Star of the Cul-de-sac

Addi's doctor told me today that she is the star of the Cul-de-sac because she is doing so well.  Her blood culture has been negative for 48 hours now, which means she'll be able to get a PICC Line put in and won't have to keep getting poked for IV's all the time.  Her vent settings were so good that they seized the opportunity to try her on a new ventilator.  The respiratory therapist told me that it lets her do a little more of the work because lungs are muscles and need to be worked, but if she doesn't want to work then the machine will compensate and do it for her.  It's possible that she might have to go back to the other ventilator again, but at the moment she is tolerating this new one very well.  She was also able to start back up on her feedings again.  1 ml every 3 hours.  She hasn't had my milk for about a week and half.

This is the new ventilator.  The one on the far left is the one she had been on.

Jordyn is doing really well.  They have been ordering an x-ray of her lungs every 4-6 hours and each one has shown improvement.  Her vent settings didn't have to be as high today as they were yesterday.  She was able to start back up on her feedings today.  1 ml every 3 hours, just like her sister.  They did another ultrasound of her head this morning and things are still looking about the same.  Things haven't gotten any worse, which is a huge blessing.  The doctor is optimistic that it is running a normal course and will clear up on it's own.  It could take up to 6 weeks for that to happen though.  They will keep monitoring her head and if it starts to get worse and there is any pressure on the brain, then she will have to have surgery to relieve the pressure.