September 18, 2008 1:30 pm

Hello everyone! Laurie is doing well today, yet Mom and Dad are a little anxious! The retinal specialist came last night to check Laurie's eyes again and to treat her eyes. Prior to the specialist coming Todd and I had decided to go with the laser surgery option (because it has been performed for 20 years and therefore there is result data available--50% reduction of a severe outcome-hemorrhage or detachment/blindness--still not great odds). However, the doctor strongly believes that the Avastin injection will be be Laurie's best chance for "normal" vision. We did not realize that Laurie's condition had progressed this far, so we decided to wait until today so that Todd and I could discuss the options further. After much discussion with Laurie's other doctors and prayer, we have decided that we have no other choice, but to do the injections. Although Avastin is not FDA approved for ROP, it does seem to be the best chance for Laurie's sight(It has been FDA approved for other diseases such as cancer). This drug has been successful in stopping abnormal growth and neither hemorrhage or detachment should occur with the injection. However, it has only been used for about 3-4 years, so there is not much data to see the long term effects on preemies. The doctors will do the injection tonight between 5-7 p.m. It should take 1-2 minutes per eye, so this short amount of time should not affect her breathing. We may have to wait a few days to resume bottle feeding. The doctors will check Laurie's eyes again in a week and should be able to see improvement by then. She will be closely monitored over the next few weeks, months, and years.

We are trusting God to use this procedure to heal Laurie's eyes! We have already seen Him work miracles in her life and answer our prayers! Please pray specifically for the doctors performing the injection, for there to be no further complications from the procedure, and for visible healing to begin!

Love,
Todd, Leah, Cole, and Laurie

September 17, 2008 4:20 p.m.

Good afternoon! Although Laurie is having a good day, today has also brought about many important decisions about her care that Todd and I are having to make via phone calls! The retinal specialist did do another eye exam on Laurie late last night and called me to discuss treatment options for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity). After faxing over more information for me to read and discuss with Todd, he will be coming over to do another eye exam and possibly do treatment tonight. This will make her third eye exam in three days. Our treatment options are laser surgery or an injection of avastin into her eyes. Not only do we have further questions about the treatment options, but also concerns about the possibility of the treatment causing her to regress with breathing and feeding. As we have learned from the past few weeks, one procedure or change can affect many other areas of Laurie's care. We are trying to weigh all the options and make the best decisions for Laurie now and for her future health! Please pray specifically for wisdom as we make these decisions about treatment, Laurie's doctors as they perform the procedure tonight or tomorrow, and that treatment will stop the progression of abnormal blood vessels while limiting vision loss.

Laurie is still taking 35 cc every 3 hours and taking three feeds by bottle each day. She gained an ounce last night and weighs 4 lbs. 3 oz. She is still on 26%-30% oxygen in the OE.

Love to all!
Todd, Leah, Cole, and Laurie

September 16, 2008 3:00 pm

(Good afternoon! Laurie is having another good day. The doctors increased her feeds to 35 cc every 3 hours and we will try 3 bottle feeds today. Laurie gained 10 grams last night, but still weighs 4 lbs. 2 oz. and is 16 1/2 inches long. She has also come down to 26% on her OE settings. Late yesterday afternoon the ophthalmologist examined Laurie's eyes again and the ROPretinopathy of prematurity) does seem to be progressing. Another ophthalmologist will come by sometime today to go over treatment options for Laurie, which could be medication or laser surgery. Thank you so much for your continued love, support, and prayers. God has blessed and provided for us through your kind gestures! Please continue to pray for Laurie's eyes!

Love to all!
Todd, Leah, Cole, and Laurie

September 15, 2008 2:15 pm

Good afternoon! We are having a quiet day here in dreary Birmingham. Over the weekend the doctors increased Laurie's feeds to 33 cc every 3 hours, but have not made any other changes today. I am still feeding her with a bottle for two feedings a day--6:30 a.m. and p.m. Laurie also continues to grow and weighed 4 lbs. 2 oz. last night. She is on 28% oxygen in her isolette, so hopefully we will be at room air (21%) very soon and can move to an open crib. Although Cole was not able to go in to see Laurie this weekend due to having a "runny nose", we enjoyed having Todd, Cole, and Mrs. Judy here with us! The time just passes too fast on the weekends when they are here! Thanks for continuing to check in on Laurie and for your prayers. Please continue to pray for her lung development, eyes, and resistance to infections!

Love,
Todd, Leah, Cole, and Laurie

September 12, 2008 6:00 pm

Laurie gets comfortable after taking her 6:30 a.m. bottle.

Laurie in her "little glass house"!

Hello everyone! Laurie has had another great day! She did much better yesterday with spacing her bottle feedings further apart. We will continue to try bottle feeds at 6:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. through the weekend. Hopefully, next week we will begin trying three bottle feeds a day. She must be taking all eight of her daily feeds by bottle before going home, so we are slowly working toward that goal! Laurie did reach the 4lb. mark last night!! She is such a big girl! The doctors also ordered an eye culture today because Laurie continues to have drainage from her left eye. They have already begun treatment for the infection.

While Laurie had a restful day, I spent the afternoon getting ready for Todd, Cole, and Mrs. Judy to arrive. As some of you know, Cole is not allowed to stay overnight at the UAB townhouse due to many other guests being here for transplants etc... We of course understand that little ones often bring in harmful germs, but we do have to make alternate plans when Cole comes for the weekend. The Alabama Power Company offers a great service to families of hospitalized members who need short term lodging while in Birmingham. We are so thankful that we have been able to stay at one of their townhouses the weekends that Cole comes, rather than having to get a hotel for the weekend. However, this does require that we "pack-up" and take clothes, linens, and food to the Alabama Power townhouse several blocks away. After moving all our "stuff", Laurie and I are now all ready for the boys and MeMa to get here!!!

Thanks for your continued prayers, love, and support! We are truly blessed! Please continue to pray for Laurie's lung and eye development! Hope you all have a restful and safe weekend! I will post again on Monday!

Love to all!
Todd, Leah, Cole, and Laurie

September 11, 2008 4:15 p.m.

Good afternoon! Still not a lot to report from the CCN! Laurie is having a great day! Today we are trying to spread out her two bottle feedings so she doesn't tire out so easy. I gave Laurie her
6:30 a.m. feed in a bottle and will try again tonight at her 6:30 p.m. feeding. Last night she only took about half of her 2nd bottle feed before she began de-sating. We decided to stop and give the rest through her feeding tube. We will slowly continue to try increasing her bottle feeds. Hopefully, by next week we can try 3 bottle feeds a day. She is finally putting on the ounces and weighed 3 lbs. 15 oz. last night. She could reach the 4 lb. mark by tonight!! We are also trying to wean her off the oxygen in her OE. Thanks for your continued prayers. We can see them being answered each day! Please pray for Laurie's continued growth and for safe travel as Todd, Cole, and Mrs. Judy come to Birmingham tomorrow.

Love,
Todd, Leah, Cole, and Laurie

September 10, 2008 5:15 pm

Hi! Laurie is enjoying the rainy day in Birmingham by sleeping and growing! The doctors have not made many changes with her care plan today. They increased her feeds to 30 cc every 3 hours and we will now be trying 2 bottle feeds a day. She took all 30 cc this morning and I will try her second bottle at her 6:30 pm feed. Hopefully, she will be able to handle the two bottle feedings without becoming too tired. It just takes lots of energy to suck, swallow, and breathe! Laurie contiues to gain weight and weighed 3 lbs. 11 oz. last night! Thanks for your continued prayers.

Love,
Todd, Leah, Cole, and Laurie