Anti-gravitational movements (August 31)
Tonight Lucas spent over an hour in Burke’s arms at the end of an eventful day.
The biggest moment of the day was his exam and our meeting with the neurologist. Dr. Chang came to visit Lucas and was surprised to see how much more he was moving today compared to last week. She was most impressed by his “anti-gravitational movements” (which is to say, he can lift his arms and legs up a little bit). Having the neurology team confirm that Lucas has made notable progress was exciting.
Dr. Chang and the attending neonatologist believe that there are two possibilities for what is ailing Lucas. The first is that there was some sort of “event” – a virus or trauma, or something else that we didn’t detect in the final weeks of pregnancy – that caused brain injury, and that’s what is slowing his movements. This is a better scenario, since if an event caused brain injury then he can heal.
The second possibility is that there is an underlying brain condition that is causing his lack of movement. If this is the case, his chances for recovery are less. The fact that he was really active before he was born, and that he is now showing signs of improvement, give us – and his medical team – hope that he is on the path to recovery from injury. In either case the doctors told us to be patient and they gave us long timelines: from 3-4 weeks in the NICU, to months.
Still, there are other good signs. The settings on his ventilator are down about as low as they can go, so he’s drawing his own breath more often. His breathing tube got dislodged today, and in the process of replacing it he went nearly 15 minutes off the ventilator. The doctors saw him working really hard to sustain his breathing so they decided that he wasn’t quite ready to be extubated, but there’s no doubt he’s moving toward breathing on his own.
And he’s taking breast milk well, so he’s getting more of the good stuff today. By tomorrow morning he’ll be getting about 2 teaspoons every 3 hours. Still not enough to beef up his tiny waistline significantly, but assuming all goes well they’ll keep increasing the amount every day.
One other tidbit of note: Lucas takes after his dad and pees all the time. During his evening diaper change he managed to soak two clean diapers before we could get a third one wrapped around him. Luckily he didn’t stain his awesome new booties (hand-me-downs from his cousins Tya and Ellody).
Comments (17)
Elizabeth Bayley
September 10th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Hey there adorable family! Burke: it’s been ages and I only just learned of your blossoming family. Kate shared with me the news of Lucas’ early arrival and your unexpected adventures / hurdles.
All I gotta say is: you guys are superheroes for little Lucas. He’s getting stronger day by day, hang in there, keep giving him all that love and you all will pull through this!
Sending lots of love from Seattle… from me and the boys,
ecb
María Vides
September 1st, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Greetings Burke, Krista, and Lucas!…Yata-hey!
I just returned from a trip to the southwest (New Mexico, Arizona and Texas) and brought back some positive spirit from the Diné people (Navajo Nation).
Lucas, hozógo nasádo. “May you walk in Beauty here with us, and for the rest of your long life.!
¡Un gran abrazo, adelante chiquitín, siempre con la frente en alto!
María Vides
liz
September 1st, 2009 at 9:52 pm
3 cheers for gender confusion. 100 cheers for Lucas and his amazing parents.
all of my love,
liz
kevin too…
Great Aunt Kit and Great Uncle J.D.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Each morning, the first thing I do is to check your blog and more often than not, something positive has happened in the last 24hours… a little at a time, a little at a time. However, I’m not sure about Tya and Ellody’s “booties”. I don’t want Lucas to grow up with any “gender confusion” :) so you might buy him some cowboy booties!! Hang in there, stay strong for each other and for Lucas. We love you all and will look forward to the day when Lucas will come to Seattle for a visit.
Hugs, Kit
Christine
September 1st, 2009 at 5:51 pm
The cutest! Mucho amor desde el sur a tres maravillosos seres :)
Tara Clark
September 1st, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Lucas-
From what I have learned of the Stansbury family over the past few years you are definitely a Stansbury…a one-of-a-kind, strong, beautiful, survivor that is going to do it your way and amaze everyone around you. You are touching so many lives and we are thinking of you every day.
Continue to stay strong Burke and Krista, Lucas is so lucky to have such patient, loving parents.
We look forward to meeting you Lucas on your first trip to the great NW!
Tara
Jennifer Ciplet
September 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Thanks for your beautiful postings on this blog, Burke and Krista! We are so excited to know that Lucas is in the world, fighting hard, peeing lots, and wearing awesome booties. We’re pulling for you all and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Jenn, Dave and Eliza
Madeline
September 1st, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Go Lucasito! He keeps showing everyone that he’s getting better poco a poco. I’m so glad to hear the good news about his improved breathing, moving, and eating. And he gets to spend some quality time being held by his parents – it warms my heart to think about it.
I’m sending Lucas a big abrazo and a song of encouragement…
Dále que la marcha es lenta
pero sigue siendo marcha
dále que empujando al sol
se acerca la madrugada
dale que la lucha tuya
es pura como una muchacha
cuando se entrega al amor
con el alma liberada
Dále LUCASITO, dale!
que no hay pájaro pequeño, dale!
que después de alzar el vuelo, dale!
se detenga en su volar
scarlet
September 1st, 2009 at 11:33 am
Go Lucas! those are some hot booties! Sending you all lots of love :)
ScarJ
Laura
September 1st, 2009 at 11:12 am
Yay Lucas! Keep fighting, little man, and keep rockin those awesome booties!
Marsha
September 1st, 2009 at 11:01 am
I needed a picker-upper (sp?) this morning and our little Lucas gave me just that! I’m so happy for you guys! Those baby steps are getting bigger and more confident. While I’m no doc, I am a mama and I just know that everything you’re both giving him, incl that amazing milk you’re pumping for him, is exactly what he needs. Big hugs for you all.
ilana jean
September 1st, 2009 at 10:45 am
Happy Fall Lucas! and a big fist bump for your hardwork , you’re beautiful!
Tracy
September 1st, 2009 at 12:03 am
Ohh, Lucas looks so good ( and big, from this angle)!
Megan Hanson
August 31st, 2009 at 11:54 pm
All praises due to Lucas’s loving devotional parents. I enjoy so much reading everything you write, although there is one thing I have missed reading about. Where is the accordian! Lucas might want to dance or sing in memory of hearing that unique sound that traveled in utero to him in his dreams. So it is in my pious opinion that the accordian be played for Lucas without delay.
Also, Lucas was in our prayers this weekend during a sacred pipe ceremony. Lucas, I talk to you a lot. Do you hear me? They, those people that pass me must think I’m crazy. I don’t mind. Especially if you can hear me.
Thank you for all the love.
Loving all of you,
Megan
Ellody and Tya
August 31st, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Hi Lucas-
We love that you are wearing our booties- they look so great! You are looking stronger and healthier everyday and that makes us so happy! We are sending lots of love your way.
xo
Ellody and Tya
nonna stansbury
August 31st, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Lucas looks so much better than he did when we were there last week. I wish I could still be there to be with him and share watching his progress. You are doing a fabulous job with the updates and photos. I’m getting so messages responding to your daily blog. As you so delicately, said many of my friends aren’t “updated on the latest.” We’re trying though.
It’s hard to be so far away from a little one who grabbed my heart. My love is with you, Nonna
Simon
August 31st, 2009 at 10:35 pm
good news! one day at a time…
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