Brain Scan Results Are In

We just talked to the doctor and Clara and Wilson are both doing very well and have minimal amounts of bleeding in their brains!!! Bleeding is graded on a scale of 1 - 4 (with 1 being the least severe). Clara has Grade 1 bleeding and Wilson might not have any bleeding! This article gives a great summary on IVH (Intraventricular Hemorrhage) bleeding and its symptoms. After reading it I think you'll understand why we've been so worried and why we cried when we found out it was only Grade 1 bleeding. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers . . . they are working.

We had other good news today. Wilson is now being fed breast milk every three hours and Clara started her feedings today as well. She is only getting 1cc (1/5 tsp) every eight hours, but will be increased to the same amount Wilson is receiving if she tolerates it as well as he did. Obviously she doesn't like that Wilson is doing "better" than she is and we expect her to catch up any day. 

As with any good news in the NICU, there usually is some accompanying cause for concern. Clara's white blood cell count remains high and she is still on antibiotic. She is also having some kidney problems as a result of the medicine to prevent brain bleeding, but is still producing a normal amount of urine. Hopefully everything will even out. But Chris got to hold Clara again today and my Mom stopped by while Clara was out of the isolette. (Mom hasn't decided what her grandmother name should be yet, so please feel free to send us your suggestions)

Thanks again for all of your love and support. Clara and Wilson will be one week old tomorrow and that in and of itself is cause for celebration. We are by no means out of the woods - the docs constantly remind us that the NICU is "roller coaster" - but they've had a GREAT first week.