 hours (to help manage the pain of surgery and keep her comfortable)
21% Room Air, with .5 Liter flow
35 CC's fortified milk 27 cal.
I captured a video of both of the twins with matching green pacifiers, just chillin' out! See below!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob had another good day on bottle feeds, especially without any of his breathing assistance. When he is awake, he is bright eyed, bushy tailed, and rearing to go! Depending on how he takes the rest of his bottles tonight, tomorrow will be set for him to take feeds at his own pace. It will be our plan to keep him on the current schedule we have for him, but if all goes well, it will be up to him how much he has at each feeding. Also, the countdown is on for him to be sent home...possibly this weekend! We are nervous as can be, and this week will be a mad dash in between everything else, but we will bust arse to get it done so Jacob has a clean and safe environment to come home to. We also have a CPR training class for Sheri and I scheduled this Thursday at 7. It is required that we have it before he is released. The major stipulation for Jacob to go home now is 7 days with no brady cardia episodes, no desats, completely feeding on his own and breathing on his own. Hold on to your lugnuts, it's time for an overhaul!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 2.5 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
breathing Room Air completely unassisted
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 8 bottles a day!
5 dirty diapers
5 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Jordan is struggling a little with her bottle feeds, but the most important thing is to keep at it so she gets it down. Please pray for to take off running at this task with little to no effort so we can get her home too real soon (as it is now, Jacob will be going home before her, so we have a real task ahead of us!)
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9 oz
0 dirty diaper
5 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
Potassium 4 x day (restarted when tube feeding began)
30 mg. baby tylenol every 6 hours (to help manage the pain of surgery and keep her comfortable)
21% Room Air, with .5 Liter flow
35 CC's fortified milk 27 cal.
I captured a video of both of the twins with matching green pacifiers, just chillin' out! See below!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter from The Cordova's!!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-3-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jordan was transitioned to the CPAP this morning, but after displaying signs of her mother's feistiness and many bouts of pulling the CPAP out of her nose when the nurses weren't looking, it was decided to put her on the nasal cannula and hope for the best, which made her tons happier and displayed no breathing issues the entire day. Jordan had also shown good readings enough to not need her TPN and Lipid fluids (yeeeaaaahhhh! sometimes, being feisty is good!) Today will also be Jordan's first day back on tube feeding, starting her off at small cc's and gradually building her back up.
The next step for her will be to get her out of the warmer bed, back into the crib with her brother and hopefully start trying to bottle feed again. Let's hope for the best!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 8 oz
1 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
1 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
potassium 2 x day
tube feeds started today at 12 pm, 20 ml
21% Room Air on 1 Liter flow
And...more forward motion for Jacob...Jacob has been taken off of the nasal cannula and is doing so well!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 1 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Breathing completely on Room Air, no assistance!
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 6 bottles a day!
3 dirty diapers
7 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
I had an exciting day with Jacob as well...He took a whole bottle today on Formula, and he burped for me (I know it sounds crazy, but ya'll have to understand. Jacob only burps for his momma and Gramma Susu (I usually get the burp from the stinky end and have to change him mid feed, so this was big for me!)
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jordan was transitioned to the CPAP this morning, but after displaying signs of her mother's feistiness and many bouts of pulling the CPAP out of her nose when the nurses weren't looking, it was decided to put her on the nasal cannula and hope for the best, which made her tons happier and displayed no breathing issues the entire day. Jordan had also shown good readings enough to not need her TPN and Lipid fluids (yeeeaaaahhhh! sometimes, being feisty is good!) Today will also be Jordan's first day back on tube feeding, starting her off at small cc's and gradually building her back up.
The next step for her will be to get her out of the warmer bed, back into the crib with her brother and hopefully start trying to bottle feed again. Let's hope for the best!
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 8 oz
1 dirty diaper
7 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
1 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics
potassium 2 x day
tube feeds started today at 12 pm, 20 ml
21% Room Air on 1 Liter flow
And...more forward motion for Jacob...Jacob has been taken off of the nasal cannula and is doing so well!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 1 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
Breathing completely on Room Air, no assistance!
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 6 bottles a day!
3 dirty diapers
7 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
I had an exciting day with Jacob as well...He took a whole bottle today on Formula, and he burped for me (I know it sounds crazy, but ya'll have to understand. Jacob only burps for his momma and Gramma Susu (I usually get the burp from the stinky end and have to change him mid feed, so this was big for me!)
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Jacob & Jordan Update 4-2-10
Family, Friends, Prayer Warriors,
Jordan is resting comfortably this evening, and has already begun to show signs of breathing over her respirator. As long as the progression trend stays on its current path, she should be off of it by 6 am tomorrow morning. At various times tonight, Melinda will run various "blood gas" tests to see how much oxygen is in her blood and monitor her respiratory rate. Tomorrow morning will also determine if Jordan needs to transition up to the CPAP, or the cardiologist and MD may put her on a nasal cannula and see how she does, depending on how she did during tonight into the early am hours, as well as starting on moderate feeds once she is able. Another echo cardiogram will be scheduled for Monday to re-verify that all is well. To re-iterate, the surgery was successful.
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9 oz (amazing, given all you have been through baby girl, congratulations!)
9.4 CC's TPN (needed since she is currently back on the respirator, but will be decreased as she continues to show improvement in her breathing)
.9 CC's lipids (also needed since she is currently back on the respirator)
30 Breaths Per Minute (BPM) ventilation setting on ventilator
0 dirty diaper
4 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics (the plan is to keep her on these for now until we get a better feel for how fast her breathing improves)
Potassium (no extra currently needed; she is getting it in the TPN and Lipids for now)
Please continue to pray for good results and forward progress for her.
We also have another celebration...Jacob has officially reached the 4 lb. marker tonight! Fabulous! We also have been told that as long as Jacob continues to progress like he is now, there is a very good chance he could be taken off the nasal cannula next week and be breathing on his own with no assistance! We are so proud!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 0 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air on the nasal cannula, with .25 liter flow
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 5 bottles a day!
4 dirty diapers
6 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Mom also captured these cute video ops early this morning way before Jordan went into surgery. Our little two peas in a pod, including matching pacifiers!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Jordan is resting comfortably this evening, and has already begun to show signs of breathing over her respirator. As long as the progression trend stays on its current path, she should be off of it by 6 am tomorrow morning. At various times tonight, Melinda will run various "blood gas" tests to see how much oxygen is in her blood and monitor her respiratory rate. Tomorrow morning will also determine if Jordan needs to transition up to the CPAP, or the cardiologist and MD may put her on a nasal cannula and see how she does, depending on how she did during tonight into the early am hours, as well as starting on moderate feeds once she is able. Another echo cardiogram will be scheduled for Monday to re-verify that all is well. To re-iterate, the surgery was successful.
Jordan's official numbers for the day are:
4 lbs. 9 oz (amazing, given all you have been through baby girl, congratulations!)
9.4 CC's TPN (needed since she is currently back on the respirator, but will be decreased as she continues to show improvement in her breathing)
.9 CC's lipids (also needed since she is currently back on the respirator)
30 Breaths Per Minute (BPM) ventilation setting on ventilator
0 dirty diaper
4 wet diapers
0 brady episodes
0 desats
daily dose Lasix diuretics (the plan is to keep her on these for now until we get a better feel for how fast her breathing improves)
Potassium (no extra currently needed; she is getting it in the TPN and Lipids for now)
Please continue to pray for good results and forward progress for her.
We also have another celebration...Jacob has officially reached the 4 lb. marker tonight! Fabulous! We also have been told that as long as Jacob continues to progress like he is now, there is a very good chance he could be taken off the nasal cannula next week and be breathing on his own with no assistance! We are so proud!
Jacob's official report for the day:
4 lbs. 0 oz.
0 brady episodes
0 desats
21% Room Air on the nasal cannula, with .25 liter flow
37 CC's of 24 calorie fortified milk, with now 5 bottles a day!
4 dirty diapers
6 wet diapers
0 CC's residuals
Mom also captured these cute video ops early this morning way before Jordan went into surgery. Our little two peas in a pod, including matching pacifiers!
More as it develops! Thank you for all of your love, prayers and thoughts! More progress reports soon!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
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