Quick Update

We've been really busy but just wanted to give a quick update. Great news-the babies have been transferred to the hospital that is literally right around the corner from our house, less than 2 minutes away. It is a level II nursery where they will stay until they come home. They are now considered feeder growers so they only need to learn how to take their feedings by bottle to be able to come home. They are all in open cribs now. Mattea's bradys (heart rate dips) have slowed way down, so much that she only had 4 in the past 24 hours. No issues with anyone and I get to see them much more now-yahoo!

New Pics...

Can't post pics...

I've tried unsuccessfully about 5 times now to download some pictures but my computer is not cooperating-sorry!

Happy 1 Week Birthday Babies...

Today our babies turn one week old. What amazing progress they've made this past week. They have impressed us beyond belief. We know that they will be coming home before we know it. We've been there every day to visit, feed them and hold them.



Despite ordering everything on the menu (Vent, CPAP, Survanta, Indocin), David is thriving. We found out his PDA was gone on Thursday with his repeat ultrasound on his heart. This was a huge relief. Because of this, he got to start his feeds that night through his feeding tube in his nose. He loves sucking, loves food, and loves to be cuddled. I also found out he is great at breastfeeding yesterday. It is an incredible feeling to be able to see his face, to watch his expressions and to let him see us with nothing in the way. His favorite way to hang out is on his belly. He wants what he wants when he wants it and doesn't like to mess around. He ripped his I.V. out Saturday morning and hasn't needed it since. I think he may be the most demanding but I also think he'll be a total mommy's boy. I secretly hope they both will be. He is totally snugalicous!



Frankie is doing amazing as well. He has been continuing with his tube feedings and has tried breastfeeding a few times with no success. He is just so laid back and he gets around there and looks around, plays around and ends up staring up at me. He melts my heart. I think he will be our little contemplater. Her always looks like he is in deep thought. He has no I.V. as of Friday night and no bilirubin lights. When I arrived today he was sporting his All Star onesie. It was so cool to see him in clothes. He barely fit in his preemie shirt. We have a lot of preemie clothes but oh well, I find it a blessing that he is as big as he is and I'm sure I will find someone who will need the preemie clothes. He loves being held and looking up at me, trying so hard to focus but his little eyes cross.



Mattea is a rock star as usual. Her one simple downfall are her bradycardias. She has frequent dips in her heart rate. Even though this is scary it is normal for her gestation. She also has no I.V.. She's still under the bili lights and will have her bili drawn today to find out if she can come out yet. She is a champion bottle feeder and breastfeeds great for small amount of time. She is absolutely gorgeous! She is so curious when she's out of her isolette. She follows voices and looks towards the window. When she is in her isolette she sometimes crosses her legs or puts one up in the air and just leaves it there. She is so funny.



We love these babies so much it is unreal. We can't wait for them to come home so our snuggling won''t be as limited. We know it'll be crazy but we are ready, as we have been for so very long now. We are so thnkful to God everyday for blessing them with such good health, good weight and such beautiful qualities. We just want to give them the world.



Speaking of giving them things. We sometimes feel pretty helpless with them there and us here, not being able to do anything for them. We know the one thing we can give them or I can give them and David can help me is breastmilk. It is an incredible nutrient and so much better for their little guts and brains when they are premature. I totally disagree with the whole "don't cry over spilled milk" theory. Next time your babies are in the NICU and it's 2 in the morning, you're cross eyed and recovering from major surgery, you're pumping with one eye open, you let the pump slip for just a second and you feel a mass of warm liquid run down your side, then tell me that. That is definately worth crying over.

Love Bugs Progress....

Back and forth, slow and unsure, but these little lovies are making progress just the same.

It has been a long couple of days between trying to recover from surgery, trying to keep up with what's going on with the babies and keeping our heads on straight. The babies are doing well over all.

Frankie is breathing room air on his own as of Sunday night, taking feedings through his feeding tube (in his nose) as of yesterday and started phototherapy today for jaundice. He is very feisty and loves to get on all fours and try to launch himself around. He is in an isolette now so I'm less worried abut him throwing himself over the edge. Today he had his hand over his mouth and looked like he was telling secrets-he is adorable, and when he gets upset he makes all these little wrinkly faces.

David continues to be on CPAP. He is basically breathing room air but getting a little help from the machine to keep his lungs inflated so he doesn't have to breath as hard. He does not like to be touched and gets very squirmy and upset when moved. He has a murmur that could be something or could be nothing. We should find out later today if he will have an ultrasound on his heart to differentiate it. Because of this, he has not started his tube feedings yet. He is also starting to get jaundice but hasn't quite made it under the bili lights yet. Today was the best day ever because I got the special treat of finally being allowed to hold him. I've barley even laid a finger on him since he was born and I think the nurse could sense my grief over this. She swaddled him up, tucked all the cords in and I got to cuddle with him in the rocking chair for about 20 minutes. It was wonderful. He was very calm and serene and held on to my finger tightly the whole time with his huge paw. I was hoping he would open his eyes but he didn't and that's okay. He knew I was with him and I gave him lots of kisses. He is beautiful and looks so much like his dad. I can't wait for him to be off CPAP so we can see his face better.

Update: David had his echo today and it showed that he has a PDA (patent ductus arteriosis). This is a duct in the heart that is supposed to close when a baby is born but sometimes it just doesn't happen,more often in preemies. So they will give him 3 doses of a drug called Indomethacin and recheck with another echo on Thursday to see if the duct closed. We hope this will work but if not, these rounds of medicine can be tried again. One step at a time...

Mattea is staying true to her rockstar self. She's been breathing on her own since she was born and also started her tube feedings yesterday which she has been tolerating well. She is also in an isolette under phototherapy lights. I got to change her diaper today and do kangaroo care (skin to skin holding) while she got her tube feeding. I love this because the nurse puts her through the top of my shirt and it's like she's in a little cave. She was laying on my belly with both of her legs spread out wide like a split. This probably has something to do with her beeing breech. She falls alseep like this because it's so comfy. I get sleepy too.

David has been up in the NICU a lot, geeting the hnag of baby care. He's amazed by meconium and how little and cute they are. It's hard right now since they can each only be held once a day. We have to take turns with them.

Yay for our little troopers....

They are doing so well. I got to have some skin to skin time with Mattea last night and kiss both of the boys. When dad went up to see the babies this morning, Mattea was still breathing on her own, Frankie is now breathing on his won and they think David is ready to come off the vent and beplaced on CPAP again. I am so proud of these little bugs.

David looks exactly like big David. The nurses think that Frankie looks like me and Mattea, it is up in the air. David thinks she looks like me. I think she has his nose and chin, I never fell asleep last night so I am going to try again now.

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