Family and friends,
Here is the latest development on the twins today; along with some other pictures taken yesterday on Sheri's camera (some of her holding Jacob) and some pics we took today.
Jordan had 3 BM's and 4 wet diapers for the day and is measuring 1 lb 12 0z. All of her medications have been stopped with the exception of caffeine to help her fluids and organs processing normally. Her feedings today only left 1/2 CC residual today, nightly feeding went good as well. Jordan's CPAP mask was changed from a nose plug mask to a facial mask, this was done because her nasal passages were a little irritated. Her CPAP levels are still at 5% and breathing room air percentage air (21%)
Jacob has had 6 BM's and 4 wet diapers for the day (with his BM's, he will be competing with his old man for the toilet before too long). All meds for him have been stopped as well, with the exception of Caffeine like his sister (have to be fair). Like his sister, he is also on 5% CPAP and breathing room air (21%). He is also competing with his sister in weight (currently at 1 lb. 12 oz [I guess he had enough of being two days behind Jordan on development and is working to show her up]). Overall a good day. Sheri wasn't able to get a room for this evening though, so she is at the house tonight and I will take her back up there tomorrow morning.
For those of you getting this email for the first time, I'm sorry I haven't contacted you sooner. But, I have included in the email chain below everything that I could keep straight that has brought us to this point. 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. In the next few days, I am working to create a blog page that you all can access easier; I will send the link to everyone as soon as I have it created. We'll be sending you more info as soon as possible! Stay tuned for more excitement...Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Jan. 29, 2010
Day - Both kids are doing well. although intermittent problems with feedings, doctors have ordered now 3 cc's of mother's milk every 3 hours. Photo therapy on Jacob was stopped again. Jacob also had a HUGE poop (very exciting for us, shows his little body is making tremendous progress in the internal piping). Blood work results for the problem with forgetting to breathe showed no infection, doctors ruling it to be caused by the prematurity, and will continue to be watched. If frequency increases, other tests will be run. He should grow of it though. Sheri also got to hold Jacob today (another exciting day for her).
Evening - both kids are still off photo therapy. so far, feedings are going well. Jacob now weighs 1 lb. 10 oz, Jordan weighs 1 lb. 11 oz.
Day - Both kids are doing well. although intermittent problems with feedings, doctors have ordered now 3 cc's of mother's milk every 3 hours. Photo therapy on Jacob was stopped again. Jacob also had a HUGE poop (very exciting for us, shows his little body is making tremendous progress in the internal piping). Blood work results for the problem with forgetting to breathe showed no infection, doctors ruling it to be caused by the prematurity, and will continue to be watched. If frequency increases, other tests will be run. He should grow of it though. Sheri also got to hold Jacob today (another exciting day for her).
Evening - both kids are still off photo therapy. so far, feedings are going well. Jacob now weighs 1 lb. 10 oz, Jordan weighs 1 lb. 11 oz.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Jan. 28, 2010 -
Day - Jordan still having some food in her stomach after feeding (residuals)
Jordan still off billiruben lights
Jordan - no change in CPAP levels from yesterday
Jordan weight 1 lb. 9 oz.
Nurses and doctors stopped feeding at that time;
Jacob - still having residuals, still on 5.6 level billiruben
Jacob weight - 1 lb. 9 oz., CPAP level 5% 21% room air
Evening - Jordan weight: 1 lb. 10 oz., still feeding well, still off the billiruben light. Breathing very well, could go to a nasal cannula tomorrow gives more mobility, CPAP machine would be completely removed if she went to the nasal cannula. Great urine output; went through 5 diapers today, forecasted three more tonight. Had one bowel movement about 8 pm.
Jacob - little concerned; Jacob is having moments where he forgets to breathe and his heart rate drops. If it happens often, he is put on caffeine. Happened enough in the evening to put him on caffeine and take blood work to determine if there was infection, which typically would be the cause. Took all feedings today. Had 4 wet and dirty diapers, at a 5.4 billiruben level.
Day - Jordan still having some food in her stomach after feeding (residuals)
Jordan still off billiruben lights
Jordan - no change in CPAP levels from yesterday
Jordan weight 1 lb. 9 oz.
Nurses and doctors stopped feeding at that time;
Jacob - still having residuals, still on 5.6 level billiruben
Jacob weight - 1 lb. 9 oz., CPAP level 5% 21% room air
Evening - Jordan weight: 1 lb. 10 oz., still feeding well, still off the billiruben light. Breathing very well, could go to a nasal cannula tomorrow gives more mobility, CPAP machine would be completely removed if she went to the nasal cannula. Great urine output; went through 5 diapers today, forecasted three more tonight. Had one bowel movement about 8 pm.
Jacob - little concerned; Jacob is having moments where he forgets to breathe and his heart rate drops. If it happens often, he is put on caffeine. Happened enough in the evening to put him on caffeine and take blood work to determine if there was infection, which typically would be the cause. Took all feedings today. Had 4 wet and dirty diapers, at a 5.4 billiruben level.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Jan. 27, 2010 -
Jacob's first poop!, ended up having 4 total for the day
Jacob still under billiruben light for jaundice, but breathing room air percentage (21%, same as all infants and forward)
Jordan back off billiruben light (geez, who can keep up?)
Both at CPAP levels of 5% (lowest)
Jacob weight - 1 lb. 9 oz.
Jordan weight - 1 lb. 8 oz.
Sheri got to hold Jordan for the first time outside of the incubator; very cool. A great bonding experience for her.
Jacob's first poop!, ended up having 4 total for the day
Jacob still under billiruben light for jaundice, but breathing room air percentage (21%, same as all infants and forward)
Jordan back off billiruben light (geez, who can keep up?)
Both at CPAP levels of 5% (lowest)
Jacob weight - 1 lb. 9 oz.
Jordan weight - 1 lb. 8 oz.
Sheri got to hold Jordan for the first time outside of the incubator; very cool. A great bonding experience for her.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Family and friends,
Apologize for the delay in reports folks; Sheri is still with the babies at the hospital and I returned to work on Tuesday and been at home fighting allergies in the evenings to avoid giving anything to the twins or Sheri if it is something more. The symptoms are typical of allergies and I have begun to feel a little more like myself after having my medication in my system for a few days. After my doctor's visit today, I also received some antibiotics which are helping, but for now I will limit physical touch of the babies to just Sheri. Call me an overly cautious parent, but given everything they have been through, you can't be too careful. Also please note in my Jan. 24, 2010 email stated that once the babies go off the billiruben light (the UV photo therapy light used to treat jaundice) they would not be put back on was incorrect. As we later verified, it is possible they could go back on it if their jaundice levels climbed. Nothing to worry about, it will pass as they get closer to their term weight and age. Below are notes by day that I jotted down each day upon speaking with the nurse staff for the 25th on through the 29th along with some photos taken by my family:
Jan. 25, 2010 -
Jacob at 5% billiruben rate
Jordan at 6% billiruben rate
doctors and nurse staff opt to try feeding again 2% CC's milk
Jordan was anemic on Jan. 23, 2010, had a blood transfusion, is now normal
Jacob also anemic, scheduled for blood transfusion later that evening
Jordan began mother's milk again
Jacob having trouble processing mother's milk
Apologize for the delay in reports folks; Sheri is still with the babies at the hospital and I returned to work on Tuesday and been at home fighting allergies in the evenings to avoid giving anything to the twins or Sheri if it is something more. The symptoms are typical of allergies and I have begun to feel a little more like myself after having my medication in my system for a few days. After my doctor's visit today, I also received some antibiotics which are helping, but for now I will limit physical touch of the babies to just Sheri. Call me an overly cautious parent, but given everything they have been through, you can't be too careful. Also please note in my Jan. 24, 2010 email stated that once the babies go off the billiruben light (the UV photo therapy light used to treat jaundice) they would not be put back on was incorrect. As we later verified, it is possible they could go back on it if their jaundice levels climbed. Nothing to worry about, it will pass as they get closer to their term weight and age. Below are notes by day that I jotted down each day upon speaking with the nurse staff for the 25th on through the 29th along with some photos taken by my family:
Jan. 25, 2010 -
Jacob at 5% billiruben rate
Jordan at 6% billiruben rate
doctors and nurse staff opt to try feeding again 2% CC's milk
Jordan was anemic on Jan. 23, 2010, had a blood transfusion, is now normal
Jacob also anemic, scheduled for blood transfusion later that evening
Jordan began mother's milk again
Jacob having trouble processing mother's milk
Family and friends,
the latest update: another exciting day for the Cordova family! Both kids are off their respirators! Praise God! This was especially a big step for Jacob given his history, so we are very excited for that! Sheri got to hear him cry (another good sign, it shows his lungs are developing well). Jordan is not only off her respirator, she is off of the billy Reuben lights (in some of the previous pictures sent to you earlier, you should have seen a blue light above or sometimes below them depending on their needs). This light helped the red blood cells in their bodies to get rid of infancy jaundice, which is also common for babies of all ages, including preemies. It's another good sign that their immune system is developing well. Although some of the progress the twins make could take a step back (which is perfectly normal if it happens a little bit), this particular development does not backtrack. So, once their vitals show that the jaundice is at very low levels for them, the lights will not be turned back on and they continue onward.
The twins have also lost some weight (the nurses tell us that this is normal as well and not to be concerned). Currently, Jacob weighs 1 lb. 7 oz. and Jordan weighs 1 lb. 8 oz. Both are also on the CPAP fluids (it's the next stage of fluid delivery after they go off of the respirator.
As I mentioned before, the twins development will have setbacks; it's to be expected because of their prematurity. I'm sure you have heard of the old adage...two steps forward, one step back. Especially in the case of premature delivery, this is no exception. We continue to cherish every blessing God has given us (including their being here) with humble thanks.
For those of you getting this email for the first time, I'm sorry I haven't contacted you sooner. But, I have included in the email chain below everything that I could keep straight that has brought us to this point. the two attachments above have everything we have photographed up to this point. If you have received an email from me previously, the attachment you will want to draw attention to will be 1-24-10.zip. The other attachment is to update the first timers of this email how we got to where we are and some previous photos taken. 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. we'll be sending you more info as soon as possible!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
the latest update: another exciting day for the Cordova family! Both kids are off their respirators! Praise God! This was especially a big step for Jacob given his history, so we are very excited for that! Sheri got to hear him cry (another good sign, it shows his lungs are developing well). Jordan is not only off her respirator, she is off of the billy Reuben lights (in some of the previous pictures sent to you earlier, you should have seen a blue light above or sometimes below them depending on their needs). This light helped the red blood cells in their bodies to get rid of infancy jaundice, which is also common for babies of all ages, including preemies. It's another good sign that their immune system is developing well. Although some of the progress the twins make could take a step back (which is perfectly normal if it happens a little bit), this particular development does not backtrack. So, once their vitals show that the jaundice is at very low levels for them, the lights will not be turned back on and they continue onward.
The twins have also lost some weight (the nurses tell us that this is normal as well and not to be concerned). Currently, Jacob weighs 1 lb. 7 oz. and Jordan weighs 1 lb. 8 oz. Both are also on the CPAP fluids (it's the next stage of fluid delivery after they go off of the respirator.
As I mentioned before, the twins development will have setbacks; it's to be expected because of their prematurity. I'm sure you have heard of the old adage...two steps forward, one step back. Especially in the case of premature delivery, this is no exception. We continue to cherish every blessing God has given us (including their being here) with humble thanks.
For those of you getting this email for the first time, I'm sorry I haven't contacted you sooner. But, I have included in the email chain below everything that I could keep straight that has brought us to this point. the two attachments above have everything we have photographed up to this point. If you have received an email from me previously, the attachment you will want to draw attention to will be 1-24-10.zip. The other attachment is to update the first timers of this email how we got to where we are and some previous photos taken. 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. we'll be sending you more info as soon as possible!
Kind regards,
The Cordova Family (Andy, Sheri, Jacob & Jordan)
cell - 281-300-6212
email - maverick2601@hotmail.com
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