Update

It's been a while since my last update. Avigayil has been fairly sick in the last few weeks and that has been keeping me very bus. We have been to the hospital 4 times in the last 3 weeks and to the pediatrician numerous times. Our pediatrician and pulmanologist are now on a first name basis and calling each other's cell phones. (As Dr Gross put it "You know its not a good thing when I call his secretary and she says, 'oh this must be about Avigayil.'")

We have had some scary episodes with her breathing and her heart rate. B"H (Thank G-d) the cardiologist says that her heart is ok and is only being affected by her breathing. Her oxygen requirements have been much higher than normal recently and she is very uncomfortable all the time. So, to make a long story short, it looks like she may have to go back on ventilation. She is just having a very rough time on O2 only and the theory is that if we give her more help to breathe her lungs can have a better chance to heal.

We are waiting for her pulmanologist to decide how and when to bring her back in but it will most likely be soon after she finishes her current course of steroids.

Meanwhile, the results of Hand to Hold's Preemie Power contest came in. While we did not win the library for the hospital we did get a special prize for most votes. I wish we could have helped the hospital, but knowing that so many people care and took the time to help us really raises our spirits, especially now, when Avigayil is having such a rough time. Thank you to everyone who voted. We will try again next year.

One last thing I wanted to mention. I had a special post planned for International Preemie Awareness Day last week but, as most of you know, there was a horrific terror attack in our neighborhood that day. Between Avigayil being sick (she was admitted to the hospital the next day) and neighborhood being in turmoil and mourning, I did not get to finish it and post it. I hope to post it soon. Please forgive my lateness.