The last 32 days have been filled with many highs and many lows as I am sure all of you here have know with your NICU stays.

I just wanted to give everyone an update since it has been a while since I last posted.

Our trio started out at Texas Women's hospital. Due to the ecoli bacteria that settled in each of their lungs, each suffered brain bleeds grade 3 or higher (Braden actually has a grade 4 on one side and a grade 3 on the other). Texas Women's does not have neuro surgeons on staff so Braden and Tenley were moved to Texas Children’s Hospital on Jan 3rd due to the LP's not producing enough fluid and the ventricle swelling not decreasing. Both underwent surgery to have reservoirs put in on Jan 4th and each has responded well to the treatment. As of Jan 9th Braden has been off of his CPAP and is breathing completely on his own. Tenley fought the vent after surgery but was moved back to CPAP on Saturday. She has been on 21% oxygen since late Sunday night and we think she will be coming of of CPAP in the next day or so. They are both in "Fat and Sassy" mode according to their doctor, and we could not be happier about how far they have come in their first month of life.

As for Carter, he is not doing well to this point. His amniotic sac was ruptured for 19 days and the ecoli really did a number on his lungs. He has been very critical since the day he was born. We have seen him go from conventional vent to oscillating vent, to right main lined to give his left lung a break, to over inflation of each the left and the right and on and on. Yesterday the doctors started him on a 5 day round of steroids to see if that will give his lungs the extra help they need to get past this battle. He really needs to be moved to TCH also, so his brain bleed can be treated but due to his reliance on the vent, it cannot be done at this time.

I would ask here today for further prayers for our family with the struggles of our NICU journey and for God's healing hand to be with Carter as he continues his fight. All of God's work with us through this journey has already been unbelievably humbling, and I look forward to each day that I am able to spend with each of his precious gifts and the blessing that each has given not only my wife and I but the thousands of people following their lives.

Craig

PS If you would like to follow our family closer, please find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/cebickford) or PM my your email adderess. We are posting 5-6 days a week in a private Facebook group that you will be added to and then sending that post out via email to those who are not on FB.