Car Seat Day

As it gets closer to time to go home, the OT/PT department in the NICU does a fitting with your kiddos for their car seats. Since we are getting closer to going home, we did our car seat day today. It was a riot. It is hard to remember that the girls are really that small until you do something like put them in an infant car seat. We have to pad the seat with numerous receiving blankets to adjust it so it will be safe. We also have to make sure they are positioned just right because preemies don't have very good head control and if not positioned right can cut off their airway.

First picture is Lola Elizabeth, who looks like she is meditating. Next picture is Lily Caroline, who looks very similar, but the depth of the picture shows you that 5 lbs. is really not that big. Then we have both girls together with their caps on. They are working on keeping their temperatures stable when they aren't bundled up. Much of their bed positioners have been discontinued as they won't have any of that at home. The NICU uses many things in the cribs for the kiddos that just wouldn't be safe at home in a crib, as we don't have the constant heartrate/breathing/pulse ox monitors.
Picture in the crib is Lily with her eyes wide open and alert, something they are both doing more and more. Last picture is Lola on the scale before we tried breastfeeding. They use the scale before and after breastfeeding to tell how much the girls have ingested as weight gain will continue to be a must for sometime.

Speaking of weight, both girls now in the 5 lb. range!! Lily is now 5 lbs. .4 oz and Lola is 5 lbs. 3.4 oz.

The current plan is to continue monitoring them for the next 24 hrs. off of caffeine (given for regular heart rhythm) and Reglan (given for reflux). So, maybe tomorrow we will know when and if they plan to do a sleep study.

We are so proud of our girls and all they have accomplished. Arriving 9 weeks early is no small feat and we are inspired by our little miracles every day.

Love, Mel