3 Weeks, 4 Days (GA: 31 Weeks)

Nanette and I got to see our twins today.  It had been awhile so it was great to see them.  More importantly, much has changed and we really needed to be there to get the updates that we were just not getting over the phone.  The long day had its toll on Nanette as she started to bleed heavily in the late afternoon.  How hard is that for Nanette?  Every time she makes a trip to see her newborn babies she is set back on her recovery.

New to us today was that Zeke has been getting treated for a urinary tract infection.  That was his infection, which we had thought was still undetermined.  We had asked and asked about the results of all the cultures but always got a no growth or no final report answer.  Apparently, the UTI was diagnosed several days ago at which time they immediately started Zeke on the best antibiotic for that particular bacteria.  We were there today to see the respiratory therapist remove Zeke's CPAP and put him on hi-flow again.  He is tolerating his feedings and his bowels are moving so they have gradually increased his feeds.  He is up to 10mL every three hours (he was in the mid-twenties when they stopped last week).

Following the ultrasound on Monday, Dr. Beachy and the neurosurgeon from Primary Children's decided that Gabe should get a ventricular reservoir to relieve the build up of CSF in his ventricles.  This reservoir consists of a plastic tube sitting right inside one of his ventricles, the end of the tube coming to the hollow of a dime sized dome that rests just under his scalp.  Pressure can then be relieved as needed by piercing the skin and the plastic dome with a tiny needle to access and draw from this "reservoir" of fluid.  The plastic dome self seals after it is pierced with the needle.  The reservoir is only a temporary solution:  either Gabe's hydrocephalus will clear on its own in the coming weeks and months, or he will require a permanent shunt.

Gabe has been transferred to Primary Children's so he can be monitored and prepped for the surgery, which may happen as soon as Thursday.  Nanette and I went to visit Gabe down there today as well.  I say "down there" because Primary Children's fourth floor is connected to the atrium level of University Hospital by an enclosed skybridge.  Their NICU is on the fourth floor and is the same unit where Michael, our first son, spent a couple days of his short life.  It was sort of nostalgic.  No, it was more anti-nostalgic, if that makes sense.  Malstalgic.  That sounds right.  I know it doesn't exist, but that's the right word.