Sunday, October 31, 2004

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday was bath day for Holland and Eden. We got them dressed in their Halloween best, complete with pumpkin hats (courtesy of St. Joe's hospital). They seem to love bath time and always stay so relaxed and alert.

Happy Halloween to everyone, from the cutest little pumpkins in town!
Holland and Eden

Saturday, October 30, 2004

Four Pound Club

On Friday morning the babies got their first bottles! They sucked them right down like little champs. Getting them to take full feeds from the breast or bottle is the next hurdle on our way home. So far, they have done so well at it that it might not be long at all. On Thursday and Friday Holland took full feeds (34cc's)while breastfeeding. Eden is taking at least 20cc's at a time, which isn't too shabby (her full feed is 38cc's).

As of Friday night Eden has joined the FOUR POUND CLUB!!! Yay! It took her 16 days to gain a pound. Amazing. Today we weighed them while giving baths. Eden was 4 lbs 3.5 oz, and Holland was 3 lbs 9.5 oz. It looks like we could be bringing home some five pounders some day down the road.

Sunday, October 24, 2004

So Happy Together

Holland and Eden had a busy day today. They both got back to breastfeeding and were quite happy about it. In fact, I am sure that was their favorite part of the day. Our favorite part was seeing them in a crib together for the first time! When we left the hospital tonight they were cuddled up together listening to some Baby Beethoven. They seemed more content than they had been all day. Their recovery from the eye surgery was better than expected. They are still a bit grumpy and keeping their eyes closed more than usual, but overall they seem pretty peaceful.

Oh, that's Holland on the left and Eden on the right.

Friday, October 22, 2004

ROP

Well, we've got good news and bad news to report. We'll start with the good... When they were last weighed Holland was up to 3 pounds 2.5 ounces, and Eden was 3 pounds 6 ounces. They are getting so chubby that we almost don't recognize them as the same babies! Check out the double chins in these pictures! Wednesday evening we made some really good progress with the breastfeeding. They weighed the babies before and after and Eden was able to get 7 cc's. Holland got 16! They adjusted the amount of their gavage feedings by that amount, giving them less through the tube. As they get more practice and get better at it (and get started on a bottle), we will start eliminating the tube feedings a little at a time until they are taking full feedings from the breast or bottle. This is one of the requirements for them to be able to come home.

Bad news is that both girls had their eye exams yesterday (they have been having them once a week), and the eye doctor saw that they had progressed to Zone 2, Stage 3 Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), which would require laser surgery. The surgeon came yesterday evening to look at them and decided to do the surgery last night. They both had to be put back on the ventilator and sedated for the surgery, and weren't able to have anything to eat last night. The surgeries went well and both girls are now recovering. The most significant risk of ROP is that it can cause retinal detachment, which can lead to blindness. With the surgery, the risk of that happening is significantly decreased. Holland required more extensive laser work than Eden as her eyes were more premature. The surgeon said that the prognosis for both girls is good. They will continue to monitor their progress and we should know after two weeks whether or not they will need to do any further work. It is pretty likely that one or both girls will need to wear glasses, maybe at an earlier age than most kids.

Monday, October 18, 2004

Big Girls

Holland has passed the three pound mark! Yesterday she weighed in at a whopping 3 pounds 1/2 ounce. Holland had to go back on CPAP for 3 hours every 12 after my last post, but today she did the cannula full time and was doing great. Yay Holland! Eden is at 3 pounds 5 ounces. There's no stopping them now. They are really growing fast.

It was fun seeing so many of my best buds today. I am lucky to have such awesome friends! Love you guys!
Billie

(Make sure you scroll down to see the long awaited bathtime pictures)

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Positively Plump

We have a THREE POUNDER! Eden is 3 pounds 1 ounce to be precise, and looking like quite a chubby bunny. She is also doing very well on her full time oxygen cannula and holding her body temperature.

Last night Holland got to try her hand at breastfeeding for the first time. She was soooo good at it. You could hear her sucking and smacking her lips clear across the room! She would sometimes start sucking a little too soon and would be sucking loudly on her top lip. It was really funny and cute. Also today will be Holland's first full day on cannula only. No more CPAP. I'm sure she will be relieved, as she was starting to complain loudly when she had to go back on the CPAP. Both girls were weighed on Tuesday night and little Holly hadn't gained any weight:( That's a bit worrisome so they began fortifying her breastmilk up to 28cal. I was really hoping we wouldn't have to do that because I worry it could cause belly aches or more gas for an already full belly. I guess we will just have to hope for the best. They'll get another weight tonight and a good 60 grams would be nice...

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Squeeky Clean

On Saturday John and I gave Holland and Eden their first full-fledged baths. They each sat in the little tub with their eyes WIDE open looking around. They seemed to like it a lot! Mommy held each baby while Daddy scrubbed their little backs and heads. Then Mommy got them dressed in the little outfits that Kendra, Katie, and Patti Roberts bought for them, and brushed their hair. Well, Holland's hair at least. Eden doesn't really have any!

In other news, Eden has graduated to the oxygen cannula FULL time. Holland is doing 6 hours on cannula and 6 on CPAP. I'm sure she is ready for 9 and they will probably bump it up today. They were weighed yesterday and were up to 2lbs 12.5oz, and 2lbs 15.5oz. They'll get another weight tomorrow and I am SURE Eden will hit the three pound mark. Holland won't be far behind.

A special "Thank You" to Mom, Laura, and Lisa for a beautiful shower on Sunday, and to all of those who attended, from Billie, John, Holland, and Eden
We love you!

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Cutie Pies

Holland and Eden had a great day today. It's really quite incredible how quickly they are growing and changing day to day. Little unique personalities are starting to develop and we definitely have no problems telling the two of them apart. Holland is now on a special cannula device called a vapotherm that works kindof like CPAP in that it keeps pressure in the lungs but without the big bulky head gear. She is on this for six hours every twelve and is doing great. She now weighs 2lbs 9oz!!

Eden is almost completely off CPAP and on the cannula full time. She does ten hours of cannula and two on CPAP. She really hates those two hours on CPAP so hopefully she won't need it much longer. Last weigh-in was 2lbs 12oz!!

The girls are spending more time together now and really seem to enjoy it. Pretty soon they may be moved to a crib for some co-bedding! We are really looking forward to that day.

Here are some great pictures that Billie took today. A couple of cutie pies. Hope you like them!

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Getting Bigger!

Our little girls are growing and getting stronger every day. Eden is now on her oxygen cannula 10 hours every 12. Won't be long before she doesn't need the CPAP at all. And she is up to 2 pounds 11 ounces! This morning Holland came off the ventilator again and is back on the CPAP. A big step...the next step for her will be giving the cannula another try. It may not take her very long now that she is so much bigger and has kicked the pneumonia. She's up to 2 pounds 8 ounces!

It was fun to see many of you this past weekend for our first shower. Thanks for all the wonderful gifts!