It’s been three weeks since we welcomed our peanuts into the world, but it certainly feels like it’s been much longer. The last three weeks have brought a range of emotions, and we are still learning how to handle being parents. We have a long road in front of us, but life in the NICU goes one day at a time.
We’ll start with Lucy. This week has been a pretty good one for Lucy. She has really started taking her pacifier, more so than her sisters. It’s crazy to watch this little girl work her giant pacifier, but she loves it. Feedings are going well. She is receiving 5ml of breast milk every 4 hours and is tolerating it very well. It looks like she is starting to fill out a little bit; her weight is up to a whopping 1lb 13oz. Lucy has recovered from her PDA ligation surgery from last Monday, and her incision is healing like it is supposed to.
Brenna continues to amaze the doctors with her recovery from a perforated bowel. Her drainage tube came out earlier than expected, and the incision is almost completely healed. The doctors are hoping to start her on Pedialite as early as Friday. She has continued to poop, which at this point is a good thing, and getting her back on food will be a major step in her recovery. We pray the bowel has repaired itself and she will not require any more surgery to correct the perforation. The cardiologist also checked the murmur that was discovered last week. In his opinion, it is a moderate opening, and as long as it doesn’t cause any issues, she will not require surgery at this time to close it.
Anna has been our little eater. She is receiving 6ml of breast milk every 3 hours and has had no issues with feedings. Like her sister Lucy, she has started to gain a little bit of weight. She is up to 1lb 12oz. Anna has also recovered very quickly from her PDA ligation, and has shown no ill effects from her surgery. She has attempted the pacifier, but isn’t quite ready to handle it just yet. She is going to be our drama queen as every diaper change and temperature check is the worst thing in the world.
For all of our good news, we unfortunately have some bad to report as well. A follow up head ultrasound has determined Anna and Brenna have developed some swelling as a result of the brain bleeds they suffered at birth. Lucy’s ultrasound came back with no changes, so we are thankful. The doctor has scheduled a consultation with the neurosurgeon for this week to get their opinion, as well as another head ultrasound for Friday. We should know more about the condition and what the next step is after that. These little girls need your help more than ever now. Please continue to pray for them and their mommy and daddy.
It’s been an up and down week for us. We take each day as it comes. Celebrate the good, and push through the bad. It’s all we can do. This may not be the way we expected things to turn out, but God has a plan. We don’t understand it, but we know that He put these little girls in our life for a reason, and we thank Him every day for our little peanuts. Thank you for your continued support of our family. We appreciate every bit of it.
In His name,
Brad, Angie, Anna, Brenna and Lucy Kamps
I know this is such a long hard journey. But, as you keep your eyes focused on Jesus...He will lead you through it! We are praying for all of you!~Linda
ReplyDeleteLove you guys. Ill be out of the loop for a couple weeks but will still be thinking of you. ~ben
ReplyDeleteYou are right Angie!! God does have a purpose for your three angels. They are amazing! God will see you through the rough patches and rejoice with you in the good times. I continue to keep you, Brad and the girls in my prayers. With love:)
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to understand why God allows us to go through these hard times, but you are right, He does have a plan for you as parents and for those precious little girls. Jesus understands your heartaches, and is always there to give you comfort and spur you on to praise Him through the good and the bad, no matter how hard it is. I hope you can feel the love and prayers coming your way from so many people. Love, Toni
ReplyDeleteI don't know exactly what you're going through Angie but I've been in NICU and I've seen a heart race and I've had the up and down emotions, and those emotions can change MANY times every day! You need to make sure you get your rest so you are there for those precious girls. They need your milk supply to get and keep them healthy. They need your touch. Prayers are being lifted up for them and for you and Brad. As you look at your precious little babies, you know only God could create something so precious and in just 25 weeks. He is AMAZING! He listens to us and answers, maybe not always the way we want Him to, but He is there for us at all times in the good and the bad. Cry out to Him, praise Him, listen to Him, He is there with you all the time and He is good all the time!
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