Ultrasound Day
Chris Wahlmark
This is a day that his given Hope and I a lot of anxiety, with scheduled head ultrasounds for both girls. Being both preterm and growth restricted, they’re at an increased risk of an intraventricular hemorrhage, and sure enough, it seems like Sammi has a grade I IVH, with an additional choroid plexus cyst thrown in for good measure. Josie may have a grade I as well, but it might just be an issue with the image, so she’s slated for another scan soon. All things said, this is the least severe bleed possible and although we’ll have to keep a close eye on things, there’s a good chance that she won’t have any negative outcomes later in life because of it.
Otherwise, the girls continue to eat and grow. We love interacting with them at care time, they are so active and alert when we’re there. Sammi’s up to 2lb. 13oz. and Josie is at 3lb. 5oz. They’re both now weaned down to 3L HFNC and handling it just fine. I also had a minor heart attack this morning when I arrived at the NICU and found an empty bed at Sammi’s spot. Nurses must have been on the lookout for me because one rushed over to let me know that my daughter had not been abducted in the middle of the night and was just moved to another room because they needed additional bed space in the main NICU area, and she has been stable enough lately that they felt comfortable moving her to a wing. Hopefully sister will follow suit shortly so they can have their reunion!