Malachi Update and Baptism Plans

It hasn't been too long since our last blog but so much has happened with Malachi that we feel another update is appropriate.

In addition, we wanted to let our family and friends know that we plan to have baptism for Taylor and Liam take place next Sunday on August 6. Please ask us or our immediate family for details. It's going to be very emotionally difficult to do baptism without Malachi and it wasn't easy to come to this decision. We know that once he is discharged from the hospital it will not be wise to take Malachi into a crowd of people. We will most likely need to wait until at least next summer when colds and flus are less and Malachi is stronger and healthier, the Lord willing. And so with the guidance of our church's consistory, we have decided we will baptize Liam and Taylor while it is yet summer and wait a year or so for Malachi.

Superhero Day at the hospital

So what's new with Malachi? Well, a lot actually! This past week Malachi went outside the hospital for the very first time in his life! After 261 days, he was able to feel the sun on his skin and the breeze on his face. He made lots of funny faces when he felt the warm breeze which was quite funny to see. In order to get outside, Malachi took a ride in a stroller which was another first! It is quite the ordeal with lots of equipment to move the little guy anywhere. It's good practice for us for when we go home, though. Wherever Malachi goes he needs to have:

1) the breathing machine (aka ventilator) which is attached to Malachi'a trach via the breathing tubes 

2) enough battery backups for the ventilator 

3) oxygen tank (or more than one if he'll be out for a period of time)

4) suction machine and backup 

5) oximeter (monitor for heart rate and oxygen saturations in the blood)

6) "go bag" which includes all his trach equipment and the emergency equipment needed for if his trach tube ever came out, was blocked, etc. We have a list of items needed in the bag and it's long!

7) rescusitator bag for CPR 

8) his feeding pump and feeding bag

In the hospital we just attach it all to some carts and push and carry half of it. (Our first walk was with four healthcare professionals!) It works to push and carry between multiple people for now, but before we go home we will need a stroller that can safely carry Malachi and all his equipment (plus a diaper bag). This means we will need two strollers to take our triplets anywhere. 

First time outside!

Taking it all in

Daddy took Malachi out another day too!

Another requirement for Malachi to go on walks is to go on to a portable ventilator. There are different types of breathing machines and different modes or ways of breathing that each machine can do. Malachi will be on a portable ventilator 24/7 at home. Therefore we are very excited that Malachi can handle a home ventilator for an hour or so when he goes on walks. Yet another first! Soon, Malachi will be trialled on a portable ventilator (Trilogy) and hopefully stay off of the hospital ventilator (Servo-i). 

Another exciting development is that with smaller tubing and with Malachi's occupational therapy and physiotherapy, we are learning to move Malachi into different positions and to pick him up and hold him by ourselves (without a nurse or respiratory therapist)! This is huge. Imagine Jodi walking into Malachi's room in the morning, seeing that he is crying and just scooping him into her arms and comforting him without needing to call a nurse or respiratory therapist to help. Yep, she cried the first time that happened. It certainly takes practice and work and moving tubing and wires and careful positioning and planning... but we can finally gain some independence as parents. More than that we can give Malachi more cuddles and just have more normal parent-child interactions! 

With all these new developments the doctors are guessing that maybe Malachi can go home in 7-8 weeks! We are overjoyed and terrified and also keeping our hopes down (well, trying to!) as things can change so quickly yet. But we give all glory and thanks to God for all the improvements and miracles He has worked in our precious Malachi!

Happy baby #1

Happy baby #2

Happy baby #3

Our first family walk!