First week!!

Wow! The boys are a week old. Both Dug and I are amazed how fast they are progressing. I thought they would be on the ventilator for weeks but they have both moved on to cpap and are at room level oxygen which is amazing. The steriod shots I received at 26 weeks have made a world of difference. Like all babies, they lost wieght in their first week of life but are both almost back to their birth weight. And like almost all premature babies, and alot of full term babies, they have both had spouts of juandice which have been treated with photo therapy. They are both already feeding on breast milk every 2 hours and tolerating it well. They are still so small but I'm getting used to changing them and the routines at the NICU. At first you are so hesitatnt to touch them or do anything because you don't want to do anything wrong and they don't really feel like yours but now I'm much more comfortable being around MY babies and I take every opportunity to do more and more with them. I am really looking forward to kangaroo care (skin to skin contact on your chest) which we may be able to start next week of the week after that.

Even though the boys are not at home with us, Dug and I are thoroughly exhausted. From late nights at the nicu, travelling back and forth between downtown and Georgetown, fast food meals at the most bizzare times, making calls to update everyone on the latest developments and nondevelopments, Dug going to work and me pumping every 2-3 hours, as well as pure excitement and apprehesions, we are both totally sleep deprived. My dad has been my saving grace; driving me to and from the nicu when I'm too tired, bringing me good nutricious meals to the nicu and my house. I would be even more sleep deprived and laking any energy if it wasn't for him. Thanks dad!!

We are hoping that next week will be better as fall into a schedule and put some limits on what we can and just cannot feasibly do. The boys are doing so well so we want to start planning how we can manage long term. Needless to say it has been quite the adventure so far and I look forward to many more firsts as Reece and Matthew continue to grow.

Day 7

Matthew is stable but has gained more weight than expected so they have decreased his suger water intake. He hasn't pooped so they will be giving him another suppository. Mommy got to change Matthew today and he peed on me... thanks!

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Reece had a few spells without the cpap last night so they had to put him back on it. He was also given another round of phototherapy for jaundice. They increased his food to 3ccs of breast milk. Dug changed Reece for the first time and he kept on pooping while he was being changed. This is becoming a wierd little habit for Reece or some kind of joke he is playing on us.

Day 6

Matthew is down to room level oxygen on the cpap. He had a poop after last night's sopository but just the one. Mommy got to change him for the first time and he was such a good boy. This boy can sleep through anything!

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Reece is being cycled off cpap for 4 hours and you can tell he is so much happier without it. They increased his feeding to 2ccs of breast milk. Mommy got to change another pooppy diaper and Reece just kept pooing... even more than last time... and then at the end he peed on me! Welcome to mommyhood!! He stayed up after with his eyes open for a little while and we just stared at each other.

Day 5

Reece remains stable. Mommy got to change Reece again and he was such a good boy. He had a big poopy that was all sticky and while I tried to clean it up he started pooping some more. lol

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Matthew started getting breast milk today, only 1cc every 2 hours. After some convincing Dug changed Matthew for the first time and did a great job. Thankfully there was no poop for daddy to clean... but maybe next time :)

Day 4

It was Matthew's turn to get a tan today...lol. He was put under the uv lights for juandice. The nurse said she could still hear the heart murmur so he may be given a dose of surfactant to help the lungs from sticking. He was given his first feeding of my breast milk today.

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All is fine with Reece. I was able to change his diaper for the first time which was really scary... just nervous because they look so fragile and you are afraid to break them. He cried and fussed the entire time but he opened his eyes when he heard my voice and I was able to just stare at him for a while. He was also given another round of phototherapy.

Day 3

Reece spent the day under UV lights... suntanning!!! Our little piglet also ate all the milk that I have made so far ...leaving nothing for his brother. The NICU staff moved the ventilator machine away from his bed because he had proven yesterday that he would not be needing it anymore. Way to go Reece!

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Matthew was given meds to close the valve and the heart murmur seem to be gone.

Day 2

Reece was taken off the ventilator today and put on CPAP, which is much less evasive, even though it looks more combersum. Reece kept grabbing and pulling at the machine.... he is just like his daddy that can't make it through the night with his sleep apnea machine.

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Matthew is still on his ventilator and has a slight heart murmer, the valve that is suppossed to close after delivery has not closed yet. He also has a small bleed in his brain but the doctors don't seem to be worried about it and said that is normal for babies born early.