hope for brooke: graduation day...and more

I can't believe I haven't updated since Saturday. Wow! What a whirlwind it's been since then. On Saturday afternoon while we were out playing in the leaves at the park with our big girls, Brooke graduated to the step-down wing. Basically, this means she is doing well, is out of intensive care and is another step closer to going home. The approach is much less hands-on here in the step-down wing as far as the nurses are concerned...and much more hands-on as far as we're concerned. Vitals are checked every four hours. Lots of various doctors, nurses, therapists and the like still come to check on Brooke throughout the day (and night). There are nursing students and their instructors here every morning coming in periodically learning, teaching, checking. But, the most important difference for us is that we get to care for our newborn in some "normal" ways like feeding, diapering, swaddling and snuggling...and be very hands-on in learning how to provide the special care Brooke needs with feeds, medications and such. SO exciting to pick up my little one when I want, change her diaper when she needs it, soothe her with a snuggle when she needs it...or when I just want to hold her for a long, long time. It's absolutely wonderful.

Needless to say, Brooke has continued with great progress. As of Sunday, she is completely off oxygen. As of Monday, she has no more PICC line (no more IVs!). As of Tuesday morning, she is on full feeds (2oz + fortifier every 3 hours). And, she is now taking on average close to an ounce from the bottle with each of her daytime feeds. She is on very small doses of just three meds--two of which she'll go home on--which she takes either orally or by NG tube. Her latest echo, EKG and chest x-ray all looked great. Know what all of this means? If her good progress continues throughout this week AND John and I learn, learn, learn what we need to for her care at home, there's a good possibility we will be heading home next week!

As I've said many times, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us in our journey through encouragement and prayer. We are so grateful for you!

We'd love for you to continue to pray...

For Brooklyn to maintain this steady course of progress with feeds. The biggest hurdle at this point for her is sustaining the energy to drink an entire 2oz bottle and keeping each feed down. She's actually quite good at drinking from the bottle, as the speech therapist has assured us, but she lacks a lot of stamina for enduring even a 2oz bottle. She tires out after drinking just a third to half of that. She's also spitting up quite a bit.
For John and me to continue to have good, focused learning this week as the nurses and other staff prepare us for life at home with our sweet bundle.
For our family as we move toward transitioning back home and establishing our new normal.

fun in the leaves at Forest Park