Kyran now weighs 3 lb, 14 oz and, as of Sunday, is 16 1/4 inches. Karyssa has climbed to 3 lb, 9 oz and is 15 3/4 inches now.
Kyran went down to the low-flow nasal cannula for one day, and was doing very well, but after a few apnea episodes, they put him back on the high-flow nasal cannula. He is still doing very well on that, only needing a little extra oxygen from the 21% that room air gives. Karyssa was weaned from the ventilator to the CPAP on Sunday and then to the high-flow cannula on Wednesday and is also doing very well on that.
We have been able to hold Kyran every day since he went down to the high-flow cannula. Talyse does Kangaroo Care usually, and she was able to kangaroo Karyssa for the first time on Thursday night! This is what life is all about!
Both babies are increasing their feedings and tolerating their food very well. They are both still being fed through OG tubes - small, soft, plastic tubes placed through the mouth into the stomach.
After talking with the nurse, there are four big steps that have to happen before we can take them home:
1. The babies must be weaned into a crib. Weaning starts at around 4 lbs, and consists of making sure they can maintain their own body temperature. Right now, the isolettes they are in provide heat and temperature monitors. At 4 lbs, babies generally have enough baby fat to maintain their temperature on their own, but it can take some time.
2. The babies must be taking the bottle or breast consistantly at every feeding. Bottle feeding starts around 34 weeks, because that is when most babies gain the suckling reflex. Both Karyssa and Kyran love their pacifiers, so hopefully that will be natural for them when the time comes. They will be considered 34 weeks on Sunday, January 25.
3. The babies must be on a low amount of oxygen through the low-flow cannula or breathing room air. Occasionally, babies will be released with the low-flow cannula and an at home monitor, but they like to see them on room air.
4. They must weigh at least 4 lb, 8 oz.
So, that is what we are praying for, along with no major setbacks like infections, and we are also praying for good results on their vision and hearing exams that will be given within the next few weeks. We know that this is a slow process, but knowing what we are looking for helps.
Karyssa did have a low white blood cell count on Monday, so they did some cultures and started her on antibiotics, just in case. The cultures stayed negative, so it may have been nothing, but we'd much rather be cautious and give the antibiotics early if she needed them.
Kyran has an infection in his eye that they are treating with ointment every six hours and it seems to be going away. When treated, this type of infection is not serious.
Please continue to pray for their strength and development. God has blessed us with two perfect, feisty little miracles and we continue to look to Him for strength and guidance during this time. It is hard to believe that they are 19 days old already, but it is also hard to remember a time without them in our lives!
Here are the latest pictures!
Karyssa - 19 Days Old
Kyran - Chillin' at 19 Days Old
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