Milestones and Hurdles

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

When Text Messages are All You Have!!!

The Grandparents Visiting their Twin Grandbabies!!!


Hello again friends! I just got off the phone with our boys doctor, Dr. Lynch. She says she is still pleased with the boys progress even though both Ford and Hayden had setbacks over the weekend. Their mommy had a bit of a setback as well. What I was hoping was a cold or something turned out to be bronchitis and a sinus infection complete with 4 days of fever and thus no time with my boys. TEXT MESSAGING HAS BEEN MY LIFELINE TO THEM. My sweet husband has been by their side while I am fighting this tough infection. He texts me several times and hour with their vital stats, how they are looking and what the doctors and nurses say. He also takes puctures with his phone and texts them to me. That at least helps me feel a little closer to them. I am hoping I can keep the fever at bay and will be able to see them tomorrow (Thursday).


Picture above is our Little Ford from Last Week

Back to how the boys are doing... Ford did not respond very well to a super wean on his ventilator over the weekend so he went from a rate of 28 breaths a minute up to 55 at one point and now he is finally back down to 44. he also had to have a breathing treatment during this time because his breathing was very labored and he was requiring more oxygen as well at the time. Dr. Lynch is now going to start weaning him by 2 each morning so we can work towards getting off the ventilator. I pray... and hope you all will too that this works and he can get off the ventilator sooner rather than later. The doctor also wants him to gain more weight so she is adding some calories to their mommy's milk to help him beef up some. Other than that he is looking pretty good according to the doctor, Trey and of course, the Text Messaged Pictures!!!

Picture above is our Little Hayden from Last Week

Little Hayden was doing amazing on his ventilator he was down to 18 breaths a minute and doing really well until Sunday night when his Oxygen Saturation started to drop and his heart rate too, which scared his nurse and us... I had called her just about the time this happened since I was not able to be at the hospital because of my fever and infection. Trey rushed up to Cook Children's. They immediately got him a breathing treatment, tried to turn his tube to see if that was it... but he just wasn't looking like our Hayden. Now his breathing look labored, so they went up on his rate back to 40 where he started... so the vent was doing most of the work for him. That all helped some, but not enough. They did an Xray to see if something had changed in his lungs, if his tube was in a good place or any other red flags. They did not see anything alarming. By morning they had decided to change his tube because they believed his issues were mechanical. That's why the doctor on call decided to intabate him again with a new tube. His tube was apparantly hard at the end and that can cause problems. He seems to be doing better since then and looking more like himself. That's hard to see in the text messaged pictures, but I am still thankful for them. Today the doctor said his lungs looked a little "wet" so she is going to give him some lasix and hopefully that will help get his oxygen support down as well. I am praying that is the case... I hope you will say a little prayer for his lungs too.

The doctor gave me more hope today that the boys will get off the ventilator despite their chronic lung disease and things will get better for them in the weeks to come. This is something I know will happen because I have faith that God is going to see His 2 miracles, Ford and Hayden, through this. I believe we are supposed to be a family! It is just taking these little handsome men TIME to get well. Trey and I tell them all of the time about the prayers they are getting from all over East Texas and the world now. They may not understand it now, but one day they will. One day they will also understand how blessed they are with amazing doctors and nurses who take care of them. I can't wait to come back in a year and show off how far the boys have come because I believe the Lord has that in our future. I love this bible verse and I lean on it a lot and it was emailed to me again today... I guess someone knew I needed to hear it again.

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

We have received so many encouraging words from all of you, many who have experienced the NICU... we thank you for your words and NEVER get tired of hearing from you... You keep us going. All of the people praying for us, the churches praying for us... that all keep us going. We truly love you all for your faithful prayers. And I just have to say thank you to whoever discovered text messages and camera phones... it certainly has helped this mommy,
Love--
Dana, Trey, Ford and Hayden









24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Dana and Trey the boys are so beautiful. Thank you for the update. We are prayerful that you will be better soon so you can hold your sweet babies! They are looking so big these days! We are continually praying for your entire family, and of course will continue to do so. May God give you strength and healing!

Anonymous said...

Love the new pictures! The boys are such handsome little guys.
We contnue to pray for your family and hope all will be well and you will be at home. God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Dear Hugheys,
I just wanted to let you know that my family and I have been through this very same thing 4 times-twice with me and once with my sister and her twin boys. I would like to tell you that God is soooo good because all 4 boys are His miracles. My two are 6 years old and 2 years old. My nephews are 5 1/2 years old. To look at them now, you would never believe that they once were so little-smaller than the palm of your hand and that a wedding ring could slide all the way up their little arm. They have just amazed us all by leaps and bounds. There is so much for you to look forward to in the future! God is wonderful and saw us through everything-the ups and downs. You are in our thoughts and prayers. With God anything and everything is possible. Your boys are fighters and they will continue. God has great things in store for them!
Love,
Kim Feaster

Anonymous said...

Dana,

I hope you are feeling much better by now and will soon be holding your little ones again. Poor Trey, he has his hands full trying to take care of you and the boys. We are keeping all of you in our prayers and hope that you are back home soon. Try to not overdo it, when you start feeling better, so you won't get sick again. This stuff is hard to get rid of. Take care, we are all praying for your sweet little family and know that prayers will be answered.

Anonymous said...

The Hughey Family,
Your blog and your interview are so heart touching. Thank you for sharing this journey with us. It is such a blessing to see your faith in God shine through, and it is amazing to see God's miracles in so many ways to you and your boys already!
In July 2007, I lost all of my fluid at 17 weeks. There was no medical hope given for our special baby. With many people--those we know and those we don't know- praying and believing, God did a miraculous work in my body and for our baby. After 11 days my first hospital stay, I, too, was sent home on complete bed rest. After another 2 days in Baylor hospital, and much more bed rest, I was able to carry our baby boy until 36 1/2 weeks, sparing us from the NICU and from premature complications--which were to be "the best scenerio" for our situation. We just dedicated our almost 3 month old baby on this past Sunday with my OB doctor in service with us. What a day of rejoicing!
The same God that brought us to this day is the same God that you are trusting! Keep the faith. Your miracles are in the best hands-God's hands. He will take care of them-and you, too!
I wanted to share a few of the many scriptures that brought much hope and strength and increased our faith as we trusted God for his miraculous work.
Philippians 1:6--He which hath begun a good work will perform it
Romans 4:18-21--against hope believed in hope; staggered not at the promise, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (as you so faithfully do); what He promised He is able to perform
Romans 5:1-5--peace; rejoice in hope

chorus: God will make a way when there seems to be no way, He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me, He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side, with love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, God will make a way

Prayer chorus: I need you more today than I did yesterday, mountains are higher, rivers are wider, I need you more today than I did yesterday, help me remember that I need you more today.

Praise chorus: I'm serving a God of miracles, I know , yes, I know!!

Keep praying and believing--God does hear and answer prayer!

We will be praying and believing with you!

God bless.
The Wafford Family--Mt. Vernon,TX

Sharon Cox said...

Dear Hugheys, I have been reading about your journey with your beautiful baby boys, and have been taken right back to almost 12 years ago, when our precious daughter was born at 26 weeks. She had intrauterine growth retardation IUGR, so she was only the size of a 21 weeker. She weighed just under 14 oz. at birth, and was 10 inches long. She spent 9 1/2 months in the NICU before coming home. She still holds the record at Methodist Medical Center in Dallas as their "smallest survivor". Even when she came home, she had many challenges, but the Lord has brought us through each one, and made us much stronger people as a result of her life. (On her first birthday, your co-host Clint did a "Power of Prayer" story about her).
My "life verse" is now 2 Cor. 12:9 where Paul asked the Lord 3 times to remove the "thorn from his flesh", and the Lord responded to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." In every different challenge that your precious boys (and the two of you) face, remember HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!! He will give you what you need to ride this crazy "NICU Rollercoaster" that those who haven't experienced can never truly appreciate and understand.
I want to encourage you to take time for yourselves in this craziness...take time to sleep, eat, get a massage/pedicure/etc..., and even have a "date" on occassion. The best thing that you can do for your sweet boys is to take care of their parents!!
With many prayers...Sharon Cox

Anonymous said...

Dana, We're hoping you are feeling much better and able to get back to your boys soon. It's wonderful that Trey can be there to update you, so you can concentrate on getting well. You all continue to be in our prayers. Thank you so much for sharing the new pictures and updating us all on how all is going, your thoughts and feelings. I wanted to let you know that the verse from Jeremiah you shared that gave you strength, also helped me so much when I read it. I become impatient sometimes as I want things to happen in 'my time' (right now it's about becoming pregnant again..to have an earth-bound angel). That verse touched my heart so deeply. I feel like it was another tap on my shoulder to remember God knows what's best for us...He will bless us and never leave us. Thank you Dana! God is good...all the time.
Blessings,
B&BRowland

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your precious boys' lives with us. I pray for the four of you each day. God is gracious and does indeed take care of His own. God bless you all and continue to hold you in the palm of His hands.

Anonymous said...

Dana, Trey & Boys,

My husband and I have been married for 9 1/2 yrs. We too have had our ups and downs with pregnancy and babies... We had to take fertility drugs and finally got pregnant... and the Lord saw fit to take our very first baby HOME with HIM. WOW!! Talk about tough... we KNOW (to some degree) what you are going through. All I have to say is stay strong in the LORD. NO matter what his plans are for your boys...HE KNOWS what is best! Since the loss of our little "Hannah Faith", God has richly blessed us with 2 Girls (ages 6 & 4), 1 Boy (age 2) and one on the way! BOY...does God have a sense of humor!!

Seriously, You can pull through this....and just know that MY thoughts and prayers are with you EVERYDAY!!!

Sincerely Yours
Securely HIS,

Sarah Hall and family (Chuck, Brianna, Adrianna & Luke)

Anonymous said...

Dear Dana, Trey & Hughey Family praying that your weekend was full of ups. I am praying for you all at this very moment asking God to perform a miracle right now before your very eyes in what ever the need may be. Lord I ask you to keep your hands and spirit on precious little Ford & Hayden heal their little lungs, and make them stronger, and Lord bless Dana & Trey with good,strong health & renewed strength. Thank you for all your past blessings & all the new that are yet to be. I pray that you all have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Wow! I check the blog almost everyday and I love the new pictures! The boys have grown SO much! I can't believe how much they have grown already! You are all in my thoughts and prayers daily. As a mother, it always brings tears to my eyes to read what you are going through and how tough it must be, but know you are all going to make it through this! You are both such wonderful parents and the boys are so lucky to have you both! May God continue to bless you all with health and lots of positive moves towards coming home each day! Get well soon Dana! Those boys are going to be so excited to see you!

Jeff & Debra said...

Dana, I am so sorry you are under the weather and not able to get to your boys. I know that has to be a horrible feeling, but like you said Thank You to whoever invented text messaging and sending pictures on the cell phone. It's just awesome!! Your little boys look good! I know God is still working His miracles with this precious babies and all of this will soon be a memory for you and not a reality. You and Trey have been through so much but it can only strengthen what you already have in your marriage. God is always with you and there are so many thoughts and prayers going up for you and your little family. There are so many that love you and miss you dearly. We can not wait to see you bring God's miracles back to East Texas for a warm down home welcome. They will be so loved by so many as they are now. I hope you get to feeling better soon and can hold you babies. God will provide for you! He will not let you down!!! Stay strong Dana, but cry when you need to cry and laugh the rest. You have already started to make family memories and there are many many more to come.

Debra Bunt
Gladewater, Texas

Anonymous said...

Dana and Trey,
Debby and I love you guys and we are praying for Hayden and Ford. I talked to your Mom today and she updated me on the boys' progress. They are truly miracles of God. We will keep checking back so continue to keep everyone posted.
God Bless,
Mike and Debby James

jscm0408 said...

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hughey
My name is Sarah Baker and I am writing to you to express my sympothy. My son was born 10 weeks early. I know that this adventure can seem like it is more than two people can handle. But with faith God shall see you through. Just remember that when you see the other NICU babies go home that your family will have its day to. Texas has a ECI program (Early Childhood Intervention) that has been a blessing to my son. They have helped him through all of prematurity delays and have helped me with the recources that I have needed to care for him. It may be something you might want to look into for the future. We are always praying for you family and hope all is well. Sending love and prayers.

Anonymous said...

Trey once these boys get home we need to get the yard ready because there is going to be some serious football games your going to have to re- sod as well as referee. :)

Aaron P

Anonymous said...

Dana and Trey,
I am a mother/baby nurse @ Mother Frances in Tyler and I have been reading your story since you all started writing it and may God bless you and your boys in every way.-Betsy King RN

Anonymous said...

Dear Trey and Dana,

These pictures of you and Ford and Hayden are so heartwarming. Those tiny little lungs are healing a little each day. These boys are just amazing. I have faith that God is holding Hayden in one hand and Ford in the other and that you will be coming home to Tyler soon as one big happy family. I think of you and you are all in my prayers every single day. May God wrap His loving arms around you, give you the rest, the peace and the love you require daily.
Give Ford and Hayden big hugs from their Eiche and Mapes family,
Blessing to all of you,
Phyllis Jinright

Anonymous said...

I heard that Hayden is off the vent and on CPAP!!! How exciting. I hope Ford is starting to feel better too. I miss you sooo much. Tell the boys Aunt Jamie loves them. You, Trey and the boys are always in my thoughts and prayers. Logan can't wait to see her cousins.
Love,
Jamie

Anonymous said...

Hi, Bubs and Dana!

The boys looked so great on Sunday! Everyday they get better is such a blessing.

I love y'all and can't wait to see you again this weekend!

See you soon!
Aunt Gigs

Anonymous said...

Dear Dana & Trey,
We have been following the boys' progress avidly, and although I'm currently in Colorado, thanks the you and KLTV, I can continue following - God has blessed you both with these beautiful boys, and will continue to hold the close to His heart, as he does with you, Dana - believe me, the fever and infection will soon be a memory and you'll be loving on those boys in no time!!!
We will continue to follow the blog - thanks for the updates.
Sincerely
Your friends

Anonymous said...

Hey guys - We're thinking about you and continue to pray for you to get through this. We love reading about your progress.

Trey - Once this is all over, I'll pay for your trip to the barber shop so you can get that beard shaved off.

Med & Gray

Anonymous said...

Dana Trey & the Boys!

Hope you are all doing well. You all continue to be in our prayers.

Cody Lillich
KLTV

Anonymous said...

i check your website every evening, my brother from missouri was here when ford and hayden were born, he ask me everytime i talk to him how they are doing!! you all have people praying for you all over the U S !!!
the boys are so beautiful, bless all of you, and you all continue to be in my prayers every day.....nana from gilmer

Anonymous said...

Dear hugheys
Im morgan potter im jean moishers neice and heather and john picketts cousin. I just wanted to let you know that i pray for each of you and all of my friends are doing the same. Your story has really touched my heart every time i get my hair done i ask jean how are the boys doing. God is with you always

Picture Worth A Thousand Words

Picture Worth A Thousand Words

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