Violet Grace Lucille is still recovering from her operations in Liverpool but her surgeon and doctors have decided that if she continues to progress so remarkably well, she'll be able to go back to be with her sister in Lancaster next week.



She was due to start feeding again today through a tube but the doctors have decided to wait one more day. It's very important that she's is reintroduced to mummy's milk very slowly, starting with half a millilitre; there's a possibility that she could have further problems and may develop 'NEC' again. Let's hope she continues as brilliantly as she has been doing.



Since she was diagnosed and throughout her operations and initial recovery, Violet has been ventilated. She is now breathing for herself again.



She is also no longer being given morphine and caffeine. She's been quite angry about this today - who could blame her?- and its also very probable that she's feeling very hungry indeed. She does entertain a dummy but it doesn't take her long to suss out the lack of milk.



This evening, Violet was moved from Nursery 7 to Nursery 5, signaling that the doctors are confident that she's not likely to need ventilation again, and therefore she's no longer an 'intensive care' patient. A promotion indeed.

Ivy had a bath

After a long week, I was finally reunited with my youngest (and biggest) baby. Whilst Violet enjoys her holiday in Liverpool, Ivy has been keeping an eye on the nurses in Lancaster. She's pretty much feeding on demand, and it really shows (she's (almost) an immense 4 pounds now!).

It was wonderful to see her again, and - despite my sudden lack of beard - she recognised me, or at least politely pretended to as one does with that familiar yet nameless face that stops to chat in the street...

Anyway, Ailsa, who had been with Ivy since Tuesday evening, was similarly enjoying a brief reunion with little Violet, who was delighted to have cuddles with mummy once again.

Whilst I was with Ivy, it was my privilege not only to bottle feed her mummy's defrosted milk twice, but also to witness/help with Ivy's first bath. Well, she was crying and fidgety (due for a feed), but as soon as she was lowered into and held in the little bath, she stopped crying, shut her eyes and totally chilled; I've never seen such a relaxed baby...

Update

To see Violet's progress click here or copy and paste https://www.babylink.info/Liverpool/BD_External/Diary/LogIn.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fliverpool%2fBD_External%2fDiary%2fviewDiary.aspx into your browser and type in:

Username: VIOLET (case sensitive)
Password: 3891

A scary week

I've no time to elaborate or explain but basically we've just had the worst and best week of our lives so far:

Violet was transferred to the Women's Hospital, Liverpool and then to Alder Hey Intensive Care where she had two operations to examine and eventually remove part of her bowel. She was very, very poorly this time last week and there was a very real risk of her not recovering. Thank God, the surgeons, doctors and nurses in Liverpool are miracle workers and sorted her out. There's nothing adequate you can say or do to thank them.

For the time being, she is in Liverpool where she is recovering remarkably quickly. I have been with her and Ailsa has been going back and forth to feed Ivy in Lancaster. It has been hard having them apart but well worth it for the incredible care they receive.

Anyway, I am just on my way to see Ivy for the first time since last thursday the 9th. I've missed Ivy so so so indescribably much and just can't wait to see how much she's changed and grown, but it's been an honour to have stayed with little brave Violet, our 'tough cookie' (as my aunt said) who has amazed us all.

Thanks for all your prayers and support, especially those who've been driving us and feeding us and looking after us in so many ways.

I'll explain further later...

James.

LPs and new notebooks.

Violet, who is growing, has had a busy, and somewhat needle-filled, week. Both her and Ivy have been a bit poorly, but Violet has had quite a few pokes and prods.

On Sunday evening, she needed a top-up blood transfusion. It took about four hours to complete, and turned her yellow skin to a lovely shade of pink.

She had to have a lumbar puncture on monday morning, a simple but painful-looking procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid. As far as I understood, this was to check that the infection she had caught hadn't spread to her brain. If it has, which is unlikely, then she would just need further antibiotics after the basic course.

They are once again in seperate incubators, after sharing one for a week, and Violet's has been replaced with a shiny clean one.

In the meantime, I've been enjoying my first few lectures of the new term; so far, very enjoyable.

1 month, 1 day

Violet with mummy and Ivy with daddy.

Sorry I've taken so long to update. It's been busy. And when it's not been busy, it's been sleepy.

The girls are doing really well, give or take the odd infection etc. They're getting bigger and more beautiful each day.

Thanks to all those who've sent cards, gifts, best wishes and prayers and thanks to those who've been driving/feeding/looking after us over the last month. We've been truly overwhelmed with generosity, kindness and the prayers of so many.

Here are some new(ish) pictures:

Above: Ivy on Daddy; Violet being weighed; Violet's right foot.