Update No. 2
:hurray
What am I clapping about? Ohhhhhhh just that the prayer ball has grown and has began to bounce because God's been answering them left and right. That's why!
:hurray
I talked to Shane for a few minutes this afternoon... actually a few minutes ago.
He's doing okay.. he's smiling... and for good reason.
First and foremost, Amanda is back home. She came home from the hospital on Thursday.
"Nevada has improved quite a bit except for her body isn't producing surfactan," Shane says. When asked what that stuff was, he said, "Surfactan is the stuff that keeps your lungs from sticking together when you breath."
This is a normal thing that happens for twins that are born prematurely as well. Now, they can give shots to the baby to help them produce the surfactan to seal the lungs and stop them from sticking together.
(They've learned a lot since some twins were born 27 years ago. A teacher friend who's twins are 27 years old told me that they didn't have the injection that Nevada is getting. Back then, they had to regulate the respirator and check the baby's blood to make sure that it was okay every 30 minutes. Mrs. Miller went so far as to tell me that her twins also had to get blood transfusions.)
Nevada, however, has been getting this injection for about a week and it just isn't working yet. (I was told that this injection does take some time to work... so, I'm thinking that yes, eventually, it will.)
Shane also told me that, "She's actually taking formula now. It's through a tube, but it's actual food." Good news! KUDOS to Nevada!
She's eating at least and that's ALWAYS a good sign.
Also, "Nevada's oxygen is at 30% now. It varies from day to day. They're trying to get it down to 21% (the amount we breathe)." That's not bad either. 9 more percent and they can pull that yucky tube out.
Amanda is doing much better.
She spent the night in Evansille with Nevada on Friday and tonight, she's home with Shane, but they are both going back up tomorrow to be once again with their sweetness.
Like I said, Shane's smiling and in a good mood, but he even told me that there are days when it varies. Heck, he's human, I understand that one.
I told Shane that everything is a good sign. Him smiling, Nevada taking her formula, Mandy's out of the hospital... that is just prayers being answered.
Shane just answered, "100%! We need to keep this prayer ball rolling."
I told him that before too long it would just roll away from him... and that he'd won't be able to catch up and then eventually when he does, that he'll be going nuts from all the questions of "Why?" and the little, "I love you, Daddy"s.
This answer I wasn't surprised at one iota... " No, no. I live for that sort of thing."
Shane also told me that he comes by Al's Place every day to check on things... so... if you want to leave him a message here... go for it.
He's becoming the ever watchful father that we know that he'll be.
((Boys... run...)) :lol
So, the summary:
Prayers for the surfactan (or the medicine for the surfactan) to help seal Nevada's lungs to work quickly and for the oxygen level to decrease enough so that the oxygen tube can be taken away.
End of update... but Shane's promised to keep me updated... so until the next one.
MJ