Monday, November 11, 2013

6 weeks!

Holy Moly!  Our babies turned 6 weeks at 9:30 tonight!

Babies are all still feeding and growing.   Doctors said Monday we will start weaning them down on this method of oxygen to start working toward the next.  For Elsie this means the high flo nasal cannula, which uses no machine to push oxygen in.  For the boys it means just a small shift down to CPAP.  Meanwhile, we keep adoring them in cute little onesies and cherish care times and snuggles all day long.

Would like to acknowledge and thank again my cousin Sharon for organizing and running the dinner train.  With 2 kiddos of her own I know this was no small feat, and we are so thankful to her.  And again, although I try to get a personal thank you to all of you individually, here is another one to all of you who have taken time out of your busy lives to cook us a dinner.  It means so much to us and we'll be forever grateful.


Elsie obviously very comfortable being held


As we prepped her to go back into the isolette she threw her hands up in despair



Sammy says 'Oh, you wanted me swaddled?  Well my arm escaped!'


I don't know why I feel like I should draw a surfboard under Sammy's feet



Elsie getting comfy during nap time


Elsie all pinked out


Sammy kicks off his blanket in swaddling rebellion!


In fact he will throw a leg up in protest!



Danny says all I need is a few fingers out to hold my binkie in



What happened?    What's going on here?  Where am I?        

    


Oh wait, never mind, it's just my Mommy :)


Elsie cuddling with Daddy


Here is a quick video of Sammy in one of his more dramatic moments.  Nurse Donna said she could hear him down the hall which is a big deal for a current 30 weeker with little, underdeveloped lungs.  Promise I won't post many videos of babies crying :)







Friday, November 8, 2013

A Restful Week

This week has been fairly uneventful.  Now that all babies are off the vent, the doctors wanted to take a week to just let them feed and grow without challenging their little bodies.  Starting this weekend they will resume weaning them off their oxygen cannulas and test their eyes.

So we have had a week of just enjoying the babies and holding them and doing care time.  It has been a good week.  And it seems to have worked because Sammy is weighing in at 1120 grams(2lbs 8oz), Danny at 1190(2lbs 10oz), and Elsie at 1180(2lbs 10oz).  Here are some pics:

Sammy


Elsie


Danny


Sammy giving a pathetic look when we put him back in the isolette after holding him


Elsie in her footie outfit


 
Danny cuddling Mommy and holding his binkie in his mouth



Elsie all swaddled up after care time


Sammy rubs the back of his head to put himself to sleep


Danny has taken a new liking to his binkie and is always holding it


Elsie says 'No pictures please'


Danny made this little smirk as he pulled his arm out of his swaddle


Sammy wearing his 'big guys' shirt 


In other news, the lactation consultant at the hospital told me drinking one dark beer a day can help increase my milk supply(brewer's yeast).  I am currently still producing 5-6 oz a day more than what the babies need, but would like to step up my game to stay ahead.  So I had a pint of Sam Oktoberfest the other night at Ma Raffa's and was so wasted I had difficulty navigating the 4 stairs to leave at the end of our meal.  Apparently not drinking for a few years and having 40 days of minimal sleep and waiting till 9pm at the end of an exhausting day is not a good time to start this 'milk-building' exercise. Way to step up my game Lisa.


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

All dressed up!

The babies got dressed up today!

We gave them a bath and then put some onesies on them.  It is great to see them wearing clothes and not just wires and monitors. 

Danny


Elsie 


Sammy


I took video of the boys.  I thought it was only fair since Elsie's cinematic debut was weeks ago.  :)

Here's Sammy during care time:






And here's Danny making the trip from his isolette to Mommy for kangaroo care (skin to skin):





What a face he makes when the nurse adjusts his nasal cannula!  I shot this video because this is the first time we got to hear Danny cry because he recently got off the vent...but sometimes you just get lucky when you have the video running!

Here are a few more pics of our last few days:


Sammy being held by Daddy


Mommy holding Danny


Sammy resting


Elsie smiling in her new outfit


Danny napping


Sammy not enjoying laying on his back


Danny  sitting with Mommy


Elsie napping



Sunday, November 3, 2013

5 WEEKS!

It's hard to believe we have been here 5 weeks!  The good news is we are about one third of the way through our NICU stay.

Good news all around!

Sammy finally hit 1000g, so now all babies are in the quadruple digits for weight.  Sammy is about 2lbs 2oz, Elsie 2lbs 4oz, and Danny 2lbs 7oz.  They are definitely starting to fill in and look not-so-bony :)

Danny is off his vent! A few days on the steroids and he is doing much better.  We now have all 3 babies off the mouth vent...this is a huge achievement!  The next vent step from the RAM cannula they are currently on is to change to the high flo cannula which doesn't use a machine for pressure.  Probably another 2 weeks for that.

Our focus now turns to eyes and ears.  Over the next week or two, all the babies will have them tested.  Keeping our fingers crossed for good news!

Here are some pics:

Danny napping in his onesie



Sammy smiling for the camera


Mommy holding Danny


Danny napping with his binkie


This is a PREEMIE onesie.  Shows how small they really are still.


Danny with his eyes open


Elsie hiding her eyes napping


Elsie sneaking an arm out of her snuggie


Elsie peeking as she rests


Sammy getting some Mommy cuddles


Elsie looking at Daddy


Sammy smiling..so happy to have his binkie


The NICU brought in supplies to make Halloween frames 


Sammy covering his eyes from the light


Could Sammy's binkie be any bigger?  It takes up half his face


Sammy in a rare moment all stretched out napping