Keeping Cool Indoors

Is this heat ever going to break?  Tomorrow and Saturday are going to be "cool" in the low 90s before returning to the near 100-degree weather.  The McNeil girls are ready for some walks again.  We normally were taking our walks early in the morning because it was so hot still in the evenings but this week I worked in the mornings (9:00-noon) at a summer camp so we haven't been able to get our walks in before that.  With the temps still in the 90s at 8pm, our walks have been nonexistent this week.  We are all excited to get out and get some fresh morning air real soon!

Ava's appointment yesterday went really well.  The neonatologist lowered her vent settings a little again and she has continued to do well with them today.  Her pressure control was moved from 35 to 34 and her pressure support went from 33 to 31.  We're excited for any little moves we can make.  They also increased her volume of her feeds to 130-135 ml seven times a day.  She gained weight but they'd like to see a little more.  She tipped the scales at 13 pounds!  We will return to Children's Mercy on August 15th for PT, OT, and vent clinic appointments.  Yep, an all day event! 

Reese is doing well also.  She tried out the excersaucer for the first time yesterday and had a lot of fun.  Ava is still just a little too short for her feet to touch the bottom though.  Reese goes to the pediatrician on Wednesday and then the orthopedic specialist for her feet (out-turned) the following week.  She is rolling over all the time and is doing really well with her cereal before her bedtime feeding.  We also got the doctor's orders to discontinue the apnea monitor when she is sleeping at night.  No leads or wires at any time for Reese!  That's a pretty big deal for us. 

We feel so blessed to have two beautiful girls home with us.  God has brought them so far and we are forever thankful for that.  As parents it's hard to place your children in someone else's hands but the sooner we give God the control, the better off everyone becomes.