Happy ONE month Birthday Lauren!!!

My little one is one month old today, weighing 6 lbs 11oz, and 18" long:)

Unfortunately, Lauren got to celebrate by starting off in surgery this morning.   I guess overnight the spinal tap began to indicate that the infection was located in the shunt.  So, they have taken the shunt out and she is on an external one again.  This time for a longer period-probably 2-3 weeks, just to make sure that the infection completely heals.

Dr. Tulipan really wants to know WHY this has happened, as he said it's very rare for two shunts to have an infection so quickly and close together.  He has sent her shunt off for cultures, and has contacted infectionous disease control to examine her case and see if there is something going on that is causing some problems.  They will evaluate the way her body is responding with anitbiotics...  I feel extremely relieved that Tulipan is concerned and is wanting to make things great and right and not just saying "oh, sorry, hope it doesn't happen again..."  He really is genuinely concerned and wants the best outcome possible for Lauren.

I feel so incredibly lucky to have Vanderbilt in my backyard.  The NICU nurses and physicians are awesome and I have been treated so wonderfully.  Lauren has nurses that adore her and request to have her and check in on her all the time.  It's nice having a team backing her up and watching out for her well being.  I am just so thankful that God has placed these people in our lives.

On another note, Lauren's hemoglobin levels have been low for 3 weeks now.  It appeared though earlier that she was reticking (which means her body is making new red blood cells).  Unfortunately, her body now is not making new ones as fast as they would like, so she will get a blood transfusion sometime today or tonight to make her feel better.  She is Very pale and this will make her look and feel so much better.

As far as the mucous fistula, it still hasn't gone down in size.  We are continuing to treat it with the witch hazel pads and keeping a close eye.  When Lauren goes back into surgery to get her new shunt the ostomy surgeon, while she is sedated, will try again to push it back in. 

Lauren is receiving her blood transfusion as we speak, and is tolerating it well-yes!

I'll be sure to keep you all posted if anything else changes.