Keep Moving Forward

Life remained the same for Andrea since yesterday. In the good news department, she gained back most of the weight she lost, getting back up to 860 grams (1 pound, 14.3 ounces). She is managing to completely digest her meals of 16 ml of milk, so hopefully the doctors will be able to increase the amount sometime soon. We have to get those calories into her however possible.

Andrea continued to be fairly steady on her CPAP at level 7. The nurses have to adjust her oxygen periodically throughout the day. Depending on her position, she needs varying amounts of oxygen support. While visiting today, Andrea was on her back, a position the generally requires higher support than when she's on her stomach.

Many people have asked what Andrea needs to weigh in order to come home. While it's true that in the past babies had to hit a 5 pound mark, that is no longer the case. Andrea doesn't have a minimum weight she needs to achieve. Her discharge will be based on her reaching other milestones. The big one is breathing, of course. She needs to be able to breathe on her own with no oxygen support. She has a way to go before that's a reality. Another one we haven't discussed before is her ability to regulate her body temperature. Right now, Andrea cannot maintain 98.6 degrees. She cannot survive outside her isolette, which functions as an incubator, in addition to everything else it does. Obviously, we can't take Andrea home at 2 pounds, but she may be as small as 4. One nurse told us to assume she'll come home under weight. I write frequently about the need for Andrea to gain weight, not because she needs to achieve a certain size, but because bigger lungs allow for more oxygen in her body, and bigger lungs only come with a bigger Andrea.

Thank you for your prayers. We pray for Andrea to get bigger, so she can work toward the milestones I mentioned above. Please continue to remember Andrea and pray that she "keeps moving forward". (Meet the Robinsons, Walt Disney)

My Aunt Peggy sent me this quote today (emphasis from Aunt Peggy): "COURAGE ISN'T ALWAYS IN A LION'S ROAR .. IT IS SOMETIMES THE HEART AT THE END OF A DAY SAYING 'I WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW'". What is most amazing about this quote is that ever since I started writing it, I have been collecting quotes on-line for inclusion in the blog, and about 3 weeks ago, I found this one: "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." Mary Annne Radmacher. We pray that God continues to give us courage and strength.

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow."

Mary Annne Radmacher