Family and friends,

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for Sheri, me, the twins, and our family as we all go through this new stage in our family's lives. Presently, we have had to divide and conquer our efforts to look after the twins prematurity due to recent developments with our son Jacob.

As you know, Jacob and Jordan were born at 29 1/2 weeks on January 21, 2010 as a result of poor blood flow and decreased heart rate (Jacob - poor blood flow, Jordan - decreased heart rate). Currently the twins are stable. Jacob, in addition to the poor blood flow experienced in the womb was recently diagnosed with a swelling of the stomach. We still do not know what is causing this, and because of the severity of his condition, the decision was made to switch his care to Memorial Hermann Downtown Houston [mhdt](Ronald McDonald Children's wing). While the facilities at Memorial Hermann Memorial City [mhmc] were professional and accommodating for premature deliveries, Jacob's condition required a much higher concentration of care. To keep him company, we also decided to have his sister Jordan accompany him as well. (The hospital approved this move, as there was room at the downtown hospital facility.)

As we have seen thus far, we feel Memorial Hermann was clearly the best choice for care for both Sheri and our children. We have had good experiences with the level of care we have received on all fronts. MHDT offers even more specialized care; 4 and 5 severity levels and specialized care which Jacob's condition required, and MHMC offers up to level 3 severity. Both facilities are very well put together.

Sheri continues her recovery at MHMC. We are told that she should be released Monday, unless the doctors need her transferred over to MHDT before that. If they don't, then after Sheri's discharge, she and I and our loving and helpful extended family members will be making many trips to the medical center to continuously check on the babies progress. Once significant progress has been made (namely increased birth weight, steady eating habits, and progressive improvements in their breathing), we can have them transferred back to MHMC, which is closer to our house in Katy. Dad and I keep vigil here at MHDT over the twins until Sheri is discharged.

When the twins arrived at MHDT (they were transported by Life flight in the same incubator), they were put back into separate incubators and are undergoing a battery of tests, in addition to assessment of the ultrasound and x-rays (primarily Jacob for his complications). On a positive note, before Jacob left to come to MHDT, significant fluid was drained off his stomach; about two cups which are the size of adult urinary sample cups, and now his stomach size is greatly decreased. He now looks like when he was delivered, and the specialists here at MHDT are trying to determine why there is fluid backup. I have also spent a good hour with them both this morning. The pictures which depict a "blue hue" are the practice to help eliminate the light sensitivity. There are different levels based on the preemie's needs; Jordan is further along, so she gets the blue light above her head. Jacob gets the light coming from below, but this will be switched as he develops. They both have the gauze sunglasses look in the last pictures, a little weird, but a little stylish too (I hope this is just for now, because if they carry this trait into their toddler and teen years, we will be declaring bankruptcy before their sixteenth birthday ;). Just kidding folks, if its necessary and helps them along, I'm all for it.

Best of all, Jacob has shown progress which made my heart jump...he finally has peed a little bit! Not a lot, but the fact there was a little in his diaper and the catheter put some in the run-off bag is a very good sign (Jacob has not peed since he was born, so I am very excited about this!)

OK everyone, I'm going to see if I can get some sleep. I'll report more soon. Please keep praying that these little miracles keep getting stronger and stronger so we can take them home by April (original due date) or earlier if they progress faster and everything is going as planned! If I have missed anyone in this email transmittal (as I am sure I have given the current circumstances) please forward the progress to them as well.

Kind regards,


The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com