Day 52

Gina along with her friend Alicia had an excellent visit with Austin tonight. This picture was taken as Gina was preparing to change our little guys diaper. After changing his diaper, Gina held him (kangaroo care) for the entire visit. Austin loved this time with his mommy. He received his feeding while Gina was holding him and sucked on his binki. Gina can't quite describe the wonderful feelings she felt as Austin held her finger and glared at her while she was rocking him. It was simply amazing!

Austin was up 30 grams today weighing in at 1210 grams which is a little over 2 pounds, 10 ounces! His oxygen requirements have been consistently hovering in the mid 20's.

Day 51

Austin had another great day. It was very low key and don't have much to report today...not even his weight. He is on a new rotation for the CPAP mask (6 hrs at a time) and CPAP prongs (3 hrs at a time) today which means his weigh in won't be until midnight. His O2 was between 21% and 25% throughout the day. Our little peanut is all "swaddled" up in today's picture.

Friends of ours in OH who also had a baby spend a lot of time in the NICU sent us an encouraging poem. We were blessed by its message and wanted to pass it on...

Drawn to His Heart

The God you trusted in the past

is the One who's faithful still.

Trust Him now, with all your heart,

to be working out His will.

There's nothing that you're facing

which takes Him by surprise

All the things concerning you

have not escaped His eyes.

His hand has been your covering

through every circumstance,

Everything will work for good;

nothing is by chance.

Let your faith abide in Him

Just like a mustard seed,

And you will find His promise true

to meet your every need.

Wait on God to do His work

in His perfect time and way

The answer may seem slow

Just now,

but He will not delay.

One day you'll see the wisdom

that lead you from the start

was given by your Father's love

to draw you to His Heart.

by Roy Lessin

Day 50

Here is little Austin wide awake just before his noon feeding today. He is still eating every three hours and is now receiving 22 cc's of breast milk. He lets you know when feeding time is approaching! He gets a little restless and lets out a cry or two as well.

When Austin is restless, he absolutley loves to have mommy's hand on his back as pictured above. He likes daddy's hand a little too, but I am convinced he can tell when it's mommy's touch. We had a nice visit with Austin today. He now weighs 1145 grams which is a little over 2 pounds, 8 ounces and his O2 hovered around 24%. He is so precious and we love him so much.

7 weeks

During Gina's visit today, Austin was swaddled from neck to toe in a blanket, his head was covered with the CPAP hat and his face covered with the CPAP mask. He was sound asleep and all she could see was his tiny lips and his little chin.

His oxygen level's were around 25% throughout the day which is good. He is now receiving 22 cc's of breast milk...30 cc's is one ounce. Austin weighed 1125 grams tonight...up 25 grams from yesterday.

Friends of ours are watching our other 3 kiddos in the morning (Sat.) so Gina and I can have a quality visit with Austin. Andrew is excited to play with Savannah who was one of his favorite friends from preschool. We appreciate the continued prayers for Austin and our entire family.

Day 48

Austin had another good day today! Somewhat uneventful...of course if you talk to Nurse Kim, she might have a different report ;-) After his blood transfusion yesterday, he is up another 45 grams to 1100 even...on his way to 2 pounds, 7 ounces.

Austin has grown to really enjoy his little pacifier when he is awake and during his feedings. We captured a picture of him pushing it back into his mouth. We are in awe of his progress and are so very thankful for his growth and continued development. All praises to God.

Day 47

Gina had a quality visit with Austin today. As soon as she arrived this afternoon, she had her first experience changing one of Austin's poopy diapers. It was a continuous blowout to boot...after 4 diapers and clean bedding in place, she settled him down by singing songs and laying her hand across his body. He loved time with his mommy.

Austin's CBC was down a bit; therefore, he is receiving a blood transfusion this evening...he is receiving 22 cc's of blood over an 8 hour period. He weighed in today at 1055 grams.

Mimi and PaPa Kura came back in town and were also able to visit Austin today. It is nice to have their helping hands around the house.

Day 46

Austin's wonderful nurses helped him celebrate his weight gain by presenting him with an official certificate recognizing his membership in the "KILO CLUB." He confirmed that he belongs by packing on another 45 grams today...he weighs 1045 grams which is just about 2 pounds, 5 ounces. He is now receiving 20 cc's of breast milk for each feeding.

Austin is still alternating between the CPAP mask and the CPAP prongs. His oxygen requirements were better today. They ranged between 24% and 28%. Overall, Austin had an excellent day and is doing exactly what he is supposed to.

Day 45

Celebration Day, Austin reached a KILO. He tipped the scales at exactly 1000 grams tonight. This is a recognized milestone in the NICU...all of the nurses gave him a standing "O" Still hanging out on the CPAP machine today with 5 liters of pressure (6 liters is the highest, 2 liters is the lowest).

"You are a Great God. Your character is Holy. Your truth is absolute. Your strength is unending. Your discipline is fair...Your provisions are abundant for our needs. Your light is adequate for our path. Your grace is sufficient for our sins...You are never early, never late...You sent your Son in the fullness of time and will return at the consumation of time. Your plan is perfect. Bewildering. Puzzling. Troubling. But perfect."

This quote is taken from the book Safe in the Shepard's Arms by Max Lucado. We have clung to these words since Austin's unexpected arrival and wanted to share them with you.

Day 44

Austin is still alternating between the CPAP mask and the CPAP prongs. His O2 requirement today hovered near 39%. As a reminder, the goal is to be at 21% which is the same level that we all breathe.

Austin is inching in on a kilo...weighing in at 995 grams this evening. He is up 40 grams from weigh in time yesterday. 5 more grams to hit that 1000 gram milestone. 995 grams is equivalent to 2 pounds, 3 ounces.

The plan for the near future is to leave him alone and let him grow...

Day 43

Our little wiggler gained back 20 grams today which brings him back up to 2 pounds, 1 ounce. Because Austin tries "climbing out of his bed," his nurse tonight put a sleep positioner over his legs to keep him still. His O2 requirements ranged between 23% and 33% throughout the day.

Gina has had an upper respiratory infection over the last few days which has kept her from visiting Austin. She really misses visiting Austin, but knows it is best for him and the other precious babies to stay away. I stopped in for a visit this afternoon and hung out with Austin for a little while. Gina and the kids waited in the NICU waiting room. He looked so cute...we wish we could open his isolette to cuddle him.

We appreciate the on-going encouragement and comments from everyone! You all are a blessing to all of us.

6 Weeks!

Not a whole lot to share today. Austin actually lost 30 grams (a little over one ounce) which put him at 935 grams. His oxygen requirements were all over the board today...as high as 40% when he was fussy / wound up and as low as 23% when he was resting. He is still receiving 18 cc's of breast milk for each feeding.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

Day 41

Throughout the day, Austin rotated between the CPAP mask and the CPAP prongs and made it known that he still doesn't like CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). His nurse shared with us that he had a 1 hour long fit today...crying, kicking his legs, moving his arms, and throwing his head around like a turtle. Once he settled down, he had another blow out...sounds like the nurse needed a bath after this one ;-)

His feedings were increased to 18 cc's of breast milk today. His weight didn't change today (still 965 grams) which is actually OK after he worked so hard yesterday. His Oxygen requirements are currently in the low 30's.

A big thank you to MiMi Kura for her help again this week. Her hard work around the house and with the kids have really made things easier for us and has allowed Gina and me to visit Austin together in the evenings.

Day 40

Gina and I visited Austin tonight and also spent some time talking with his doctor. As you can see from the picture above, the CPAP mask has returned. Earlier this evening, Austin just tuckered out from working so hard to breathe while on the cannula. The last 6 or 7 days can really be summed up as two steps forward and one step back which at the end of the day is progress.

Austin is so precious and so adorable...the pictures don't quite capture how handsome (mommy says cute) he is. His weight increased by 45 grams from last night to 965 grams which is 2 pounds, 2 ounces. He is now 13 inches long...he was 12 1/4 inches at birth.

The last 40+ days have been a blur for us. I want to reiterate how thankful we are for all of the encouragment and support that we have received from family and friends. Coupled with the strength from our almighty Father, it really does help carry us on into the next day.

Day 39

Gina visited Austin this morning and we both went for a quick visit tonight. He is now 100% on the nasal cannula which you can see pictured above. He really didn't like the CPAP mask, so the doctors are giving him an opportunity to just use the cannula. He seems to be more settled when he is on the cannula.

He weighed in at 920 grams tonight which is a little over 2 pounds! Keep growing buddy! Andrew was wrestling with his sister's today and while they can hold their own, he was a little rough. As I explained to him that he needs to be gentle with his sisters, he quickly responded by telling me that "I can't wait for Austin to come home so I don't have to be gentle when I wrestle."

The doctor shared with us today that Austin has developed two hernia's which are somewhat common in premies. In some cases, these hernia's can resolve themselves. If they don't heal on their own, they would require surgery to repair around 1 year of age.

Day 38

Austin was sleeping away during our visit this evening. Today, the approach was 6 hours on the cannula and then 3 hours on the CPAP mask. The last couple days, the rotation was 3 hours on each. His nurse did mention that his oxygen requirements do increase a little while he is on the cannula. We'll see how he tolerates the 6 hours of the cannula through the night. The picture above shows the CPAP mask.

He weighed 885 grams this evening which is just over 1 pound, 15 ounces. Next up is 2 pounds!! To us, Austin's weight gain was really noticable tonight. His feeding was increased to 16 cc's of breast milk every 3 hours. Good thing he keeps eating more...I could start a dairy farm with the all the breast milk in our freezer. At least I know I can always grab a quick bowl of cereal ;-) While I joke about it, I must say how impressed I am with Gina's dedication to "pumping" every 3 hours, including the middle of the night. It is a big part of Austin's progress to date. True trooper!

Day 37

Austin had another good day today. He is still switching back and forth between the nasal cannula and the CPAP mask. It is evident that he prefers the nasal cannula over the CPAP mask...it is much more comfortable. He had a chest x-ray this morning and his lungs are improving. Austin gained 35 grams putting him just over 1 pound 14 ounces. Austin's doctor indicated that he is doing "remarkably well."

It is rewarding to communicate with so many through this blog who are interested in and praying for Austin's continued progress. Words can't express the gratitude we have for family, friends, nurses, and those we don't even know who check in on a regular basis.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Day 36

The girls are feeling 100% better and Andrew is in OH with MiMi and PaPa for the weekend. Gina visited Austin this afternoon and was able to hold him for about an hour. She really loves kangaroo care with our little guy. The whimpers I mentioned a few days ago have turned into full blown cries. He already knows what he likes and what he doesn't.

Austin is on a combination of a nasal cannula and a CPAP mask. The plan is to rotate between the two every 3 hours. The cannula gives him 2 ml of pressure and the CPAP mask gives him 5 ml of pressure. Austin made it known that he didn't care for the prongs in his nose which is one of the reasons the doctors are trying a mask. A nasal cannula is simply what we would have if we needed oxygen...just a smaller version. The picture above was taken prior to the change to the cannula / mask combination. He is all swaddled up to keep him from tugging on his prongs.

He weighed in at 830 grams this evening which is just over 1 pound, 13 ounces...on our way to 2 pounds! Praise the Lord. He is cranking through 15 cc's (half of an ounce) of breast milk every 3 hours.

Day 35

We pursposely did not visit Austin today (sorry, no picture) because of the sickness floating around our house. The bug that the kids have seems to be a 24-48 hour virus which we hope will pass soon. We really miss seeing our little peanut and hope to be able to visit him this weekend.

Austin had a good day today and is resting comfortably. He weighed 795 grams tonight which is 1 pound, 12 ounces. His oxygen levels are in the low 20's which is very good.

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Day 34

This is a picture from last night. Austin was a little unnerved and Gina's firm touch settled him down. We wern't able to visit Austin today as all 3 other kiddo's are sick with varrying degrees of the triple threat...fever, diarrhea, and vomit. We didn't want to carry any germs to the NICU.

We learned tonight that Austin is on his second round of steroids which explains why he hasn't been putting on weight...785 grams tonight. He is still on the CPAP and seems to be doing well.

Many people have asked about Gina's health. Aside from being extremely exhausted, her blood pressure is starting to come down. The dosage for her bp medicine was recently decreased and is scheduled to see the doctor next week for her 6 week check up.

Day 33

Austin is still on the nasal CPAP. He doesn't seem to like it too well; however, he is tolerating it and maintaining good "numbers." During our visit tonight, we were able to watch his weigh in which was a treat. As you can see in the picture above, he was awake, alert and not attached to any breathing equipment while being weighed. We were priveleged to hear a few whimpers tonight which we also captured on video. Because he has had a breathing tube down his throat up until yesterday, this was the first time that we have heard any noise out of little Austin since his delivery.

He weighed 780 grams tonight and is receiving 15 cc's of breast milk for each feeding. We are praying that he will continue to grow and do well with the CPAP. Thank you all for your interest in Austin's progress and for your continued prayers.

Day 32

This morning Austin decided to pull out his ventilator tube. As you can see from the picture above, the device that is helping him breathe looks a little different than a mechanical ventilator. It is known as a nasal CPAP. A nasal CPAP device consists of a large tube with tiny prongs that fit into Austin's nose, which is hooked to a machine that provides oxygenated air into his air passages and lungs. The constant pressure from the CPAP machine helps keep his lungs open so he can breathe.

The nasal CPAP was the next step for Austin, but was something that we didn't anticipate until he was closer to 1000 grams. So far, Austin is doing well with the CPAP. He has lost a little bit of weight...weighing 780 grams tonight. We appreciate all of the support and prayers!

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion..." Isaiah 30:18

Day 31

This picture of Austin was taken during one of our recent visits. It is in honor of his Great Grandpa Kura who passed away on December 16, 2005. He was an avid Yankee fan! He would be proud of our little fighter.

Word has it that Austin's bum was the talk of the NICU this evening. He apparently had a huge blowout. In spite of it all, he managed to gain 30 grams today which puts him at 810 grams (a little over 1 lb, 12 oz). His O2 is in the low 30's and his ventilator setting was reduced from 22 breaths per minute (bpm) to 20 bpm...heading in the right direction.

Day 30

Here is the whole crew in for a visit today. If you look hard, you can see a little bit of Austin. Obviously, the date is incorrect on the photo. The kids really enjoy visiting their little brother. They all wanted to do kangaroo care (hold) Austin since mommy got to :-)

Austin had an uneventful day which is good news. No weight gain to report today...still 780 grams. His oxygen levels are still hovering in the low 30's.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Day 29

The team of doctors and nurses taking care of Austin have become "extended family" to us. We are thankful for each of them. Gina and I had a good visit with him this morning. Thought you all would like to see his little binky...he likes to nibble on it during his feedings. Pretty cute.

Gina visited again this afternoon with a close friend who also watched our other 3 munchkins for us earlier in the day so we could visit Austin together. During this visit, Gina was able to have another "Kangaroo" session with our little guy. Once again, he seemed to really enjoy the touch and comfort from mommy. Huge praise that he is responding well to being held outside of his isolette.

Austin is up to 14 cc's of breast milk every three hours. For those of you that are wondering, there are 30 cc's in one ounce. He is weighing 780 grams tonight which is 14 grams shy of 1 pound, 12 ounces.

Happy 4 Week Birthday!!

Today was an extremely special day! On Austin's 28th day, Gina was able to hold him for the very first time tonight with his ventilator in toe and his nurse close by. In the world of preemies, it is referred to as Kangaroo Care which involves skin to skin contact with the baby. When we asked about starting Kangaroo Care the doctor said about giving it a try today for 5 - 10 minutes and see how he does. Needless to say, we were excited! Austin's O2 numbers actually got better while snuggling with mommy, so the 10 minutes turned into an hour. Austin was in and out of sleep throughout this hour and received his 13cc's of breast milk while hanging out with Gina. After his Kangaroo session with Gina, he was weighed...770 grams (1 pound, 11 ounces).

I don't think its possible for us to put into words what we were feeling tonight. We give thanks to God for Austin's progress to date and are so grateful for all of your prayers.

Day 27

As we were walking towards the door to enter the NICU, Gina and I heard the "baby alarms" coming from the room where Austin is located. We looked at each other and both said "hope that's not Austin." Sure enough it was our little guy causing trouble. When we called to gain access to the NICU the doctor came out to inform us us that they needed 15 - 20 minutes becuase his his ventilator tube had clogged and they needed to re-vent him.

After somewhat of a tense beginning, we had a nice visit with Austin this evening. His feeding was increased to 13 cc's of breast milk. We were able to watch as the nurse inserted a new feeding tube through his nose. Looks like it would be uncomfortable, but Austin didn't seem to mind. The focus remains on keeping his ventilator settings as low as possible and allowing him to gain weight.

Everytime we visit Austin, we are reminded of how precious life is...

Day 26

We unfortunatley did not have an opportunity to visit Austin today :-( However, we did receive a thorough update from his nurse this evening. Austin is up to 755 grams which means he is inching in on 1 pound, 11 ounces. His Oxygen levels have ranged between 28 - 32% today. His coloring looks better after receiving the blood transfusion yesterday. Early on, the blood transfusions were needed to replace the blood that was drawn for various tests, etc. Now, the blood transfusions are necessary because his bone marrow is immature and can't produce enough red blood cells on its own.

Friends of ours in OH who know what's its like to walk in our shoes have shared several encouraging Bible verses with us. One of our favorites is from Job 9:10 "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Austin certainly is one of these miracles...

Independence Day - Day 25

Not too many fireworks for our little peanut today! He is still receiving 12 cc's of breast milk every three hours and is up to 750 grams (1 pound, 10 ounces). He has made it known that he is a "touch me not" baby. Everytime he is fussed with to do whatever (change positions, change diaper, bath, etc) his oxygen requirements go up. His nurse suggested that some preemies are just this way...he wants to be left alone to grow and sleep (We know how ya feel buddy!) During our visit we noticed that Austin was a little pale...another blood transfusion was in the works.

We popped in for our second visit of the day this evening with Andrew, Abbie, and Audrey who love to talk to Austin and pray with him. Austin always seems to open his eyes when he hears their voices. It is pretty neat.

Day 24

Austin had a good day today and is just "hanging out" tonight. He gained 5 grams from yesterday and is weighing 735 grams (1 pound, 9 ounces). His most recent chest x-ray (lungs) looked "OK."

We are thankful for the "quiet" days...

Day 23

We took Andrew, Abbie and Audrey along for a visit to see Austin today. It sure seemed like he recognized all of the ruckus. Aside from our visit, today was another quiet day for Austin. :-) His ventilator settings were down a bit from yesterday and he weighed 730 grams this evening. His O2 levels have been hovering in the low to mid 30's over the last couple days.

We feel so blessed to have all of you praying for us during this season of life. Thank you!

Day 22

This picture doesn't need much explaining. Austin held his mommy's finger this evening while napping and neither of them wanted to let go. He had a good day today, still weighs 700 grams and is eating well. His 3rd brain ultrasound was normal! His nurse indicated that "he is a mover and very feisty." That's what we like to hear. We also chatted with his doctor for a minute who mentioned that the focus is on keeping him "stable" with low settings on his ventilator and allowing him to put on weight.