Johnson Girls Update 2/16

Hello All,

This is the first full update in a while but as you can imagine everyone has been pretty busy. 

Jaclyn is doing well.  She is still trying to get back to full speed and has been fighting the occasional fever/aches and pains.  Between the two of us and grandparents both our littlest ones are being seen at least twice per day. 

Samantha is amazing.  Now that the surgery is behind her and her digestive system appears to be doing exactly what it should, her feeds are increasing at an amazing rate, which she is tolerating well.  Today alone she started at 14 mL then went to 18 mL and by midnight she will be at 20.  I have found out that the formula for a "full feeding" is 150 mL/kg/day.  At her current weight (4 pounds 11 ounces) her full feeding is roughly 40 mL every three hours.  It will be a great step to get to that point and being able to take that all by mouth is one of three requirements to come home.  She is also already on room temp inside of her isolet.    Every feeding is going down her system and there is a negligible amount of residual in her stomach.  The nurse said today that she would probably fine outside of her isolet right now but because she is on the IV she may stay in longer.  The isolet is much better at handling IV cords than a crib.  At this rate she will be on full feeds and off the IV within a few days.  We're seeing what we can do about having Samantha moved back to Round Rock but with hospital procedures and such, we'll just have to wait and see.  It could also turn out that by the time St. David's is willing to transfer her, she could just come home. 

Hannah is doing well as always.  Yesterday Hannah took her first full bottle of 37 mL.  As with Samantha, this is a requirement for coming home.  She's growing quickly and she's currently at 4 pounds as you may have heard.  She is almost to room temperature so we're hoping she will be out of her isolet before too long as well.  Hannah is free of her IV now that she is on full feedings and tolerating them well.  It is actually difficult to update on Hannah because she is doing well and the only regular change is the amount she is feeding. 

Thanks for all your support and prayers,

The Johnson

David, Jaclyn, Alexandra, Samantha, and Hannah