Doing Well Today

The boys are doing well today. Brock took down 4 cc's breast feeding and 25 out of the bottle after that which is great. He spills quite a bit of food out of his bottle so we tried a couple of different things so he wouldn't spill so much... none of them worked. I guess he is just a spiller. He weighed 4 pounds, 15 oz today! Almost 5 pounds!!!

Christian got in a "big boy bed" today since he was warming himself nicely. He was at 4 pounds, 12 oz today and still looked puffy, but not nearly as puffy as he looked this weekend. Both he and brother (and all the other babies in their nursery) are stuffy so they were both put on nose drops today and Christian was put under a hood which acts just like a cannula and looks like a baby facial. It should leave his nose free and help him with the stuffiness. He is on 17cc's of food (a bit more than half an ounce) and he will be at 18 next feeding.

Both boys had visitors again today and I know they love seeing Aunt Ashley and my mom. We were pleased to see that Dr. Green had them moved teams so he could still be their doctor today. They are both now on the Green team and he did their check up while I was there today. We really like that since he has been with the boys quite a bit and really knows their personalities.

Brandon has his 1 year, 3 month cancer check up tests on Thursday with the results next week so make sure to keep him in your prayers as well as the boys. Lots of big tests this week and we hope everyone is clean and clear.

Another Day in the NICU

Elizabeth and Aaron with Christian

Christian all stretched out. Please mom... don't let them exam my eyes!

Baby Brock after his feeding.

The twins had some visitors today and also got eye exams so it has been a big Monday for them! Christian looked a bit better today. He is still on the cannula and seems to be doing ok on it today. He is at 12cc's of milk and will increase over the next 8 feedings. They got some of the water off him and his hand, feet and face are less swollen although he is still pretty puffy. He has several reasons that he is puffy and only time will take care of it. He got held by both mom and dad today and did well at his eye exam today. We meet with Dr. Green again today and he just thinks more time to heal and this little guy will be doing better. He thought maybe another week or so before we tried bottle feeding again. He is at 4 pounds, 12 oz today and 17 1/4 inches.

Brock is also doing well. He is eating 44cc's (almost 1.5 ozs) and is up to four bottles a day. He had a bad bottle day yesterday but did a bit better with Dad feeding him today. He took down about 25cc's with him during his bottle today. He weights 4 pounds, 14 oz today and is also 17 1/4 inches. We have still be trying to breastfeed but he is not that interested this week. He also did well in his eye exam. Poor babies... it looked pretty uncomfortable.

Dr. Green seems to think that in 6 months this will all be a distant memory for us. We hope and pray he is right and that all our little issues with these guys will be gone soon. We are so ready to have two healthy babies home. Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful prayers for these little guys, keep them up!

Two Big Boys

Brock is ready to hunt!

Isn't he cute

Well both boys were 4 pounds, 12 oz today. It is a large gain for both but we were warned that much of Christian's might be the blood he received so he might go back down some tonight. Christian is still on CPAP and seems to be doing well. We have a couple of items that we would like everyone to pray for our little guys today. 1. Christian to have his lungs grow and developer. 2. Christian has a brain scan in about a week to check for any damage during his illness... we pray this is totally normal and he has no damage and lastly pray for feedings on both by boys to be successful and for them to keep growing big and strong. Christian is eating 12cc's every three hours and seems to be tolerating it well. We are not able to dress Christian right now since the nurses need to look at his lungs while he breathes... so no photos of hunting gear for him today.

Brock is doing well on his feedings. He is eating 42cc's and the nurses put about 50-55 in his bottle to see if he is still hungry at the end of 42. Yesterday he and I had another "attempt" at breastfeeding... wow, it is hard! Both of us seem a little frustrated, but I am not one to give up so easily! We will keep trying once a day and he gets two bottles a day. Yesterday I was able to give him a bottle after our attempt and he took down the whole thing! He is a great little eater :) Dr. Green started talking about his steps to come home which is a great sign. He needs to take down all 8 bottles a day and have no brady episodes for 5 days.... we will have a ways to go but the end of the road is near. We have two pictures of him in his hunting gear above.

Thank you all for the prayers, please keep them coming for our boys, especially little Christian.

One step forward and one step back

Hi- Poor little Christian is back on CPAP today. He was breathing very fast so they put him back on to help him out a little. Therefore, we suspended bottle feedings in him today. He will get a shot to help him burn off some fluid and a bit more blood today to get him back up to the normal range. Please keep this little guy in your prayers to be wonderfully healthy!!!

Brock and I attempted breast feeding today, it didn't go so well for either of us and he wasn't able to take down any cc's. He has been doing well on the bottle though so they will keep that up.

Both boys weighted in at 4 pounds, 8 oz today. They have also been joined in the NICU by some natural quads! I hope I get to meet the mom... they think three of them might be identical. Wow, I can't imagine going through the NICU experience times 4!

Two Bottle Feeding Babies

Dad and Christian's first bottle feed! Great job boys!!!

Look Dad, no hands!

Christian sleeping like his mom...

Brock looks so excited to start breastfeeding

Uggg... so much work today....It is hard to be a preemie.

Hello- To our surprised Dr. Green thought it was time to try Christian on the bottle today. We felt like true parents trying to juggle two babies and two feedings :) Brandon was a trooper and volunteered to do Christians first bottle feed. The boys did an all American try but were unable to get him to feed. The nurse took over and got just four cc's down him. He might just take a little bit more time than brother to learn. I believe he will try once a day until he does a bit better. He is eating 8 cc's right now and is really doing great! We are so proud that he was even able to try today, a sign that he is really much better!!

Brock and I attempted breast feeding today. We met with an expert and got our training and away we went. He did a great job but was also only able to get 4 cc's down. I was impressed he did so well on his first try. The lactation nurse thought he was a "natural" and did better than some of her full term newborns. He is eating 42cc's right now. I was very impressed with both of my boys today. True mommy pride. I got weights on both boys but with all the action today, I forgot what they were... sorry!! I know it was a gain for both boys. I will re-check tomorrow.

Keep up the prayers for those little boys. We need some good feedings and continued weight gain from both of them.

Good Wednesday in the NICU

I love that little face... he was not a big fan of the flash. Here is Christian without his CPAP and on his cannula.

Side view of Christian

Another Christian pic. Brandon and I always giggle at his shots and the look he gives the camera :)

We had a great day with the boys today. I worked today and was able to go in and feed at 230p, a little later than my normal time but it was worth the wait! Christian was moved off his CPAP again and to a cannula! He looks so much more comfortable and we are thrilled he is doing so well. He also got to start feeding again today and was able to take 3cc's every three hours today. If that goes down well, he will be moved to 6 cc's tonight and then they will reevaluate him tomorrow. They are also seeing if he still needs his warming bed and might be able to move to a bassinet soon if he does well. He weighted in at 4 pounds 2 oz today. We are both so proud of our little guy!!! He is a superstar!

Brother Brock also had a great day today. He weighted in at 4 pounds, 8.7oz. He has been moved up to 42cc's of milk (almost 1.5oz per feed) and is still on 24 cal. fortifier. He has been bottle feeding for three days now, still at two bottles a day. Today it was just me and the nurse that feed him and he took down 30 of his 42 cc's which is great! He looked a little "milk drunk" toward the end and fell asleep on me so we had to put the rest in the tube. He is getting better about breathing I think, and even though mom is just as inexperienced we are learning together how to feed. I love this process and really feel this is a bonding experience for us. I can't wait to do it with Christian as well. If all goes as planned we will start breast feeding Brock tomorrow.

As a mom, I already feel my time is being pulled in two directions as I try to give each one equal love and attention. I have found this to be almost impossible as each day one of them needs more time from me than the other. I think this is something in life I will just have to get used to. Also on a personal note, a big thanks to my husband for putting up with his still hurting, sore and sometimes cranky wife for five weeks. I really thought I would be totally healed by now and I am not and you are taking wonderful care of me! Thanks honey!

Today was a good day in the NICU

Hi- We had a good day in the NICU. Christian got a little pedia light (sp?) in his tummy and will get that all day. If all goes well then tomorrow they will try some milk. He looked well today with good color and was wiggling and moving around. He got a water pill to help him lose some fluid in his hands and feet. He is still on CPAP and was doing pretty well on his air.

Brock was doing well also. He was moved to 40cc's of milk fortified to 24 calories. I got to feed him today and he did really well and took down 35 of the 40 cc's. Apparently his feeding last night went well also and he took down 36cc's which is great! We will do 2 feedings a day until he can complete both of them with no problems and then move to three etc. This was my first time to feed a little baby and I have to say it went pretty well!