The boys passed their hearing tests with flying colors today. Yeah! Their next eye exam is within the next few days. They get their eyes checked every two weeks, and so far, all has been well there, too.
Jason was being held by a "cuddler" today when I got there (she was consoling him after his hearing test). A cuddler is a volunteer who comes in to hold the babies when parents are not there. Is that not the best volunteer job out there? Her name was Mary, and she was really nice. I let her hold Jason while I held Shawn--making both boys super happy.
Jason is taking anywhere between 30-40 mls (1 ounce - 1 1/3 ounce) of food by bottle before he'll fall asleep. He is starting to root for his bottle, too, which I am so excited about. I hope it won't be much longer before he masters nippling. His downfall still is his stamina, but that should come with more practice.
Shawn is still reluctant to bottle feed. Apparently oral aversion is common after babies have been on a ventilator, and Shawn was on one for 12 days while he was sick. He did manage to take 25 mls for the nurse earlier this morning but would only take 2 mls for me at his 12 pm feed. I have learned that he cannot be forced. When I try to make him suck or swallow, he will gag and spit up. He is great at sucking his pacifier, though, so we know that once he learns to coordinate all of the breathing/sucking/swallowing that he needs to take a bottle, he'll be a pro.
Spit up score card -- 0 for 7 (Hee Hee) Somehow, I manage to dodge it every time!
I had my follow-up appointment with my OB today. (All is well there, too.) He was asking about the babies and telling me about another patient of his who was pregnant with twins. She ruptured her membranes at 27 weeks and started contracting. They gave her all of the same meds that I had and she went into heart failure--a side effect I wasn't aware of at the time I was going through labor. Her family has to deal with two very sick babies and a very sick mom. Scary.
That really put things into perspective for me. While it has been rough having the babies in the NICU, things could have been so much worse. I could have delivered at 26 or 27 weeks when I first ruptured Jason's sack. The meds could have failed to stop the contractions I had during those two precious weeks.
I could have had something happen to me from all of the medication I was on, something much worse than all of the drama I went through after their birth (which included possible exploratory surgery for a bowel obstruction and a quarantine among other fun stuff).
While things are not ideal, and won't be until the babies are actually home, we are fortunate. I definitely will remember that.
As 2007 draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the wildness of the past year. So much has happened! The pinnacle, of course, being our little Shawn and Jason. I look forward to this next year--bringing the boys home, sleepless nights, formula stained clothing for all of us, holding the boys until they are spoiled--and loving every minute of it.
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The boys are getting their two month shots today. They will start with three and then get two others twelve hours later (Diptet, Polio, Hepatitis, among others). They will also get Tylenol every four hours for the next day to help ward off any signs of fever. It isn't going to be a good day for them.
Isaac and I have been repeating a scene from "Raising Arizona" over and over again. It is where Glen and Dot tell the main characters, Ed and H.I., that they need to get their baby, Jr., immunized. "He's just got to have his Diptet!" (say that with a Southern drawl)
The scene starts at 3:50 but I couldn't figure out how to cut this down to that one part. So, here is the whole thing.
Diptet - Check
pediatrician - Check
Bank account [for the orthodonture and university (times two)] - Uhhhh, nope
Life insurance - Check
Whew. We're doing okay so far!
This movie ranks among Isaac's top ten favorites. The way H.I. talks always makes us laugh. If you haven't seen it, we recommend it.
***************
A few of you have noticed and signed the guestbook (in the upper right hand corner) that I added to the blog several days ago. I am hoping it will keep track of people who have come to visit. We'd love for you to sign it when you get the chance! Thanks to you guys who already have.
Isaac and I have been repeating a scene from "Raising Arizona" over and over again. It is where Glen and Dot tell the main characters, Ed and H.I., that they need to get their baby, Jr., immunized. "He's just got to have his Diptet!" (say that with a Southern drawl)
The scene starts at 3:50 but I couldn't figure out how to cut this down to that one part. So, here is the whole thing.
Diptet - Check
pediatrician - Check
Bank account [for the orthodonture and university (times two)] - Uhhhh, nope
Life insurance - Check
Whew. We're doing okay so far!
This movie ranks among Isaac's top ten favorites. The way H.I. talks always makes us laugh. If you haven't seen it, we recommend it.
***************
A few of you have noticed and signed the guestbook (in the upper right hand corner) that I added to the blog several days ago. I am hoping it will keep track of people who have come to visit. We'd love for you to sign it when you get the chance! Thanks to you guys who already have.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Notice Anything?
Do you notice anything about Shawn?
Nope, it isn't the new hat. Although, now that I look at it, it is kind of cute. For a hat that is.
Nope, it isn't the cool lip curl Shawn can do now.
Nope, it isn't the smashing profile.
Hmmm...What could it be?
You're right, he's cannula FREE!
Today when I went in to visit, the respiratory technician came over to say that they had turned off Shawn's oxygen earlier that day. She told me not to tell Shawn that they had turned it off so he wouldn't try any funny business or something. :-) If he continued to keep his oxygen levels up without the support, they were going to take out his cannula. And they did! Yeah!!!!! Now keep your fingers crossed that he can keep his oxygen levels up from here on out and stay off the nasty cannula for good. (He does have a tendency to drop his oxygen levels when he strains/pushes out his poop, though. Apparently that is common for babies. Made me wonder if my oxygen levels go down during that time, too. The NICU makes you think of the strangest things!)
One step closer to home...
Nope, it isn't the new hat. Although, now that I look at it, it is kind of cute. For a hat that is.
Nope, it isn't the cool lip curl Shawn can do now.
Nope, it isn't the smashing profile.
Hmmm...What could it be?
You're right, he's cannula FREE!
Today when I went in to visit, the respiratory technician came over to say that they had turned off Shawn's oxygen earlier that day. She told me not to tell Shawn that they had turned it off so he wouldn't try any funny business or something. :-) If he continued to keep his oxygen levels up without the support, they were going to take out his cannula. And they did! Yeah!!!!! Now keep your fingers crossed that he can keep his oxygen levels up from here on out and stay off the nasty cannula for good. (He does have a tendency to drop his oxygen levels when he strains/pushes out his poop, though. Apparently that is common for babies. Made me wonder if my oxygen levels go down during that time, too. The NICU makes you think of the strangest things!)
One step closer to home...
Friday, December 28, 2007
The Boys Are Together At Last!
The boys had yet another move. This time, they were finally moved together in the same crib! We had no idea this was coming today, either. Imagine my surprise when I walked in to find Jason's crib/tub missing. I nearly had a heart attack! It took me a second to realize what was going on.
Here is the new crib--and it actually looks like one, too!
Me trying to console the boys. Both were crying at the same time. It is going to be fun when they do that at home. (Yes that was sarcasm.)
They're a little dark so we didn't wake the boys up with the flash.
Shawn and Isaac...
Stacie and Jason...
Shawn is a little like me.
Exhibit A: Here I am with Jason. Notice the "look" I'm giving Isaac.
Exhibit B: Here is Shawn. Notice the "look" he's giving Isaac.
Poor Isaac. What did he ever do to get such looks from everyone?
The NICU gave out stockings to all the babies on Christmas. A former patient brings them every year. She wrote a letter and filled the stockings with pencils and small things like that. It was really sweet. We took some pictures of the boys with them...
Here is Shawn showing his disinterest in the whole picture taking scene...
"Whatever!" says Shawn.
Jason could care less, too...
Jason had a good day with his feeds. He took half of his formula by bottle! Keep it up, little man!
Here is the new crib--and it actually looks like one, too!
Me trying to console the boys. Both were crying at the same time. It is going to be fun when they do that at home. (Yes that was sarcasm.)
They're a little dark so we didn't wake the boys up with the flash.
Shawn and Isaac...
Stacie and Jason...
Shawn is a little like me.
Exhibit A: Here I am with Jason. Notice the "look" I'm giving Isaac.
Exhibit B: Here is Shawn. Notice the "look" he's giving Isaac.
Poor Isaac. What did he ever do to get such looks from everyone?
The NICU gave out stockings to all the babies on Christmas. A former patient brings them every year. She wrote a letter and filled the stockings with pencils and small things like that. It was really sweet. We took some pictures of the boys with them...
Here is Shawn showing his disinterest in the whole picture taking scene...
"Whatever!" says Shawn.Jason could care less, too...
Jason had a good day with his feeds. He took half of his formula by bottle! Keep it up, little man!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
0 For 2
I know I am tempting fate here, but I escaped formula again last night! HeeHee. My mom was holding Jason and his formula was spilled all over the both of them. Meanwhile, I was holding Shawn and we had a blissful formula free night! Can't beat that, can you?
I know my time is coming soon enough, so I guess I should be quiet. I keep smiling about it, though. (And yes I will admit defeat when it does happen! Well, maybe not right away...)
Jason weighs 3125 grams = 6 lbs 14 ounces
Shawn weighs 3043 grams = 6 lbs 11 ounces
Now if we could just master that sucking and get off of the oxygen we'd be all set!
I know my time is coming soon enough, so I guess I should be quiet. I keep smiling about it, though. (And yes I will admit defeat when it does happen! Well, maybe not right away...)
Jason weighs 3125 grams = 6 lbs 14 ounces
Shawn weighs 3043 grams = 6 lbs 11 ounces
Now if we could just master that sucking and get off of the oxygen we'd be all set!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
This is just a quick post to tell you the good news. We have been moved to the special care room. That puts us even closer to coming home! We are getting so close I can feel it!
Isaac fed Jason last night and he took 20 mls (just under an ounce) by bottle before he succumbed to sleep. I fed Shawn. He impressed me by taking 20 mls of formula by bottle, too; his highest intake since he got sick. Of course, he promptly spit a lot of it back up, but we worked that bottle to get it down in the first place! (And I managed to walk away without any formula on me. Ha!)
Jason is now up to 6 pounds 12 ounces and Shawn is 6 pounds 9 ounces. They are almost out of preemie clothes. (They fit best when they curl their legs up; otherwise, they are a smidgen too short!)
Isaac fed Jason last night and he took 20 mls (just under an ounce) by bottle before he succumbed to sleep. I fed Shawn. He impressed me by taking 20 mls of formula by bottle, too; his highest intake since he got sick. Of course, he promptly spit a lot of it back up, but we worked that bottle to get it down in the first place! (And I managed to walk away without any formula on me. Ha!)
Jason is now up to 6 pounds 12 ounces and Shawn is 6 pounds 9 ounces. They are almost out of preemie clothes. (They fit best when they curl their legs up; otherwise, they are a smidgen too short!)
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that each and every one of you have a happy holiday season, peaceful time with family and friends, and a wonderful 2008!
I am taking a few days off from posting. I'll be back on Wednesday or Thursday. Until then, take care everyone!
P.S. I found this link to Santa's blog if you are interested...
http://clauschronicles.blogspot.com/
I am taking a few days off from posting. I'll be back on Wednesday or Thursday. Until then, take care everyone!
P.S. I found this link to Santa's blog if you are interested...
http://clauschronicles.blogspot.com/
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Preemie 101--At Home With Our Babies
We are getting closer and closer to the time when the boys will get to come home. (We still don't know when that will be.) When that happens, there are a couple of things that all of us need to remember.
1) The boys' immune systems are still underdeveloped, so they are more susceptible to infections than a full term baby would be. That means that we will need to limit visits outside our home to the doctor's office for quite some time. That may also mean that we will need to limit the number of visitors we have at our house for some time, too. (The smaller the group the better.)
2) If you are coming to visit the babies, please stay away if you have a cold or virus or have been exposed to someone with a cold or flu within the previous five days. Exposure to people with infections such as colds or flu may cause serious illness in the boys.
3) Always remember to wash your hands before touching the babies and try not to touch your nose or mouth while around the babies. (I am sure that Isaac will help you remember that!) Again, we need to remember that they are very susceptible to infections.
4) One of the most serious viral infections is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV is a common viral infection in young children and is often mistaken for a cold or the flu. Although the virus causes few problems in adults and older children, in premature babies, RSV can lead to severe illness, breathing problems, or even death; it is a common cause for re hospitalization among preemies. For this reason, we will need to limit the boys' exposure to young children, especially children who go to daycare or school.
5) The babies may sleep more than a full-term baby when we get them home, but at shorter intervals. This means that if you do come to visit, you will most likely find the boys asleep. Please do not try to wake them!
We are very excited at the idea of bringing the boys home and having you see them, but as you can imagine, we don't want to do anything to hinder their health. Once they are out, we don't want them to go back to the hospital! Hopefully, by following the above suggestions, we can keep the boys healthy and let them become the social butterflies we know they are. (They are, after all, Isaac's children!)
P.S. Click on the underlined words in #4 for more information about RSV. Each link is different, so you might want to check them all out!
1) The boys' immune systems are still underdeveloped, so they are more susceptible to infections than a full term baby would be. That means that we will need to limit visits outside our home to the doctor's office for quite some time. That may also mean that we will need to limit the number of visitors we have at our house for some time, too. (The smaller the group the better.)
2) If you are coming to visit the babies, please stay away if you have a cold or virus or have been exposed to someone with a cold or flu within the previous five days. Exposure to people with infections such as colds or flu may cause serious illness in the boys.
3) Always remember to wash your hands before touching the babies and try not to touch your nose or mouth while around the babies. (I am sure that Isaac will help you remember that!) Again, we need to remember that they are very susceptible to infections.
4) One of the most serious viral infections is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV is a common viral infection in young children and is often mistaken for a cold or the flu. Although the virus causes few problems in adults and older children, in premature babies, RSV can lead to severe illness, breathing problems, or even death; it is a common cause for re hospitalization among preemies. For this reason, we will need to limit the boys' exposure to young children, especially children who go to daycare or school.
5) The babies may sleep more than a full-term baby when we get them home, but at shorter intervals. This means that if you do come to visit, you will most likely find the boys asleep. Please do not try to wake them!
We are very excited at the idea of bringing the boys home and having you see them, but as you can imagine, we don't want to do anything to hinder their health. Once they are out, we don't want them to go back to the hospital! Hopefully, by following the above suggestions, we can keep the boys healthy and let them become the social butterflies we know they are. (They are, after all, Isaac's children!)
P.S. Click on the underlined words in #4 for more information about RSV. Each link is different, so you might want to check them all out!
2 Months Old!
The boys turned 2 months old yesterday! I simply can't believe it. Where did the time go? Isaac and I sang "Happy Birthday" to them and gave them extra cuddles to celebrate. Unfortunately for them, though, turning two months means I had to sign paperwork so they could get their first shots. (Sorry guys, but it has to happen to keep you healthy.) They'll get their shots sometime within the next week.
Jason is now eating two ounces of formula a feeding while Shawn is getting 5 ml less than 2 ounces. That is a lot of food for a stomach that is the size of a walnut! Jason has no trouble getting it all down--he's more like Isaac, remember. Shawn, on the other hand, has a little trouble with the last 10 mls. He also takes a lot longer to finish--like me maybe.
Isaac's brother, Mario, and our sister-in-law, Stasi, came by the hospital yesterday to be the boys' first official visitors (other than my mom). We had a nice time showing the boys off to them. We took lots of pictures, and I will post them soon.
Jason is now eating two ounces of formula a feeding while Shawn is getting 5 ml less than 2 ounces. That is a lot of food for a stomach that is the size of a walnut! Jason has no trouble getting it all down--he's more like Isaac, remember. Shawn, on the other hand, has a little trouble with the last 10 mls. He also takes a lot longer to finish--like me maybe.
Isaac's brother, Mario, and our sister-in-law, Stasi, came by the hospital yesterday to be the boys' first official visitors (other than my mom). We had a nice time showing the boys off to them. We took lots of pictures, and I will post them soon.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Pictures, Pictures, and More Pictures!
These are the most recent pictures of Shawn. He still has his cannula until he gets his strength back from the darned infection. (I hate that we went back to the white tape, but it is kinder to their skin than the clear stuff.)
Here are Jason's new pictures.
And these are of my two boys together! Aren't they cute? (You better say yes to that question!)
The new weights are in, too. Jason is 6 pounds 5 ounces. Shawn is 6 pounds 2 ounces. They are getting so big!
Here are Jason's new pictures.
And these are of my two boys together! Aren't they cute? (You better say yes to that question!)
The new weights are in, too. Jason is 6 pounds 5 ounces. Shawn is 6 pounds 2 ounces. They are getting so big!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The boys have been moved to cribs! Well, the nurses call them cribs, but they are actually more like tubs. (pictures to come) So, I guess I should say, the boys have moved to tubs!! This is the last bed before coming home. Hooray!
Jason and Shawn are both now taking some of their feeds from the bottle. Neither one has decided that this bottle stuff is for them, though. Today, I held the bottle up to Shawn's lips, and he gave me the most disinterested look as if to say, "Mother dear. Don't bore me with a bottle. I have such a full life of sleeping and checking things out. I do not need to take a bottle. Now if you'll excuse me, I am off to sleep. Thank you for your time." (Why do you think he sounds somewhat English in that fantasy?) Jason is a little less annoyed with the process, but he isn't that thrilled either. I think I have some lazy boys on my hands! Why work when the tube can feed you without the effort, right? Sigh. I have to keep reminding them that they can't come home until they have mastered the bottle so they better get to it.
The eye mystery has been solved. Jason has hazel eyes like me while Shawn has brown eyes like Isaac. So now the inherited characteristics tally goes as follows:
Jason
eyes - hazel (Stacie)
mouth - full and "juicy" (Isaac)
cheeks - chubby (Isaac)
hair - light brown and straight (Stacie)
skin tone - pretty darn light (Stacie)
overall resemblance so far - Isaac
Shawn
eyes - brown (Isaac)
mouth - thin lips and small (Stacie)
cheeks - less chubby (Stacie)
hair - brown and curly (Isaac)
skin tone - darker (Isaac)
overall resemblance so far - Stacie
And yet they still look A LOT alike. Go figure. This genetics stuff is amazing!
Jason and Shawn are both now taking some of their feeds from the bottle. Neither one has decided that this bottle stuff is for them, though. Today, I held the bottle up to Shawn's lips, and he gave me the most disinterested look as if to say, "Mother dear. Don't bore me with a bottle. I have such a full life of sleeping and checking things out. I do not need to take a bottle. Now if you'll excuse me, I am off to sleep. Thank you for your time." (Why do you think he sounds somewhat English in that fantasy?) Jason is a little less annoyed with the process, but he isn't that thrilled either. I think I have some lazy boys on my hands! Why work when the tube can feed you without the effort, right? Sigh. I have to keep reminding them that they can't come home until they have mastered the bottle so they better get to it.
The eye mystery has been solved. Jason has hazel eyes like me while Shawn has brown eyes like Isaac. So now the inherited characteristics tally goes as follows:
Jason
eyes - hazel (Stacie)
mouth - full and "juicy" (Isaac)
cheeks - chubby (Isaac)
hair - light brown and straight (Stacie)
skin tone - pretty darn light (Stacie)
overall resemblance so far - Isaac
Shawn
eyes - brown (Isaac)
mouth - thin lips and small (Stacie)
cheeks - less chubby (Stacie)
hair - brown and curly (Isaac)
skin tone - darker (Isaac)
overall resemblance so far - Stacie
And yet they still look A LOT alike. Go figure. This genetics stuff is amazing!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
We've Come a Long Way, Baby!
The appearances of the babies are changing daily, and it goes beyond the regular growth that babies make. I thought it would be fun to tell you about some of the things that have "appeared" over the last seven weeks. Here are a few:
1) Thankfully, the boys got nipples, but you already knew that. You'll be happy to know that they continue to get bigger and we actually have a raised center now!
2) Eyelashes - The boys were born without eyelashes. For some reason, this was never a concern for me. Maybe I never really noticed it before. Maybe I just instantly thought of them having eyelash transplants (you know, like some kind of Hair for Men type thing) and dismissed it. I don't know. But, now that their eyelashes are growing in, it is very noticeable! It seems like their eyelashes are getting longer every day!
3) Tears - The boys don't cry with tears. They never have. Their tear ducts are not producing tears yet, so when they cry, they just do the face scrunching up thing and make a little noise.
4) Crying - Now that they are getting bigger, their voices now sound more like a newborn baby's. Before, they would never really make noise. When they would make noise, Isaac said it sounded like a baby goat's noise! They still don't cry very often and are easily soothed.
5) Sucking - Now this is debatable on whether this has appeared yet, especially with the boys having to go back and relearn this skill. They did have a visit from an "oral therapist" to see how they are progressing in the sucking category on Tuesday. (I have no idea what an oral therapy session is like because I wasn't there, but I bet it was interesting! lol) The conclusion is that they need to start practicing nippling again. Duh! I could have figured that one out!
That is all I can think of off of the top of my head. I'll add to this list as I think of things!
Still no pictures yet, but I am working on Jason's sucking premiere. Too cute! I will try to have it up by the end of today...
1) Thankfully, the boys got nipples, but you already knew that. You'll be happy to know that they continue to get bigger and we actually have a raised center now!
2) Eyelashes - The boys were born without eyelashes. For some reason, this was never a concern for me. Maybe I never really noticed it before. Maybe I just instantly thought of them having eyelash transplants (you know, like some kind of Hair for Men type thing) and dismissed it. I don't know. But, now that their eyelashes are growing in, it is very noticeable! It seems like their eyelashes are getting longer every day!
3) Tears - The boys don't cry with tears. They never have. Their tear ducts are not producing tears yet, so when they cry, they just do the face scrunching up thing and make a little noise.
4) Crying - Now that they are getting bigger, their voices now sound more like a newborn baby's. Before, they would never really make noise. When they would make noise, Isaac said it sounded like a baby goat's noise! They still don't cry very often and are easily soothed.
5) Sucking - Now this is debatable on whether this has appeared yet, especially with the boys having to go back and relearn this skill. They did have a visit from an "oral therapist" to see how they are progressing in the sucking category on Tuesday. (I have no idea what an oral therapy session is like because I wasn't there, but I bet it was interesting! lol) The conclusion is that they need to start practicing nippling again. Duh! I could have figured that one out!
That is all I can think of off of the top of my head. I'll add to this list as I think of things!
Still no pictures yet, but I am working on Jason's sucking premiere. Too cute! I will try to have it up by the end of today...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Life in the NICU is pretty difficult. It is hard to watch someone take care of your babies. It is hard to know that right now, you as the parent are not the best person to take care of them. It is hard to not feel like you can do whatever you want to your children--kiss them, hold them, love on them. It is a lot like being a spectator in your own life.
All of those things are hard. But, I remind myself that this is temporary. What is a few weeks in the hospital when we have a lifetime to love and care for them?
We are counting the days until the boys can come home. I had told myself (and most likely many of you) that we hoped they would be home by Christmas. With that being only 12 days from now, I don't know if that will come to be, but I suppose it doesn't really matter when they come home. All that matters is that they do--the sooner, the better of course. We just want them home.
Both boys are getting stronger every day. Even with the infection setbacks, they are getting stronger. It is an amazing thing to know that. They were so small and sick when they were born. They have come a LONG way!
Jason is still chugging along. His weight is now 6lbs and 2ozs. He is on full feeding again, which equals 1 2/3 ounces every three hours. He is also starting to suck in earnest again. He had to learn his sucking all over again because they stopped his feeding last week. He still has to finish his course of IV antibiotics from his infection, but that is pretty much all of the medication he is on now. He also still is on his oxygen cannula.
Shawn is slowly getting better, too. After all of his blood work, we found that the only infection he is dealing with is his lung infection. However, his infection was much worse than Jason's initially and has moved into pneumonia. He is receiving three different antibiotics through his IV to help him fight this (and we expect him to soon). He has started feeding again, too, but they are progressing him at a much slower rate. At the last check, he is only getting 1/3 of an ounce of formula a feeding with the rest supplemented by IV. He has lost some weight because of that and is down to 5 pounds. He will also have to learn to suck again, but the hope is that he will start up again quickly because he was doing so well before. They are also giving him breathing support to make sure that he is getting all of the oxygen he needs while he has the pneumonia. Hopefully the doctors will stop that soon.
I know I haven't had many pictures lately. I was trying to leave the boys alone while they were recovering. We did take some last night and I will post them soon.
All of those things are hard. But, I remind myself that this is temporary. What is a few weeks in the hospital when we have a lifetime to love and care for them?
We are counting the days until the boys can come home. I had told myself (and most likely many of you) that we hoped they would be home by Christmas. With that being only 12 days from now, I don't know if that will come to be, but I suppose it doesn't really matter when they come home. All that matters is that they do--the sooner, the better of course. We just want them home.
Both boys are getting stronger every day. Even with the infection setbacks, they are getting stronger. It is an amazing thing to know that. They were so small and sick when they were born. They have come a LONG way!
Jason is still chugging along. His weight is now 6lbs and 2ozs. He is on full feeding again, which equals 1 2/3 ounces every three hours. He is also starting to suck in earnest again. He had to learn his sucking all over again because they stopped his feeding last week. He still has to finish his course of IV antibiotics from his infection, but that is pretty much all of the medication he is on now. He also still is on his oxygen cannula.
Shawn is slowly getting better, too. After all of his blood work, we found that the only infection he is dealing with is his lung infection. However, his infection was much worse than Jason's initially and has moved into pneumonia. He is receiving three different antibiotics through his IV to help him fight this (and we expect him to soon). He has started feeding again, too, but they are progressing him at a much slower rate. At the last check, he is only getting 1/3 of an ounce of formula a feeding with the rest supplemented by IV. He has lost some weight because of that and is down to 5 pounds. He will also have to learn to suck again, but the hope is that he will start up again quickly because he was doing so well before. They are also giving him breathing support to make sure that he is getting all of the oxygen he needs while he has the pneumonia. Hopefully the doctors will stop that soon.
I know I haven't had many pictures lately. I was trying to leave the boys alone while they were recovering. We did take some last night and I will post them soon.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Double Boo
Jason is already doing better and seems to be well on the path toward recovery. Shawn, on the other hand, is still sick. They think he may also have a kidney infection along with the lung infection (we are waiting for the lab results to come back to confirm this). The doctors are giving him IV nutrition and antibiotics and have stopped feeding him formula for the time being.
We need to get Shawn over the infection(s) before we can start up his food again. This is a bigger kink in the plan than we initially thought.
Hopefully the antibiotics will kill the infections quickly and we'll get back on track ASAP.
Poor little guys! :-(
We need to get Shawn over the infection(s) before we can start up his food again. This is a bigger kink in the plan than we initially thought.
Hopefully the antibiotics will kill the infections quickly and we'll get back on track ASAP.
Poor little guys! :-(
Monday, December 10, 2007
Boo
Well, it looks like both of our little guys have lung infections. Boooo. :-( This is a tiny set back, but not totally unexpected. Preemies are more susceptible to infections because of their immature immune systems. We have been fortunate so far in that the boys had managed to avoid getting infections for the most part.
They are both getting antibiotics and should get over the infections soon.
They are both getting antibiotics and should get over the infections soon.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Mr. Personality...
The boys were six weeks old yesterday. Time sure does fly by, especially with newborns. I am amazed at how much the boys have changed and grown from day to day. I almost have trouble believing that they were so small when they were born!
The distinct personalities of the boys are starting to show. They are so similar in many ways, but each boy is clearly his own person.
Shawn is the emotional one. He just reacts to the world around him and lets whatever he is thinking and feeling out. You definitely know when he is unhappy with something, whether that something is how you are holding him, a bath, or just a dirty diaper. (I think the dirty diaper is his least favorite thing of all.) He cries, grunts, and has a large repertoire of facial expressions to help get his point across. He is constantly on the move, and for someone so small, he has incredible strength! He can almost turn himself over and travels from one end of his isolette to the other. I wouldn't be surprised to find Shawn working his way out of his isolette one day soon!
Jason, on the other hand, is the quiet thinker. He rarely cries or complains. But, don't mistake his tranquil demeanor for complacency. Think of it more like plotting and planning time. Rather than openly complain about his problems like his brother, he quietly rebels, outsmarting any nurse. He can unravel even the tightest of swaddles with ease and is the fastest tube puller in all of the NICU!
I see so much of the two of us in them. I have my own idea about which traits they inherited from which person. From what I described, what do you think? Who got what from whom?
The distinct personalities of the boys are starting to show. They are so similar in many ways, but each boy is clearly his own person.
Shawn is the emotional one. He just reacts to the world around him and lets whatever he is thinking and feeling out. You definitely know when he is unhappy with something, whether that something is how you are holding him, a bath, or just a dirty diaper. (I think the dirty diaper is his least favorite thing of all.) He cries, grunts, and has a large repertoire of facial expressions to help get his point across. He is constantly on the move, and for someone so small, he has incredible strength! He can almost turn himself over and travels from one end of his isolette to the other. I wouldn't be surprised to find Shawn working his way out of his isolette one day soon!
Jason, on the other hand, is the quiet thinker. He rarely cries or complains. But, don't mistake his tranquil demeanor for complacency. Think of it more like plotting and planning time. Rather than openly complain about his problems like his brother, he quietly rebels, outsmarting any nurse. He can unravel even the tightest of swaddles with ease and is the fastest tube puller in all of the NICU!
I see so much of the two of us in them. I have my own idea about which traits they inherited from which person. From what I described, what do you think? Who got what from whom?
Saturday, December 8, 2007
The Boys Have Nipples!
Okay, okay. Don't laugh. I know you may think that this is a strange topic for a post. But, I have to tell you that I was seriously wondering if the boys would have nipples. When they were first born, we looked and looked for nipples. They didn't have them. Really. I was a little freaked by it if you want to know the truth.
I started to wonder what their lives would be like nipple-less. Would they be ridiculed in the locker room? Would they have body issues and become male anorexics? Maybe they would try to overcompensate for the lack of nipples with freakishly large steroid-induced muscles? Would they be forced to live a life in the circus because of their unusual condition?
Chandler from "Friends" came to mind. If Chandler was ridiculed for having three nipples, surely the boys would face horrendous taunting for having none.
(A mother has to think of these things you know.)
Imagine my relief when the smallest hint of nipples started showing late last week. And now I am happy to say that today my boys have pencil eraser sized areolas/nipples! They are so cute. (Is "cute" the correct word to use to describe nipples?) Whew. Crisis averted!
************
On the eating front, weights are still increasing. Shawn weighs in at 5 pounds and 6 ounces. Now brace yourself. Jason weighs in at......5 pounds and 15.6 ounces! (I say we should just round up to 6 pounds!) I swear that today our little hefty boy had a double chin!!! Too cute.
I started to wonder what their lives would be like nipple-less. Would they be ridiculed in the locker room? Would they have body issues and become male anorexics? Maybe they would try to overcompensate for the lack of nipples with freakishly large steroid-induced muscles? Would they be forced to live a life in the circus because of their unusual condition?
Chandler from "Friends" came to mind. If Chandler was ridiculed for having three nipples, surely the boys would face horrendous taunting for having none.
(A mother has to think of these things you know.)
Imagine my relief when the smallest hint of nipples started showing late last week. And now I am happy to say that today my boys have pencil eraser sized areolas/nipples! They are so cute. (Is "cute" the correct word to use to describe nipples?) Whew. Crisis averted!
************
On the eating front, weights are still increasing. Shawn weighs in at 5 pounds and 6 ounces. Now brace yourself. Jason weighs in at......5 pounds and 15.6 ounces! (I say we should just round up to 6 pounds!) I swear that today our little hefty boy had a double chin!!! Too cute.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Preemie 101 - Growth and Development
Here is a thought for you. My due date is still six weeks from now, but the babies are almost six weeks old. It's just amazing to think about it. It also might make you wonder how this prematurity might affect the babies in their lives, especially in their growth and development. With that in mind, this post is dedicated to a little Preemie 101.
We look forward to the day the babies will start to smile at us, roll over, sit, walk, and talk. These milestones are incredibly important, and we all have certain expectations about when each should happen. If a child hasn't reached a given milestone within a certain time frame, we tend to get very nervous and worry that something is wrong.
It is important to remember, though, that the progress of preemies differs a little from that of full-term babies. Preemies grow and develop in the same sequence as full-term babies (thereby reaching the same milestones), but the time schedule in which they reach those developmental goals is different. A baby (or two) who only got the chance to develop in utero for 28 weeks can't be compared to a full-term baby, who had 37 plus weeks in utero. Because they came early, our boys have to do a lot of "catching up" during their first weeks and months to get to an even playing ground with full-term babies. And as you may know, catching up is always harder to do than starting off right on target.
In the case of Shawn and Jason, they may be almost 6 weeks old, but they're not able to do the same things developmentally that a newborn would be able to do. Yet. And that is the thing to remember. That word "yet" is the key. They will get there, but they have some catching up to do first.
Take for instance this example. The boys still need to learn to suck and coordinate swallowing and breathing. (It's much harder than you would think!) Most full-term newborns, on the other hand, enter the world ready to nurse and feed. They have had several weeks to practice this skill in their mother's bellies before they enter the world and are forced to try it out for real. Because Shawn and Jason came early, they didn't get the chance to perfect the sucking/swallowing skills. They have to learn it now.
So how can we show this catch up time when we discuss the boys' progress developmentally?
The term "adjusted age" has been developed to give a more realistic view of a preemie's progress and achievement of developmental milestones. Adjusted age is figured by subtracting the number of months or weeks a baby came early from the baby's actual age.
In our case, the boys are six weeks old (I rounded up for this exercise) and they were twelve weeks early.
6 weeks (age now)
- 12 weeks (weeks early)
= -6 weeks adjusted age.
Their adjusted age is the same as a baby still in utero or 6 weeks from being born!
Adjusted age figures are used until the babies have had a chance to catch up to full-term babies. How long that will take is dependent on the babies themselves. Some preemies never need the adjusted age because they reach milestones right along with their chronological age. Some preemies might use the adjusted age for a few months or years. Still others might develop according to their chronological age for some milestones, but according to their adjusted age for other milestones.
We won't know how long it will take Shawn and Jason to catch up to their chronological age. We do know that they will catch up eventually.
****************
I got the babies' lengths and weights today. The boys are growing like weeds! Jason weighs 5lbs 6oz and is 17 1/4 inches long. Shawn weighs so close to 5 pounds that I am just going to say he is (more fun with the metric system) and is 18 inches long. (Shawn wouldn't straighten his legs all the way, so he may be a little longer than that.)
****************
Thanks for leaving comments, calling, and emailing so I know who is out there, too. Keep on commenting! :-)
We look forward to the day the babies will start to smile at us, roll over, sit, walk, and talk. These milestones are incredibly important, and we all have certain expectations about when each should happen. If a child hasn't reached a given milestone within a certain time frame, we tend to get very nervous and worry that something is wrong.
It is important to remember, though, that the progress of preemies differs a little from that of full-term babies. Preemies grow and develop in the same sequence as full-term babies (thereby reaching the same milestones), but the time schedule in which they reach those developmental goals is different. A baby (or two) who only got the chance to develop in utero for 28 weeks can't be compared to a full-term baby, who had 37 plus weeks in utero. Because they came early, our boys have to do a lot of "catching up" during their first weeks and months to get to an even playing ground with full-term babies. And as you may know, catching up is always harder to do than starting off right on target.
In the case of Shawn and Jason, they may be almost 6 weeks old, but they're not able to do the same things developmentally that a newborn would be able to do. Yet. And that is the thing to remember. That word "yet" is the key. They will get there, but they have some catching up to do first.
Take for instance this example. The boys still need to learn to suck and coordinate swallowing and breathing. (It's much harder than you would think!) Most full-term newborns, on the other hand, enter the world ready to nurse and feed. They have had several weeks to practice this skill in their mother's bellies before they enter the world and are forced to try it out for real. Because Shawn and Jason came early, they didn't get the chance to perfect the sucking/swallowing skills. They have to learn it now.
So how can we show this catch up time when we discuss the boys' progress developmentally?
The term "adjusted age" has been developed to give a more realistic view of a preemie's progress and achievement of developmental milestones. Adjusted age is figured by subtracting the number of months or weeks a baby came early from the baby's actual age.
In our case, the boys are six weeks old (I rounded up for this exercise) and they were twelve weeks early.
6 weeks (age now)
- 12 weeks (weeks early)
= -6 weeks adjusted age.
Their adjusted age is the same as a baby still in utero or 6 weeks from being born!
Adjusted age figures are used until the babies have had a chance to catch up to full-term babies. How long that will take is dependent on the babies themselves. Some preemies never need the adjusted age because they reach milestones right along with their chronological age. Some preemies might use the adjusted age for a few months or years. Still others might develop according to their chronological age for some milestones, but according to their adjusted age for other milestones.
We won't know how long it will take Shawn and Jason to catch up to their chronological age. We do know that they will catch up eventually.
****************
I got the babies' lengths and weights today. The boys are growing like weeds! Jason weighs 5lbs 6oz and is 17 1/4 inches long. Shawn weighs so close to 5 pounds that I am just going to say he is (more fun with the metric system) and is 18 inches long. (Shawn wouldn't straighten his legs all the way, so he may be a little longer than that.)
****************
Thanks for leaving comments, calling, and emailing so I know who is out there, too. Keep on commenting! :-)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Random Thoughts
Have I said how much we love holding the babies? Well we do. We both get such a charge from seeing the boys and holding them. We can't wait until they can come home and we can hold them all the time. I think some serious spoiling is in order!
The boys' eyes are starting to change now. I can't decide if they will end up hazel or brown. I do know that both boys' eyes look to be the same color. Any bets on what color they'll be?
Jason continues to pull his feeding tube (and sometimes his oxygen tube) out on a regular basis. The nurses asked me to pick up some mittens for him in the hopes that they will keep him from taking out the tubes. Well, that was a big failure. He will either pull the mittens off first and then go after the tubes or he'll just take the tubes out with his mittens on. I don't blame him, though. I bet the tubes in his nose are pretty annoying. (I still say he gets this trick from his father!)
Weights are up again. Yeah! Shawn is now between 4lbs 10oz and 4lbs 11oz, while Jason is a little over 5lbs 4ozs. The NICU weighs the boys using the metric system and the grams don't translate into exact poundage. I guess it is more precise to measure them this way, but it sure is a pain in the rear to convert their weights all the time!
Yesterday, we both got the chance to try bottle feeding the boys. I gave Jason his first bottle ever. (Again I would have filmed it but my hands were full.) He was so cute. He did pretty well and managed to swallow about 5mls of formula before we stopped him. We didn't want him to burn a lot of calories because he was working hard sucking the bottle. (If only burning calories was that easy for all of us!) Isaac got to give Shawn his bottle. Shawn was in a sound sleep and couldn't really be bothered with such things, so it didn't go well. He managed a few sucks but wouldn't swallow. He didn't gag, so that is a step up! We'll keep trying, though!
I can't believe the boys are five weeks old already. Where is the time going?
P.S. I would love to know who is reading this. Any chance I could get you to leave your name under the comments so I know who is out there? It would help me feel less like I am talking to myself! :-)
Anyone? Hello out there? Bueller? Okay then...I am off to go do something productive now...
The boys' eyes are starting to change now. I can't decide if they will end up hazel or brown. I do know that both boys' eyes look to be the same color. Any bets on what color they'll be?
Jason continues to pull his feeding tube (and sometimes his oxygen tube) out on a regular basis. The nurses asked me to pick up some mittens for him in the hopes that they will keep him from taking out the tubes. Well, that was a big failure. He will either pull the mittens off first and then go after the tubes or he'll just take the tubes out with his mittens on. I don't blame him, though. I bet the tubes in his nose are pretty annoying. (I still say he gets this trick from his father!)
Weights are up again. Yeah! Shawn is now between 4lbs 10oz and 4lbs 11oz, while Jason is a little over 5lbs 4ozs. The NICU weighs the boys using the metric system and the grams don't translate into exact poundage. I guess it is more precise to measure them this way, but it sure is a pain in the rear to convert their weights all the time!
Yesterday, we both got the chance to try bottle feeding the boys. I gave Jason his first bottle ever. (Again I would have filmed it but my hands were full.) He was so cute. He did pretty well and managed to swallow about 5mls of formula before we stopped him. We didn't want him to burn a lot of calories because he was working hard sucking the bottle. (If only burning calories was that easy for all of us!) Isaac got to give Shawn his bottle. Shawn was in a sound sleep and couldn't really be bothered with such things, so it didn't go well. He managed a few sucks but wouldn't swallow. He didn't gag, so that is a step up! We'll keep trying, though!
I can't believe the boys are five weeks old already. Where is the time going?
P.S. I would love to know who is reading this. Any chance I could get you to leave your name under the comments so I know who is out there? It would help me feel less like I am talking to myself! :-)
Anyone? Hello out there? Bueller? Okay then...I am off to go do something productive now...
Monday, December 3, 2007
We have discovered today that Jason is a little practical joker. (He gets that from his father.) He pulled his feeding tube out twice. Twice! The first time it happened, he pulled the tube out of his mouth. This is no small feat because the tube is approximately eight inches long. The second time he pulled his tube out of his nose!
Look at Jason, sporting the new look of the season (feeding tube in his nose).
Notice the sweet little smile. He is the picture of innocence.
Now note the evidence in Jason's hand...
What does that leave?
It leaves Jason without his feeding tube again! (And keeps his nurse on her toes! Hee Hee)
Shawn tried his bottle again today and I was right there with the camera...
(The voice in the background is his nurse)
Look at Jason, sporting the new look of the season (feeding tube in his nose).
Notice the sweet little smile. He is the picture of innocence.
Now note the evidence in Jason's hand...
What does that leave?
It leaves Jason without his feeding tube again! (And keeps his nurse on her toes! Hee Hee)
Shawn tried his bottle again today and I was right there with the camera...
(The voice in the background is his nurse)
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The new weights are in and...drum roll, please...
We hit 5 pounds!! Yippee!! Jason weighed in at 5 pounds 1 oz today! Way to go little guy (or should I say "big guy" now). Shawn is still trailing behind a little in weight. He weighed in at 4 pounds 8 oz. These are awesome weights for preemies that are not even 34 weeks yet!
I can't even imagine how big they would have been had I still been pregnant with them. You would have had to roll me around or something. A picture of a beached whale comes to mind...
We hit 5 pounds!! Yippee!! Jason weighed in at 5 pounds 1 oz today! Way to go little guy (or should I say "big guy" now). Shawn is still trailing behind a little in weight. He weighed in at 4 pounds 8 oz. These are awesome weights for preemies that are not even 34 weeks yet!
I can't even imagine how big they would have been had I still been pregnant with them. You would have had to roll me around or something. A picture of a beached whale comes to mind...
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Nothing new to report today. The boys are still going strong and gaining that precious weight they need so they can come home.
Shawn's eye is looking so much better. It isn't healed yet, but it isn't red and swollen now. It was funny to watch the nurse try to put his eye drops in. She started with the good eye and that was the wrong move. When she got to his sore eye, he wanted NOTHING to do with the eye drops. He squeezed that eye shut and there was nothing that was going to open it again. She tried five times before she kind of tricked him into opening his eye (she waited until HE opened it and then nailed him with the drop).
Jason is still trying to wean himself off of his oxygen. He continues to bring his oxygen level down, but we still have a little way to go. Then he can take that dreadful cannula out of his little nose!
Shawn's eye is looking so much better. It isn't healed yet, but it isn't red and swollen now. It was funny to watch the nurse try to put his eye drops in. She started with the good eye and that was the wrong move. When she got to his sore eye, he wanted NOTHING to do with the eye drops. He squeezed that eye shut and there was nothing that was going to open it again. She tried five times before she kind of tricked him into opening his eye (she waited until HE opened it and then nailed him with the drop).
Jason is still trying to wean himself off of his oxygen. He continues to bring his oxygen level down, but we still have a little way to go. Then he can take that dreadful cannula out of his little nose!
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