Buy One Get Two Free!: Slow and Steady

We hear that phrase slow and steady pretty regularly on rounds, and it seems to be a tried and true way to approach preemie care. The doctors make only one small change a day for each baby (increase feed amount, change an oxygen setting, schedule a test) and then wait to see how the baby responds. This can make some weeks drag on, but overall has been very effective.

Sammy's second eye test showed more evidence of ROP. This is common in preemies and is based on how much oxygen requirement was needed while the eyes are developing. The outcome can range from decreased peripheral vision to blindness, so I have been pretty worried all week. They are repeating the eye exam on Friday and again next Thursday. The idea is to monitor the abnormal blood vessels to see if they correct themselves or continue to veer off. If they continue to veer off, then they will intervene with laser therapy or shots in the eye to stop the vessels from detaching the retina and causing blindness. We are keeping positive thoughts that Sammy's vessels start recovering.

In other big news, we took our first family photo! Sadly, the nurse we had that day is not the best photographer, but we are hoping this will be a regular event and there will be many more pictures to come!

Everybody is gaining weight and breastfeeding is going well. Babies are still fed the majority of their feed via a gavage tube because the doctors want to know exactly how much food they are receiving. Plus they still get tired quickly, so they get about 10-15 min of milk from me and then a nice snuggle while the rest is pumped in. This makes for an exhausted Mommy as I feed 3 babies and still keep my regular pumping schedule, but it is all worth it. Not sure my nipples agree, and I'm quite positive they are plotting revenge on me as we speak for putting them through this. :)

Here are some pics.