Luke Update

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 

Luke is doing much better and will be done with his antibiotics tomorrow! They extubated him on Monday and he was on a nasal cannula until last night. He is doing great without any help breathing and taking all his bottles. They plan to bring him back home tomorrow. Luke’s doctors will never be able to say for sure that he had Group B Strep. They do know he was septic when he came to the emergency room. The cultures were taken after a round of antibiotics and this is probably why they never grew. Emily and Jason are so very grateful for your ongoing support and prayers!

Luke Update 3

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Thank you so much for your continued prayers.  Luke looks much better today.  He has more color and continues to tolerate his feeds.  Yesterday, Luke pulled out his breathing tube and the team had to put it back in as he wasn't getting enough oxygen on his own.  He has some swelling in his airway due to the vent and that makes it hard to breath.  They will treat him with steroids today, tomorrow and Tuesday -- the steroids should help with the inflamation. The doctors plan to take the breathing tube out tomorrow.

Papa Tantillo and Mumsy are here today and Jake is enjoying the one on one time!  Jake is doing well and really likes his bottles -- I hear he might be a night owl.  

Please continue to pray for strength and endurance for Emily and Jason, knowledge for Luke's wonderful care team, that the steroids will help Luke and that he will be able to breath without the vent.

Luke Update 2

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. Psalm 71:20

Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers.  Luke is stable and they have turned down the vent settings.  He has done well so far and is beginning to take some breaths on his own.  He is opening his eyes and kicking!!!  They just gave him his first feed through a feeding tube (17 ccs).  Please continue to pray for Luke while he fights this infection.  Also pray for strength and endurance for Emily and Jason.  This has been such a long journey and I know they are exhusted.  Luke and Jake are so lucky to have a strong mom and dad!

Luke Update

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

Thank you so much for your continued prayers.  Luke is still intubated and they are continuing to give him antibiotics.  Right now he is completely dependent on the ventilator.  The team thinks he has group B strep but haven't ruled out other infections.  

Praises

Luke's heart rate is down and his color looks better than last night.

Jake is eating like a champ and enjoying some time with Nonnie and Papa.   

Luke is Sick

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Please pray for Luke.  Emily and Jason had to take Luke back to Texas Children's tonight via ambulance.  He was pale and having a hard time breathing.  They intubated him and gave him some antibiotics in the emergency room.  He is now in the NICU and they are trying to figure out what is going on... The great team has done cultures and a spinal tab.  Please pray for Luke as we wait for the results.

Happy Day!

The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2

 

 

Thank you so much for your continued prayers.  There were 197 page views yesterday -- that's a lot of prayers!  It is so comforting to know you all are praying for these sweet sweet boys!  Jake is doing so much better.  He is breathing on his own and much more alert.  He doesn't have meningitis!!  He got a PICC line today for his antibiotics and obviously loved snuggling with Emily.  Emily and Jason have been so impressed and thankful for the great doctors and nurses! 

 

Luke's cultures are looking good!  He is doing great and had his two month vaccines yesterday.  He was super snuggly today and ate like a champ.  Luke used to refuse to eat and is actually starting to cry for his bottle. 

Keep Praying

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Thank you all for the text, calls and emails to Emily and Jason.  Jake still needs your prayers.  He is still very sick and in the Level IV NICU.  His Group B Strep is late onset meaning he didn't get it from Emily or at birth -- they do not know how he got this bacteria.  He is still on the ventilator and sleeping most of the time.  They are still waiting on the spinal tap results to rule out meningitis -- which usually goes hand-in-hand with late onset Group B Strep.  Jake will continue on IV antibiotics for 10-14 days.

Luke is growing and improving on his bottle feeds -- he weighs 6 pounds!  He had cultures taken last night to make sure he doesn't have the same infection.  So far his cultures haven't grown anything but they will not send him home until they come back clean.  Emily and Jason think this will likely be on Monday. 

Update

Thank you for your prayers!  Jake is doing better -- he's more alert and it appears that the antibiotics are working.  The cultures came back tonight and he has Group B Strept.  The doctors plan to culture Luke.

Infection

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

I was hopeful to be posting about Jake and Luke coming home today.  Emily and Jason were all ready to take both boys home as planned.  Unfortunately, Jake had a bad night and needs your prayers.  The hospital called Emily and Jason early this morning to come to the hospital.  Jake was having a hard time breathing and has since been intubated.  They've done blood work and the cultures have come back with a blood infection. He is getting IV antibiotics and they are holding his feeds for 10 days.  

Thank you so much for your prayers that the antibiotics will work and this will be behind Jake quickly!  Also, pray for strength and courage for Emily and Jason.  

Big Boys!

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31

First Family Photo -- September 12, 2014

 Thank you all so much for your continued support of Emily and Jason.  Jake and Luke have been busy while I’ve been slacking on the updates.  Both boys are breathing on their own without CPAP!!  Luke has been without a CPAP since September 5 and Jake lost his on September 9.  They had their first eye exam to check for ROP and everything looked good.  They will be rechecked in two weeks.  As a side note, I recently learned that Stevie Wonder is blind due to ROP – he was six weeks premature. 

Jake

Luke

Friday night was a little bittersweet as they the boys were moved to the Level II NICU.  This means they were doing so well it was time to transition to another area – but we all know change is hard.  The boys have settled into their new digs and are enjoying cribs!  The next big hurdle will be to learn to eat.  They are not ready yet as the suck/swallow reflex doesn’t kick in until about 34 weeks.  They will be 5 weeks old tomorrow (33 weeks).  Jake still has the PDA, and will have an ECHO next week to locate where the hole is within his heart. 

Stats:

Luke is 4 pounds, 9 ounces.  He is eating 41 ccs per feed through an NG tube

Jake 3 pounds, 15 ounces.  He is eating 36 ccs per feed through an NG tube.

Long Overdue

For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

Thank you for all your prayers!  Jake is doing well and doesn't have an infection.  They think he is either acting like a preemie or has a milk allergy.  The doctors are slowly feeding him again after three days of no milk.  He's up to 19 ccs a feed tonight. 

Luke continues to do well but makes sure to get attention with a brady every once in awhile.  A brady means he's stopped breathing and his heart rate is low.  He enjoys being swaddled and is regulating his own temperature.  He is up to 32 ccs (that's a little over an ounce). 

Here are their two week pictures (August 24).  They were taken while the RT was changing pieces of their CPAP so you can see their faces!!

Luke

Jake

Both boys got to put on their first outfits.  Here are some pictures!

Jake

Luke

A few more pictures of the boys with Emily and Jason. 

Emily holding Luke

Emily holding Jake

Jason holding Luke

Prayers Please

Please pray for Jake.  They think he may have an infection and are starting him on antibiotics.  The tests will take 48 hours for the results to come back.   

Pictures and Quick Update

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.   Luke 11:19

Jason and Jake

Emily and Luke

Emily and Jake

Thank you all for your continued prayers for the Tantillos.  Both boys are doing well on their feeds.  They've gone up to 28 ccs (Luke) and 24 ccs (Jake) at each feeding.  They are getting caffeine to help them remember to breath.  Luke got to have a real bath in a small tub last night and Emily gave Jake a sponge bath.

Here are some specific prayer requests.  Jake has a PDA, which is a heart defect common in preemies.  The doctors are watching and hopeful that the opening will close on its own.  Emily and Jason really like the neonatologist that has been taking care of the boys and they will get a new one tomorrow.   Please pray that the transition is smooth and Emily and Jason connect with the new doctor.  

Luke weighs 3 pounds, 1 ounces and Jake weighs 2 pounds, 14 ounces.

Luke's hand

Jake's feet

Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

Jake and Luke are doing well.  Yesterday, they were a week old so they were due for an ultrasound of their brain to look for bleeds.  Thank God, the scans were both good!  They are both doing well on their feedings through the NG tube and they no longer need the nutrition through their IVs. Luke's umbilical IV is out and they are waiting for the team to take Jake's PICC line out.  Luke is "eating" 21 ccs and Jake is "eating" 19 ccs.  An ounce is 30 ccs.  

After the ultrasound the Respiratory Therapist came to adjust their CPAP and Emily got some great pictures of the boys with nothing on their faces.  They are expecting the boys to be on CPAP for another week or two.  

 

Luke                                                             Jake

Additionally, Emily and Jason took pictures of the boys with a stuffed animal so we can all watch them grow.  Jake has a stuffed dog and Luke has a stuffed giraffe.  I know they look big but those boys are tiny -- both under 3 pounds.  Luke weighs 2 pounds, 12 ounces and Jake weighs 2 pounds, 9 ounces.  Hopefully, this picture with the wine bottle will help show everyone just how small they are.  

 

Luke                                                             Jake

Here is a picture of the boys room at Texas Children's Pavilion.  There is a little area behind the curtain for Emily and Jason.  Jake is closest to the curtain and Luke is next to the nurse area.   

I know the Tantillos very much appreciate your prayers for continued improvement for the boys and endurance for Emily and Jason.

They are here!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

The Tantillo twins arrived on Sunday, August 10 via C-section at 28 weeks (12 weeks early).  

Luke Pritchett Tantillo

3 pounds, 1 ounce

15 1/2 inches

9:35 p.m.

Jake Joseph Tantillo

2 pounds, 10 ounces

15 3/8 inches

9:38 p.m.

Both boys came out breathing on their own and have continued to do well in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. They are receiving nutrition through an IV and a feeding tube. Additionally, they are both breathing with the assistance of CPAP (Continues Positive Airway Pressure). They are "relaxing" in their incubators in a quiet and dark room.

Emily had a chance to hold Luke for about 10 minutes the day after he was born. Both boys will be in the NICU for some time -- their doctors say a good estimate is their due date which is October 29. 

Emily is finally out of the hospital after 6 weeks of bed rest. She and Jason are so thankful for your support during this journey and very much appreciate your prayers, texts and emails.