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Well, the big news for the day is Lola graduated to an open air crib! When I went in this morning she had already transferred into the open air crib and out of her isolette. It was a fantastic surprise, even though we knew it was a possibility yesterday. Not only did she hold her temperature well for the past 24 hrs., she continued to hold it while I was there all day today.
Lily also did fantastic at holding her body temperature over the past 24 hrs. and while I was there today. However, she has to weigh at least 1800 grams ( close to 4 lbs.) before she can transfer to the open air crib. She needs around 75 grams to get there, as she is 3 lbs. 12. 5 oz today.
All the work holding their body temperatures and the bottle trials yesterday must have wiped them out, as both girls slept hard all day. They both started to wake up and be alert right as we needed to leave. Have I mentioned how much I hate to leave?!?!!!
We continue to appreciate everyone's well wishes, prayers, and support. These baby girls are the answer to many, many prayers. Please continue to pray for their health and growth. Thanks so much! (Sorry no pics today as I forgot my camera!)
Love, Mel
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Big Day for Little Ones
Today, we reached 33 weeks gestation. Both girls still continuing to do very well. Top picture is Lily working on sucking her pacifier. She weighs 3 lbs. 12 oz. now! Lily was so alert today, eyes wide open, listening to Daddy and Mommy.
Bottom picture is Lola sleeping. The pink cloth on her head is Mom's scent cloth. They have us put a cloth in their isolette that we have worn that smells like us. Lola weighs 4 lbs. 1 0z. now. She got to have her bed temperature turned off today, which means she is holding her own body temperature. If she goes 24 hrs. with holding her temperature, she can go into an open crib. Big progress.
Both girls tried to suck from a bottle today. Lola took in about 5 mL of formula/breastmilk without any drop in heartrate, respirations, or oxygen saturation. She was wide eyed and really interested for the 5 mL, but then sacked out. It was so cute.
Lily, who had been really active/alert for most of the day, decided to be sleepy right at her first bottle attempt. She did use her tongue to get the milk on her lips and also took a couple of good sucks, but didn't really take in any formula/breastmilk. She is also working on holding her temperature and before we left today, her bed had been turned off too.
Both girls continue to mesmorize their parents. We miss them terribly when we have to leave, but hopefully soon they will leave with us for home.
Love, Mel
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Opening your Christmas presents early
I have decided that having your babies preterm is a bit like a child opening his Christmas presents before Christmas. You get really excited because you know you have some great gifts, but you just can't play with them yet- and that is torture!
Don and I spent all day at the NICU with the girls. What we learned about our "presents" today:
Lola is now 4 lbs! yea!
Lily snores. It is hysterical.
Don has a recording on his phone of Lily snoring during our "kangaroo" session. It is a riot.
Who would think that a baby who will be 33 weeks gestation tomorrow could snore loud enough to record?
Both girls had an excellent day overall. Lily did gain 20 grams, but still 3 lbs. 10 oz. officially. They both continue to increase in alertness and ability to follow our voices.
They also met their cousin Lindsey for the first time today, which was great.
Above picture is Don with Lily.
Love, Mel
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday update
Well, we all made it through our 2nd Friday in the NICU. Lola gained weight and is 1 0z. from 4 lbs. Go little sister! Big sister, Lily, is holding firm at 3 lbs. 10 oz., but maybe she will gain tonight.
Both girls continue to hold their body temperatures well out of their isolettes. Above picture is Lola and Mom at noon feeding. Lola really worked hard at coordinating her eyes and following my voice today. It was so cute. I held Lily at her 3 p.m. feeding and she stayed sacked out pretty much the entire time. They both are becoming more active and alert everyday. For some reason, it seems to be around 2 or 3 p.m. that they are the most alert.
Both continue to smile all the time and look cute and smell great. Perfect babies.
We greatly appreciate all the wonderful care we have received at the NICU.
More later...
Love, Mel
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Daddy's little girls
Since the girls have been doing so well out of their isolettes, we were permitted to hold them extra today in addition to "kangaroo" time. I held Lily for her noon feeding and it was great to see her face. With "kangaroo" time they lie on my chest, so I don't get a very good look while we cuddle.
Don held Lola for the very first time at her 6 pm feeding. It was precious. She just stayed pretty much sacked out the whole time, completely content. Lily was very active and alert today and when Don came in from work she followed his voice everywhere from her isolette. It is obvious both little girls love their Daddy.
The other fun thing is that both girls seem to smile all the time. I know people say that they aren't really smiling at this time of their lives, but both girls do smile repeatedly. It is so sweet.
Love, Mel
Don held Lola for the very first time at her 6 pm feeding. It was precious. She just stayed pretty much sacked out the whole time, completely content. Lily was very active and alert today and when Don came in from work she followed his voice everywhere from her isolette. It is obvious both little girls love their Daddy.
The other fun thing is that both girls seem to smile all the time. I know people say that they aren't really smiling at this time of their lives, but both girls do smile repeatedly. It is so sweet.
Love, Mel
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
32 weeks and 3 days
Well, another good day for our sweet angels. They continue to hold their own in the breathing department. Both are also gaining weight. Today, they had an OT session to do range of motion exercises and swallowing exercises. They tolerated that well without issue.
Lola got to try to suck on a bottle for the first time. She gave it her best, but got only about 3 good sucks in before she was finished.
Lily has been coordinating her eyes really well the past few days. She just looks around with these big eyes as if deep in reflection. It is so cute.
I can still only hold/kangaroo them once a day. I do get to do all of their diaper changes and temperature checks and repositioning right before their feeding times. It is amazing how strong those little legs and arms can be when you try to snuggle them back into their positioners.
Don and I are doing well. Don has had to go back to work, but is trying to do a flexible schedule so he can see the girls daily. I spend most of the day at the NICU. I miss them terribly when I have to leave.
Thanks again for all the prayers, thoughts and phone calls. We are running a little slow at returning calls/emails as you can imagine, but we always feel lucky to have the support system we have.
Love, Mel
Lola got to try to suck on a bottle for the first time. She gave it her best, but got only about 3 good sucks in before she was finished.
Lily has been coordinating her eyes really well the past few days. She just looks around with these big eyes as if deep in reflection. It is so cute.
I can still only hold/kangaroo them once a day. I do get to do all of their diaper changes and temperature checks and repositioning right before their feeding times. It is amazing how strong those little legs and arms can be when you try to snuggle them back into their positioners.
Don and I are doing well. Don has had to go back to work, but is trying to do a flexible schedule so he can see the girls daily. I spend most of the day at the NICU. I miss them terribly when I have to leave.
Thanks again for all the prayers, thoughts and phone calls. We are running a little slow at returning calls/emails as you can imagine, but we always feel lucky to have the support system we have.
Love, Mel
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Lily and Lola are here!
As some of you surely know by now, our two blessings have arrived. Lily and Lola were born on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008.
On Friday, June 13th I began to dilate and was placed on bedrest. My doctor sent me that afternoon to labor and delivery to be monitored for contractions. Apparently, I was having some and I never even felt them. My belly has been moving constantly since I was 15 weeks pregnant, so I may have had these contractions for awhile and never knew they were contractions. They sent me home as the contractions were pretty irregular. Then Sunday, June 15th at about 1:30 a.m. I had a contraction I felt. The doctor on call sent me back to labor and delivery to be monitored. While I was there, my contractions progressed and were about every 8 - 12 minutes apart. They gave me a shot to stop the contractions and it worked. They also gave me a shot of steriods to mature the babies' lungs in case I did deliver early. Monday, June 16th I went back to the doctor for my second and final shot of steriods.
No contractions all day Monday, until....
Tuesday at 1:40 a.m. I began more contractions. I had 4 strong ones that hour and then at 2:40 a.m. on the nose, my water broke. My doctor (whom I love) was on call (Thank God!) and back to labor and delivery we were sent. I was at the hospital at 3 a.m. and had my c-section by 6:30 a.m.
Lily Caroline arrived first at 6:30 a.m. I heard her cry and immediately felt relief. When the doctor held her over the sheet that separated us, I couldn't believe it. She was gorgeous! She then was immediately wisked away to a team of NICU nurses and our neonatologist.
Lola Elizabeth arrived just after her older sister at 6:31 a.m. A softer cry than Lily's, but still a cry came. The doctor held her over the sheet as well and it was also love at first sight. She then joined her sister with the NICU crew.
All together, there were 4 nurses for each baby, 1 neonatalogist, 1 OBGYN, 1 anesthesiologist, and 4 nurses for me. Of course, a very proud Dad was next to me the entire time.
Don was great and calm and the perfect partner.
I kept watching and waiting to see if the girls would have to intubated. To my amazement, they never did. I just kept praying the whole time. Our neonatologist looked over at us and smiled and said they looked really good. Good Apgars and smiling NICU nurses and doctors. The nurses let us have one last close look at both Lily and Lola and off they went to the NICU.
Lily weighed 3 lbs. and 7 oz. and was 16.5 inches long.
Lola weighed 3 lbs. and 13 oz. and was 16 inches long.
There was some confusion about Lola's birth weight, but it was 3 lbs. 13 oz. NOT 3 lbs. 8 oz.
Don and our parents and my sister were able to see the girls later that morning. I couldn't get up until after 6:30 that evening. Everyone just kept telling me how great they looked and still no vent. They did put the girls on a video that fed into my room, which was so nice. When I finally got to see them, it was so surreal. I couldn't believe these tiny beings were inside me just a day ago!
I stayed in the hospital until Saturday, June 21st. Leaving the girls was terrible, I didn't want to go. The rough estimates of how long they will be in the NICU are 5 - 7 weeks.
They never had to be put on a vent which was a major blessing. They both have been breathing on their own for several days now (did have high flow nasal cannulas to stimulate rhythm of breathing initially). IVs out yesterday. After an initial weight loss (like all babies), they are now gaining again. OT/PT both think they look great too.
Now, we are just waiting to get to 4 lbs. 8 oz., consistently keep body temperature (doing really well already with this, just need more practice) and learning to "nipple". The coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing needed to do bottle or breastfeeding doesn't really come along until 34 weeks. We turned 32 weeks Sunday, so still a bit to go.
Their second day of life I got to hold them for the first time. They call it "kangarooing" or skin to skin contact. Unbelievably, precious moments.
Their sixth day of life I got to "kangaroo" them both at the same time. It was crazy wonderful. Completely amazing to be reunited all at the same time. It was so great to see both of our girls together. I really like holding them both simultaneously. I feel like they must miss each other.
Lola has blonde hair and blue eyes. She is a pretty mellow baby and likes to lie on her belly. When she is lying on my chest in our "kangaroo" sessions, she tries to climb higher on my chest than Lily.
Lily has dark brown hair and blue eyes. She can be fiesty at times and loves to touch her little sister when we "kangaroo". She likes to keep her hands by her face.
We will be spending much time over the next few weeks in the NICU. We very much appreciate everyone's prayers, support and friendship with our journey to parenthood.
As you can imagine, we feel blessed beyond belief and are loving every minute spent with our baby girls.
Love to all, Mel
On Friday, June 13th I began to dilate and was placed on bedrest. My doctor sent me that afternoon to labor and delivery to be monitored for contractions. Apparently, I was having some and I never even felt them. My belly has been moving constantly since I was 15 weeks pregnant, so I may have had these contractions for awhile and never knew they were contractions. They sent me home as the contractions were pretty irregular. Then Sunday, June 15th at about 1:30 a.m. I had a contraction I felt. The doctor on call sent me back to labor and delivery to be monitored. While I was there, my contractions progressed and were about every 8 - 12 minutes apart. They gave me a shot to stop the contractions and it worked. They also gave me a shot of steriods to mature the babies' lungs in case I did deliver early. Monday, June 16th I went back to the doctor for my second and final shot of steriods.
No contractions all day Monday, until....
Tuesday at 1:40 a.m. I began more contractions. I had 4 strong ones that hour and then at 2:40 a.m. on the nose, my water broke. My doctor (whom I love) was on call (Thank God!) and back to labor and delivery we were sent. I was at the hospital at 3 a.m. and had my c-section by 6:30 a.m.
Lily Caroline arrived first at 6:30 a.m. I heard her cry and immediately felt relief. When the doctor held her over the sheet that separated us, I couldn't believe it. She was gorgeous! She then was immediately wisked away to a team of NICU nurses and our neonatologist.
Lola Elizabeth arrived just after her older sister at 6:31 a.m. A softer cry than Lily's, but still a cry came. The doctor held her over the sheet as well and it was also love at first sight. She then joined her sister with the NICU crew.
All together, there were 4 nurses for each baby, 1 neonatalogist, 1 OBGYN, 1 anesthesiologist, and 4 nurses for me. Of course, a very proud Dad was next to me the entire time.
Don was great and calm and the perfect partner.
I kept watching and waiting to see if the girls would have to intubated. To my amazement, they never did. I just kept praying the whole time. Our neonatologist looked over at us and smiled and said they looked really good. Good Apgars and smiling NICU nurses and doctors. The nurses let us have one last close look at both Lily and Lola and off they went to the NICU.
Lily weighed 3 lbs. and 7 oz. and was 16.5 inches long.
Lola weighed 3 lbs. and 13 oz. and was 16 inches long.
There was some confusion about Lola's birth weight, but it was 3 lbs. 13 oz. NOT 3 lbs. 8 oz.
Don and our parents and my sister were able to see the girls later that morning. I couldn't get up until after 6:30 that evening. Everyone just kept telling me how great they looked and still no vent. They did put the girls on a video that fed into my room, which was so nice. When I finally got to see them, it was so surreal. I couldn't believe these tiny beings were inside me just a day ago!
I stayed in the hospital until Saturday, June 21st. Leaving the girls was terrible, I didn't want to go. The rough estimates of how long they will be in the NICU are 5 - 7 weeks.
They never had to be put on a vent which was a major blessing. They both have been breathing on their own for several days now (did have high flow nasal cannulas to stimulate rhythm of breathing initially). IVs out yesterday. After an initial weight loss (like all babies), they are now gaining again. OT/PT both think they look great too.
Now, we are just waiting to get to 4 lbs. 8 oz., consistently keep body temperature (doing really well already with this, just need more practice) and learning to "nipple". The coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing needed to do bottle or breastfeeding doesn't really come along until 34 weeks. We turned 32 weeks Sunday, so still a bit to go.
Their second day of life I got to hold them for the first time. They call it "kangarooing" or skin to skin contact. Unbelievably, precious moments.
Their sixth day of life I got to "kangaroo" them both at the same time. It was crazy wonderful. Completely amazing to be reunited all at the same time. It was so great to see both of our girls together. I really like holding them both simultaneously. I feel like they must miss each other.
Lola has blonde hair and blue eyes. She is a pretty mellow baby and likes to lie on her belly. When she is lying on my chest in our "kangaroo" sessions, she tries to climb higher on my chest than Lily.
Lily has dark brown hair and blue eyes. She can be fiesty at times and loves to touch her little sister when we "kangaroo". She likes to keep her hands by her face.
We will be spending much time over the next few weeks in the NICU. We very much appreciate everyone's prayers, support and friendship with our journey to parenthood.
As you can imagine, we feel blessed beyond belief and are loving every minute spent with our baby girls.
Love to all, Mel
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