Day #2 in the NICU

I know this is only the 2nd day but this will be a hard day to beat. We have great family and friends. Our family has been very helpful with helping us get ready for this blindsided event. Today some of our family went home or went to their hotels because they are as worn out as us. Both I and Ashley think the world of them they have been helping with food, clothes, cameras, camcorders, and just plain old love. We also have great friends who have been sending and wishing their blessings, and we are thankful for them, all four of us. We have received arrangments of flowers, fruits, candies, and even some clothes. I really don’t even know words to explain on how grateful we are that we have friends and family that care this much, or for being blessed with 2 boys, who are growing stronger with every breath, and a strong wife who has taken this surprise on with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
Now let’s find out what happened today. 90% of today was positive, and a lot of great things have happened. I’m sure everyone has had a bad nurse or 2, so I won’t say too much. The ladies and gentleman of last night were very kind to us, helping us learn what was going on with our babies and helping understand what was going to happen. Today we were supposed to start a schedule with our boys of cleaning and caring which was going to start at 8 a.m. and continue every 4 hrs. That was put to a slap in the face kind of stop, which was hailed from who I will note as the Wicked *itch of the West Wing. The nurses from the previous shift had set this up, so Ash and I deprived ourselves of sleep to be a part of this. Well Ash wasn’t going to be able to make it to what would have been Braylons first cleaning. So, I being the sweet, charming, kind husband that I am went up without her. Boy was I disappointed, because the W.B.O.T.W.W cut me off and wouldn’t allow me to start with the boys. She said it would happen when she wanted it to happen, not only did she shut us down on that but continued not answer any of our questions, would not notify us of the test that were going to be ran on Braylon, or give us the updates on how Kaden was doing. I know she could have been busy but she could have showed some better bed side manner towards us and the boys.
Here are some of the positive and negative moments to our 2nd day. He is the oldest, biggest, heaviest, and the one who was having more problems today. We started the day off finding out that Braylon was going to be relieved of his ventilator and be replaced with a c-pap which allows him to breathe more freely on his own. That good news was soon followed by them telling us that he was anemic. The doctor was not sure of the cause but was sure that he had a low red cell blood count and he was going to need a blood transfusion. The procedure was going to be hours away, and I usually don’t look at the negative of things but this one I found myself not able to do anything but worry. I had asked the doctor if one of us could give the blood, but she had told me percentage wise it was far better to receive blood from an undisclosed person, who wasn’t family. The reason for this was long term that if he needed an organ transplant or more blood transfusions he wouldn’t be dependent on one of us which could affect him or us in the long run.
That was the last negative point of our day. We had some friends show up to visit us and the boys. Eric “Big-E” Titus; the Turner Family, Dustin, Crystal, and Addilynn. Since they had showed up the doctors allowed Kaden to start breathing more on his own with the c-pap, Braylon had reassuring results with his ultrasound, and a positive outcome with his blood transfusion. We were able to have all our friends in their to visit the boys which was the best visit by a long shot. We were able to hear their first cries, see their eyes open and look at us for what seemed to be a life time, change diapers, take temperatures, give kisses, and Ash was able to hold Kaden in her hands. They told us that we will be able to do this every four hours as long as they continue to progress as they are. We have great pictures and some videos of the boys throughout this magical day, and I will post them as soon as I can. Right now we are going to try to get some rest, so that we can wake up and hopefully continue to have progressive days. Once again thank you to all of our friends and family for your thoughts and prayers, as you all continue to help them grow stronger and leave here sooner we hope.
Thanks,
The recently new formed family of the Howlands