Weds August 19th

Bennet, Brooklyn and Ali are all doing well.

Bennett's ventilation is now off. He coughed and pulled out the breathing tube which caused some momentary concern but, then he started breathing well.....so the doctor's did not re-insert. Afterwards, with doctors and nurses we all shrugged our shoulders and smiled. That was an odd and scary way to end his respiratory support?Amazing. His clinical condition is getting better. He is now feeding like his sister. The only IV left is in his foot and is at this time for the remainder of his antibiotics (3 more days) and precautionary. His heart conditions appear to be progressing, his lungs are working well, and without the breathing tube he can now cry, which is actually nice to hear.

Today Ali was able to hold him for a little while.

Brooklyn is now on her own having all breathing devices removed, nutritional IV's will be out tomorrow as she continues to go up on her feeding, and her clinical condition continues to show very good progress! She is able to suck on a pacifier which is encouraging in regards to her overall development and part of learning what she needs to do to survive and grow.

Both babies have feeding tubes which in relation to their previous arrangements is fantastic in regards to progress and in regards to our emotions when look at them. The fewer devices and/or support attached to them is welcomed.

Bennett has twice hit the threshold for requiring a blood transfusion but, both times posted better results in the AM which then put the transfusion on hold. We are hopeful that he may be able to avoid having a transfusion all together, which is a significant turnaround from the other day (we were signing paperwork and the doctors were preparing to provide a transfusion).

Both Bennett and Brooklyn will have CAT Scans tomorrow to test for any bleeding in their brains or other conditions. We are hopeful that as they progress overall and as they continue to amaze us, this test will also prove to be consistent with other results so far.

Ali has been discharged from the hospital. She is still in pain from the infection. Each day seems to be a little better. We shuttle Mandy and Sadie off to school in the AM, then head to the hospital to see Bennett/Brooklyn, then back home in the afternoon to pick up girls from school, and then back at the hospital around 5:30 PM.

Tonight is the first night away from the hospital.

Thank you again for all of your support, thoughts and prayers!

Through this entire process starting at week 12 of the pregnancy we feel completed transformed. It continues to be an amazing journey, one that would not have been possible without God's grace and the support from all of you.