Sunday, August 30, 2009

Good day, big day tomorrow...

Today was a really good day. Rachel was taken off the ventilator and that is a huge milestone. She is now on the CPAC bubble like her brother is and keeps making great progress. Callum although he is small is still doing wonderfully. They say the first 72 hours are the most critical so if they can make it through tomorrow w/o any major new complications it would be a real blessing.

Another neat thing was that we were given a reconfirmation on going off of the magnesium. The twins each have a lot of magnesium in their systems. The longer I stayed on it, would have made their treatment harder. I think my doctor was right in balancing gestational age with mag treatment. It has helped me feel less like I did something wrong by going off this stuff.

Aunt Eliza came to town for us and our niece Sienna's birthday. That was really special. She helped me do makeup and hair for the first time since I started hospital bedrest 2 months ago. I think it solidfied fears though... Tomorrow I go home and that is really difficult for me. I don't know really how to balance living in another town, healing from a major surgery, reconnecting with my toddler whom I've not cared for in two months, being here for my NICU babies. I still really don't know what to do and neither does Chris. Everyone at work has been awesome and so have both families helping us balance but the challenge of the cupcakes being an hour away from home everyday just makes it very difficult.

14 comments:

  1. You have so much on your plate, friend. I will be thinking of you tomorrow as you are discharged and pray that you can find some rest and healing at home - and finally with your sweet little Harmon. You will do great, just take it one day at a time. His mercies are new every morning!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Still praying for you and thinking about you, Francisca. I'm so glad the cupcakes arrived safely and have a good feeling about their health continuing to improve. They are so strong, and so are you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for blogging these updates so we can be kept up to date. We love you and so does your Heavenly Father. He will bless you and help you. I hope you have given each of your precious gifts a special priesthood blessing of healing. And don't forget yourself. The peace that can come to you will uphold you during this time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So glad to hear the babies are doing well. I've been praying for your family and the prayers will continue. Keep your chin up Francisca!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know it is hard. Having a child (let alone 2) in the NICU is a roller coaster ride, full of joys, guilt, and lots of gas mileage. I am so happy to hear that Rachel is off of the ventilator onto the CPAP. That is such great news. Please know that you did such a wonderful job throughout this all. As a mom of a preemie, I know how important it is to hear that you did nothing wrong...and in your case EVERYTHING right. Congratulations on your 2 new additions, and Hooray for more time with Harmon!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you've taught a lot of us, unintentionally, how to be a better mom. You've been through so much, but you've never once doubted yourself, or gave up. You're the reason those babies are alive and doing well! You have so many people praying for you, there's no way those babies won't grow big and strong, and make your wonderful family of 5 complete :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Don't doubt for a minute that you did your very best for the babies! I'm very happy to hear Rachel is off of the ventilator and it sounds like Callum is one tough little guy. Things will work out, one day at a time, and you'll have everyone home before you know it. *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Querida Francisca y familia,
    You are amazing. It's normal to have these feelings. I know you and your family will do what is best for you guys. I'd fly down in a heartbeat, but I'm not any help with my picc line, etc. Next year we can have a reunion. :) Miss you. Know that we love you and are thinking of you. If there is anything we can do let us know. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hermana,
    I just had to call you that again, because I love you , think you are great, and miss you more than just a little bit. I am so glad that she is off the ventilator! What a huge relief to you! I am sure they will do fine in these next 24 hours, as they have a lot of people praying for them. Know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and if there is anything I can do for you, anything at all, just let me know. I am sure you will figure out a way to balance everything, you were always amazing with figuring out things like that. Good luck (not that you need it) and send my love to Chris and Harmon! Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think it is great that you are doing a blog to communicate with family and friends, it is hard to keep everyone updated, especially when things change so fast. It will also be helpful to you guys when you are able to look back at this amazing journey.

    Guilt is something we preemie moms seem to carry around way too long. It took me a long time to get over it, but you will and you need to remember that you did an awesome job at keeping the cupcakes baking, you have given them all of you - everything you had.

    The NICU is hard and balancing things with time in the NICU is even harder, try to take things moment-to-moment. Ask for help when you need it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, dear Francisca. You and Chris have been through a lot. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I am so happy Rachel is off the ventilator. I pray they will continue to thrive. You are strong. Love you

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow Francisca! This has been such a journey and I know it is far from over! There really are a lot of things for your new family to figure out! I'm so happy that Rachel is doing better too. You and your family are in our prayers too. Hopefully we'll be able to help out more also! We love you and the twins!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am so glad Rachel and Callum are doing so well! It will be so exciting as you watch them grow and thrive. I'll be following your blog and continue to pray for your family.

    Laroogirl, form the bump

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm so glad the twins are doing good! I hope you never doubt for a second that you did anything wrong! The Lord wanted those babies here when He wanted them here:) You are going to do great with all these changes. You guys are in our prayers. Wish we were closer and could do more to help. Love you!

    ReplyDelete

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Good day, big day tomorrow...

Today was a really good day. Rachel was taken off the ventilator and that is a huge milestone. She is now on the CPAC bubble like her brother is and keeps making great progress. Callum although he is small is still doing wonderfully. They say the first 72 hours are the most critical so if they can make it through tomorrow w/o any major new complications it would be a real blessing.

Another neat thing was that we were given a reconfirmation on going off of the magnesium. The twins each have a lot of magnesium in their systems. The longer I stayed on it, would have made their treatment harder. I think my doctor was right in balancing gestational age with mag treatment. It has helped me feel less like I did something wrong by going off this stuff.

Aunt Eliza came to town for us and our niece Sienna's birthday. That was really special. She helped me do makeup and hair for the first time since I started hospital bedrest 2 months ago. I think it solidfied fears though... Tomorrow I go home and that is really difficult for me. I don't know really how to balance living in another town, healing from a major surgery, reconnecting with my toddler whom I've not cared for in two months, being here for my NICU babies. I still really don't know what to do and neither does Chris. Everyone at work has been awesome and so have both families helping us balance but the challenge of the cupcakes being an hour away from home everyday just makes it very difficult.

14 comments:

  1. You have so much on your plate, friend. I will be thinking of you tomorrow as you are discharged and pray that you can find some rest and healing at home - and finally with your sweet little Harmon. You will do great, just take it one day at a time. His mercies are new every morning!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Still praying for you and thinking about you, Francisca. I'm so glad the cupcakes arrived safely and have a good feeling about their health continuing to improve. They are so strong, and so are you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for blogging these updates so we can be kept up to date. We love you and so does your Heavenly Father. He will bless you and help you. I hope you have given each of your precious gifts a special priesthood blessing of healing. And don't forget yourself. The peace that can come to you will uphold you during this time.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So glad to hear the babies are doing well. I've been praying for your family and the prayers will continue. Keep your chin up Francisca!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know it is hard. Having a child (let alone 2) in the NICU is a roller coaster ride, full of joys, guilt, and lots of gas mileage. I am so happy to hear that Rachel is off of the ventilator onto the CPAP. That is such great news. Please know that you did such a wonderful job throughout this all. As a mom of a preemie, I know how important it is to hear that you did nothing wrong...and in your case EVERYTHING right. Congratulations on your 2 new additions, and Hooray for more time with Harmon!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you've taught a lot of us, unintentionally, how to be a better mom. You've been through so much, but you've never once doubted yourself, or gave up. You're the reason those babies are alive and doing well! You have so many people praying for you, there's no way those babies won't grow big and strong, and make your wonderful family of 5 complete :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Don't doubt for a minute that you did your very best for the babies! I'm very happy to hear Rachel is off of the ventilator and it sounds like Callum is one tough little guy. Things will work out, one day at a time, and you'll have everyone home before you know it. *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  8. Querida Francisca y familia,
    You are amazing. It's normal to have these feelings. I know you and your family will do what is best for you guys. I'd fly down in a heartbeat, but I'm not any help with my picc line, etc. Next year we can have a reunion. :) Miss you. Know that we love you and are thinking of you. If there is anything we can do let us know. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hermana,
    I just had to call you that again, because I love you , think you are great, and miss you more than just a little bit. I am so glad that she is off the ventilator! What a huge relief to you! I am sure they will do fine in these next 24 hours, as they have a lot of people praying for them. Know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and if there is anything I can do for you, anything at all, just let me know. I am sure you will figure out a way to balance everything, you were always amazing with figuring out things like that. Good luck (not that you need it) and send my love to Chris and Harmon! Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think it is great that you are doing a blog to communicate with family and friends, it is hard to keep everyone updated, especially when things change so fast. It will also be helpful to you guys when you are able to look back at this amazing journey.

    Guilt is something we preemie moms seem to carry around way too long. It took me a long time to get over it, but you will and you need to remember that you did an awesome job at keeping the cupcakes baking, you have given them all of you - everything you had.

    The NICU is hard and balancing things with time in the NICU is even harder, try to take things moment-to-moment. Ask for help when you need it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, dear Francisca. You and Chris have been through a lot. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I am so happy Rachel is off the ventilator. I pray they will continue to thrive. You are strong. Love you

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow Francisca! This has been such a journey and I know it is far from over! There really are a lot of things for your new family to figure out! I'm so happy that Rachel is doing better too. You and your family are in our prayers too. Hopefully we'll be able to help out more also! We love you and the twins!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am so glad Rachel and Callum are doing so well! It will be so exciting as you watch them grow and thrive. I'll be following your blog and continue to pray for your family.

    Laroogirl, form the bump

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm so glad the twins are doing good! I hope you never doubt for a second that you did anything wrong! The Lord wanted those babies here when He wanted them here:) You are going to do great with all these changes. You guys are in our prayers. Wish we were closer and could do more to help. Love you!

    ReplyDelete