Reinforcements

Since our last post, Leigh got better and better, until she got worse and worse. A case of NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis) has her off all breast milk, on multiple antibiotics, and getting daily re-evaluations by the surgeons. If she gets better without surgery, it'll be good. If she needs surgery . . .
She also got a tunneled central line placed by the surgeons, which looks like a harpoon sticking out of her chest. Documentation to follow as she gets better.

Meanwhile, DHV got some new shades,

dominated cross campus again,

welcomed our au pair, Janine, from Germany,

and immediately took a liking to her.

Dads can kangaroo too

Update, plus Oregonians

The Oregonians left on Tuesday, and Leigh's course of steroids finished yesterday. Her lungs improved a lot, tantalizingly close to not needing the ventilator, but she's still on it. The big news today is that Leigh's arterial line is gone, so she is allowed out of the incubator. We'll enjoy this milestone while anxiously preparing for a "backslide" now that the steroids are done.

SHV went in for some "kangaroo" time tonight.
That blue hose is hooked up to the ventilator.

We always suspected marsupials had it better, what with that handy pouch and all.

Behold the milk supply. We had cleaned out the freezer after the last picture.

DHV and Ida "sharing" a doorway.

Ida "sharing" her face with the rug.

DHV's lip is banged up from when he shared it with a concrete dam.

The Oregonians left their Pontiac G6 passenger door open. DHV got in by himself and assumed the position. Imagine the price of gas when he starts driving for real?

Pete trying to channel his long hair days, when he ruled Cross Campus.

The Oregon Trail, Part II

After enjoying the park we took the Oregonians on a short walk, to show that New Haven isn't all Ivory Tower and crack dealers on street corners.

The deep woods of southern Connecticut, guarded by thickets of poison ivy.

Relaxing at New Haven´s slice of Minnesota, aka Maltby Lakes.

"Pete, take a picture of these here tough cats!"

Running along the dam.
High speeds resulted in a fall and some facial trauma.
That did not slow the Hawk down.

Hair!

More hair!

DHV hoofing it after Ida usurped his ride.

The Oregon Trail, Part I

Cousin Ida visited from Portland, along with (Crazy) Uncle Pete and Auntella (sort of like Nutella, but without the chocolate, or hazelnuts; mostly sass). It was 90 in Portland but 50 (feels like 40) in New Haven, so we deployed jackets and balaclavas.

Loading the Odyssey with children and one Crazy Uncle Pete.

Whatcho lookin at?

Ida and DHV versus Crazy Uncle Pete.

"Going ballistic, Mav."
DHV versus C.U.P and the slide. This appears to be Pete's unchi face.Danny tweaked his ankle or knee on this run, but walked it off like a trooper.

When DHV wasn't repossessing his toys from Ida or stroking her hair lovingly,
he chauffeured.

We Can Do It!

Rosie the Nurse giving a pep talk (there's another one facing down).

The Oregonians came on Sunday, and must have brought some good karma with them.
Leigh got started on steroids Saturday and is doing much better on the ventilator. Rumors abound of possibly getting off the vent Wednesday or Thursday.
Even more exciting, Leigh Rutledge pooped twice today! This is really (seriously) great news; this means her intestines are moving things along, which means she can get fed more and more of the powerful breast milk, which means she can get bigger, stronger, and better. Once she gets biggest, and strongest, and biggerest, she can come home. By the transitive property, poop = home.
We're in good spirits here.

Pictures of big brother to provide inspiration.

St. Christopher's medal (courtesy Aunt MAV, Grandad DRV, JR, and MMV) looped over her name tag.

The legend of St. Christopher is he carried an impossibly heavy child across an unfordable stream. While our baby may not be Christ (as the child was), maybe he can carry our impossibly featherweight Leigh through troubled times.

Gentle DHV with cousin Ida.
More pictures of the Oregonians to follow.

Haircut!

Leigh continues to do her thing in the NICU:
Not better.
Not better.
Not better.
Not better.
Not better.
Maybe better.
5 am call to let us know she is, in fact, not better.

We're decorating her incubator these days. Rosie the Riveter, in RN attire, is now on 24 hour bedside duty. DHV will soon join her, along with St. Christopher. Documentation of this will follow, date TBD.
DKV has been reading The Wind in the Willows. Leigh falls asleep every time. Unfortunately, so does SHV.

DHV continues to do his thing in the outside world. Mom and Dad took him to get his first hair cut yesterday afternoon - for every "we're thinking about you" we get one, "when are you going to cut THAT?"

Before, hugging his new singing dog.

At the barber shop, from the back.

Snip, snip.
He actually behaved quite well, as long as SHV was singing Wiggles songs.
Ten minutes later our cute "free-range baby"
was transformed into a little boy,
complete with tantrums
and new favorite word,
"MINE!"

Looks at those ears!

"Stuck"

That last post wasn't much of an update, because there's not too much to update around here. Leigh Rutledge is "stuck" or "stalled" right now, stopping and starting her feeds and going up and down on the ventilator.

Leigh occasionally opens her eyes. That's an IV in her scalp.

Mama Bear watching the monitors.

We got a care package yesterday, which included DHV's first Hotwheel.
It did not leave his person until bedtime.

No haircut.
Yet.

2 Week Update

Leigh Rutledge is 2 weeks old and hanging in there. She might even be starting to turn the corner but it's hard to know right now.

Elizabeth's tree with big brother.

DHV's new thing, playing with SHV's hair during bottle time.

The Keel

It's been cold and rainy here this week, in keeping with the general mood here. We're very thankful to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, phone calls, cards, emails, flowers, and visits.

I've taken to thinking of D Hawk as our keel. "It has two functions: it prevents the boat from being blown sideways by the wind, and it holds the ballast that keeps the boat right-side up." It seems fitting. I vigorously advise anyone planning on having a loss in their family to arrange for a 19 month old to be around at the time. It's impossible not to smile or laugh on a daily basis.

DHV's rain gear.

He knows he's cute.

Looking for salamanders.

SHV has been doing her part; here's the freezer door.

Top shelf.

Leigh Rutledge is no better or worse than earlier this week. We're anxiously waiting and hoping for positive news; after all, someone needs to drink this milk!

Training for the pole vault.