No real improvements

The boys have not had any big improvements over the last few days.  Max's oxygen needs did come down into the 50s for a while, but are back up in the 60s now.  Wes needed to have his vent settings turned up a little bit last night due to high CO2 levels in his blood, but already this morning those levels look better.  Granted, they do not turn the vent settings back down until they look too good.  We also heard that Max's blood gas this morning showed high CO2 levels, so it is likely his vent pressures will be turned up as well.  They have not been getting much more junk out of Max or Wes' lungs over the last day or so, but we will keep praying that God will work through the antibiotics to heal their infections.  The nurse last night said it is very common with infections that things almost get worse before they get better...and it would be nice if things started to get better at a rapid pace!!  One answer to prayers is that Max is passing some fluids again.  He had been a little stopped up and puffy following his PDA Ligation surgery on Tuesday, but he had a diaper that weighted 34 grams last night, and another 30+ gram diaper this morning...that equals 2 ounces, or roughly 7% of his body weight!!  Also, they did start feeding Max 2 ml of breast milk again yesterday and he has been tolerating that well.

Kate and I know that this process is going to be a long one, we just really want these infections to break up and their lungs to heal.  It is obvious that the boys do not like being on the jet vents and they need to be given sedatives and Valium to calm them down so they don't pull wires and sensors off.  Max is on the 7th day of the 7-day antibiotic treatment and still has significant hazy areas in his lungs.  We will continue to trust that God is in control, we just wish that His timing was much more in line with our timing.  Our plan would be for them to both be perfectly healthy, just small...because we could really use a few less things to be concerned about right now.  

Father God, you know the desires of our hearts.  We are struggling with Your plan and Your timing right now.  Give the boys a good day, a day of improvements on their vent settings, continue to break down the infections in their lungs, keep them calm and keep us calm.  You have blessed us with the opportunity to be parents, a journey that took nearly two years of heartbreak and fertility treatments.  Although we have not been able to hold and cuddle our little boys, it has been so amazing to watch them grow and develop in their incubators.  The path ahead seems dim, the next step on this journey is unknown.  Guide us Lord, reveal your path to us, give us the strength and the feet to walk that path in faith.  Cover Maxwell and Wesley with Your love, be the air that they breathe, calm their tiny bodies, heal their lungs.

In the name of Your son, Jesus Christ,

Amen