Greetings on a beautiful summer Saturday... and by 'beautiful', I mean dreadfully hot. :)
The twins are doing great. Emery was called the "superstar of the NICU" by one nurse in their morning rounds, and she continues to thrive and hold steady as can be! The babies continually have their body temps monitored, and the isolette will automatically make temperature adjustments to warm them up a little if needed. Emery's temp has been holding steady to the point that now they are talking about getting her ready to come out of the isolette to be in a regular crib! As of today, she is even wearing a regular onesie/sleeper nightgown!
Collin is doing very well too. His breathing has been holding steady the last few days, thankfully, and he's begun eating a little more. His weight fluctuates a little bit more than Emery's, and at times he seems to retain a little water and his feet/face look a tad puffy. But we're told it's nothing to worry about too much, his body systems may just be adjusting and learning to work together.
Erin is able to make it over there to hold the babies each day, which is SO important. Time with mommy is, in my opinion, more important than anything else for their development. We're grateful to family and friends who help with Miles to make this possible.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Miles is home!
Big news of the day is actually separate from the twins... Miles came home from a wonderful week in Southern Utah with the Buntings. Zion, the cabin, and LOTS of fun. Erin and I have been able to spend good quality time at the hospital while he's been away, which has been nice, but it is SOOO fun to have him home. Huge props to Miles for handling everything so well - he loves seeing pictures of the twins, and when he was coming home with Erin this afternoon asked "will Collin be there?" Nope, unfortunately not yet. Soon though! Wait a second, did I just give props to a two year old? Yes sir.
Emery is still solid, feeding and growing. Collin has had some episodes lately where is sort of forgets to breathe. We're told it's not that uncommon, and even though he requires a little stimulation to pick up his normal breathing again (rubbing his back, tickling his feet, etc.) it doesn't seem to set off major panic among the nurses or medical staff. Certainly a little nerve wracking in my opinion, though! :) But he's done well the last 24 hours and has continued feeding, hopefully to catch up to Emery's "full feed" pattern in the next several days.
So all is well around here. We are grateful for that. Hard to believe they are almost two weeks old...
Thanks for continued faith and prayers on our behalf. Support of neighbors, ward members, family & friends has been humbling and very much appreciated.
Emery is still solid, feeding and growing. Collin has had some episodes lately where is sort of forgets to breathe. We're told it's not that uncommon, and even though he requires a little stimulation to pick up his normal breathing again (rubbing his back, tickling his feet, etc.) it doesn't seem to set off major panic among the nurses or medical staff. Certainly a little nerve wracking in my opinion, though! :) But he's done well the last 24 hours and has continued feeding, hopefully to catch up to Emery's "full feed" pattern in the next several days.
So all is well around here. We are grateful for that. Hard to believe they are almost two weeks old...
Thanks for continued faith and prayers on our behalf. Support of neighbors, ward members, family & friends has been humbling and very much appreciated.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Together in mommy's arms...
Ok, so the Indocin (sp?) Collin had received in six doses did not work in closing the PDA. So it remains. That's the bad news. The good news, though, is that one Dr had said it is "more of an annoyance than a problem" and Collin has not shown any negative signs - no distress, no struggling heart rates, etc. We're very grateful for that. So for now they'll check it every once in a while (including monitoring by the pediatrician when we get home), but probably it's something a cardiologist will check out when he's 3-4 months old and decide on a best course of action. So we continue to hope and pray that he will continue to remain positive and steady, free of any distress.
Emery is, as one Dr said, "on cruise control". Wow, what a blessing. We realize it could change at any moment, but for now she is feeding well, taking in more calories and slowly gaining weight. She LOVES to smile, and we think when she hears mommy's voice, she really does try to look at Erin and gives an occasional grin. So cute.
We are able to hold them now, and tonight the nurse even arranged things so Erin could hold them both at the same time. So fun. A little tricky with cords, lines and wires, but fun nonetheless. Emery slept and Collin was awake for a minute, but I like to think they were just a little bit more comfortable snuggled up close to their best friend once again. :)
Emery is, as one Dr said, "on cruise control". Wow, what a blessing. We realize it could change at any moment, but for now she is feeding well, taking in more calories and slowly gaining weight. She LOVES to smile, and we think when she hears mommy's voice, she really does try to look at Erin and gives an occasional grin. So cute.
We are able to hold them now, and tonight the nurse even arranged things so Erin could hold them both at the same time. So fun. A little tricky with cords, lines and wires, but fun nonetheless. Emery slept and Collin was awake for a minute, but I like to think they were just a little bit more comfortable snuggled up close to their best friend once again. :)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Kangaroo Care
Last night was a wonderful night... Miles is having a blast at a family reunion in Southern Utah (HUGE thanks to all the Buntings for taking good care of him), so Erin and I went on a fun little date - dinner, then the NICU.
The big news of yesterday was that the umbilical line both twins had was taken out, which then allows us to hold the babies!!! More on that in a second, but here's a quick update: Emery has no more IV, simply a feeding line in through her nose; she's on a strict diet of mother's milk now, which is awesome. She rests peacefully and is back to her birth weight. Collin still needs an IV, because of the medication for his PDA. He'll keep it for a short time after the medication ends because he'll need to continue receiving IV fluids for nourishment as he slowly increases his feedings through his nose tube as well (they start slow through the nose tube, and gradually increase to make sure the baby will tolerate it well).
So, the best part of the night was getting to hold our little ones!!! Simply fantastic. There is a practice called "Kangaroo Care" (more info here). Basically, a parent holds an infant to his/her bare chest, and holds them close to maximize the 'skin to skin' interaction between parent and baby. It's a fascinating concept to me - and hearkens to the beautiful bond between parent & child. It's a really neat thing. Erin held Emery first, then we traded, I got to hold her for a bit (actually, I held her for a long time while they were doing some stuff for Collin). After Erin held Emery she held Collin for a few minutes, then the nurse decided it would be best to put his IV in a different spot, so they put him back in his isolette (incubator) to put in a new IV.
Ok, let's talk about that for a second - sticking a premature infant with an IV. I mean, I can barely comprehend poking an adult size vein successfully, let alone an infant with a vein that is TINY. Amazing. Big thanks to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals who have helped us so much to this point. Great people, every last one.
Anyway, we will probably return regularly (daily, perhaps) to continue with the Kangaroo Care, as long as the babies tolerate it well. Emery did, by the way - laying on my chest and wrapped up, I laid back in the rocking chair recliner and she slept peacefully while keeping her vital signs steady. Heck, it almost put me to sleep too!
We'll find out more today or tomorrow about Collin's little heart, and if the medication is working. We sure hope so!
The big news of yesterday was that the umbilical line both twins had was taken out, which then allows us to hold the babies!!! More on that in a second, but here's a quick update: Emery has no more IV, simply a feeding line in through her nose; she's on a strict diet of mother's milk now, which is awesome. She rests peacefully and is back to her birth weight. Collin still needs an IV, because of the medication for his PDA. He'll keep it for a short time after the medication ends because he'll need to continue receiving IV fluids for nourishment as he slowly increases his feedings through his nose tube as well (they start slow through the nose tube, and gradually increase to make sure the baby will tolerate it well).
So, the best part of the night was getting to hold our little ones!!! Simply fantastic. There is a practice called "Kangaroo Care" (more info here). Basically, a parent holds an infant to his/her bare chest, and holds them close to maximize the 'skin to skin' interaction between parent and baby. It's a fascinating concept to me - and hearkens to the beautiful bond between parent & child. It's a really neat thing. Erin held Emery first, then we traded, I got to hold her for a bit (actually, I held her for a long time while they were doing some stuff for Collin). After Erin held Emery she held Collin for a few minutes, then the nurse decided it would be best to put his IV in a different spot, so they put him back in his isolette (incubator) to put in a new IV.
Ok, let's talk about that for a second - sticking a premature infant with an IV. I mean, I can barely comprehend poking an adult size vein successfully, let alone an infant with a vein that is TINY. Amazing. Big thanks to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals who have helped us so much to this point. Great people, every last one.
Anyway, we will probably return regularly (daily, perhaps) to continue with the Kangaroo Care, as long as the babies tolerate it well. Emery did, by the way - laying on my chest and wrapped up, I laid back in the rocking chair recliner and she slept peacefully while keeping her vital signs steady. Heck, it almost put me to sleep too!
We'll find out more today or tomorrow about Collin's little heart, and if the medication is working. We sure hope so!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Hearts
For months and months, friends, family and other acquaintances have raved about the inseparable nature of twins. They'll sleep in the same crib, they'll play together all the time, they'll be each other's missing half. So I suppose I sort of figured that's how it would be in the NICU - same schedule, same pattern, same development, come home together... then a couple days ago someone (I honestly can't remember who) brought it to my attention that twins don't always go home from the NICU together - in fact, it's probably more common that they go home one at a time.
So I suppose it's a good thing that I've started to accept a little bit of that separation, because over the last couple days we have hit a little bit of a fork in the road. Nothing huge or dramatic or urgent, but a little fork nonetheless.
Emery is holding steady, moving along nicely - increased feedings, breathing strongly on her own, just resting nicely as she "feeds & grows".
Collin, on the other hand, has needed to go back on oxygen (granted, a very small amount), and has a PDA. Lest you think the only PDA is a hand held electronic device, please allow Wikipedia to explain here. It's apparently a common thing with premature babies - the 'duct' between heart and lungs doesn't close off properly, and it can slow the oxygen supply to the rest of the body (hence the oxygen) and lower blood pressure a little bit. We are fortunate, however, that Collin falls in an ideal age range and level of health (meaning, he's not in great distress and overall doing very well), so they have given him the first of three doses of a medication that "should close it" as the Nurse Practitioner told us tonight. There is a chance it may not, however, or it may just shrink... and it may be something that will be fixed either on its own or with some medical treatment in the first year or so of his life.
So for this rookie (and not medically-inclined) father, it can be a little disconcerting. We have been assured that it's not terribly uncommon, and Collin is showing no adverse affects, which is good. But, any extra faith and prayers on his behalf would be much appreciated.
So I suppose it's a good thing that I've started to accept a little bit of that separation, because over the last couple days we have hit a little bit of a fork in the road. Nothing huge or dramatic or urgent, but a little fork nonetheless.
Emery is holding steady, moving along nicely - increased feedings, breathing strongly on her own, just resting nicely as she "feeds & grows".
Collin, on the other hand, has needed to go back on oxygen (granted, a very small amount), and has a PDA. Lest you think the only PDA is a hand held electronic device, please allow Wikipedia to explain here. It's apparently a common thing with premature babies - the 'duct' between heart and lungs doesn't close off properly, and it can slow the oxygen supply to the rest of the body (hence the oxygen) and lower blood pressure a little bit. We are fortunate, however, that Collin falls in an ideal age range and level of health (meaning, he's not in great distress and overall doing very well), so they have given him the first of three doses of a medication that "should close it" as the Nurse Practitioner told us tonight. There is a chance it may not, however, or it may just shrink... and it may be something that will be fixed either on its own or with some medical treatment in the first year or so of his life.
So for this rookie (and not medically-inclined) father, it can be a little disconcerting. We have been assured that it's not terribly uncommon, and Collin is showing no adverse affects, which is good. But, any extra faith and prayers on his behalf would be much appreciated.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
In case you were curious...
Erin and I are spending this last night in the hospital enjoying a delicious fish taco or two from Rubio's (it's our fourth anniversay, after all, and fish tacos are Erin's favorite!)... we have been able to visit the twins a few times today and will probably go down one more time tonight. It's been a wonderful day to spend with them.
It occurred to me that many people probably have questions about our current state, so here's my best attempt to answer the most common ones:
Do the twins look alike? Do they have distinctive features?
They don't look a lot alike, their faces do look different (Emery's face is a little more long & narrow, Collin's nose is a little more "button nose-ish"). Collin has hair similar to Miles, but a bit darker, Emery is more bald. She looks a bit more feminine/petite (Erin insists Emery's mouth looks a LOT more feminine than Collin's) and is just a bit smaller in general.
Can you see their personalities? Do they "behave" differently?
They both cry a little bit - Emery moreso than Collin. Collin wiggles around a little bit more, Emery seems more content to lay in her little "nest" either on her side or on her back. They both wriggle around a little bit, with normal "newborn" type motions...
Can you touch or hold them?
They allow Erin and I to scrub up, and reach in to calm them, or help do little things like change diapers or take their temperature. If they start to fuss, we can reach in and place on hand on the top of their head, and one hand under their bottom to provide "containment" that helps them feel comfortable and secure. They like to hold their hands up close to their faces, so helping them keep their hands/arms clutched close to them is a good thing. Interestingly, they don't like to have arms/legs stroked, or feet tickled or anything - it's overstimulation; they just like a soft hand resting on them to help them feel "contained". They say that in a couple weeks, visitors who come to see them might be able to reach in and do the same.
How long will they be in the NICU (Newborn ICU)?
They say we should plan on having them here until their due date - which would be September 25th. BUT, if the babies are doing well, they may be sent home early (often times twins don't come home together, rarely is their progress exactly the same)... it depends on three things: 1) if they are continually putting on weight, 2) if they can keep their own body temperature outside the incubator, and 3) if they take all their feeding/nourishment orally, as opposed to through a feeding tube of any sort.
Do they open their eyes? Or are they just asleep the whole time?
For the most part, they are just asleep, even if moving their arms/legs a little bit. They'll rarely crack their eyes open to peek around, but obviously can't focus on any person or object. I think Emery has turned and opened her eyes a couple times in response to our voices, Collin just has some seemily random moments of cracking his eyes open every once in a while.
What's it like in the NICU? Are the nurses & doctors helpful, accomodating, etc?
It's a fascinating place. Very intense, lots of machines, computers, etc. around with nurses tending to them and checking them frequently. It's a little intimidating at first, but the medical staff has been VERY warm and welcoming each time we come to see the twins. They always answer questions, explain what is going on, teach us about what they are looking for and hoping to see, and encouraging us to participate as much as we feel comfortable. If we are sitting close to one of the babies and sort of getting in their way as they approach to do something, we say "oh, sorry let me get out of the way," to which the common response has been, "no no, they are YOUR babies, you are not in our way". What a wonderful sentiment. We are grateful to have such fantastic nurses to help us through this long journey ahead.
Things are good. Not much new to report - the babies are good. We are grateful for that.
Is there something you'd like to know? Feel free to ask! We are happy to share whatever people may be curious to know...
It occurred to me that many people probably have questions about our current state, so here's my best attempt to answer the most common ones:
Do the twins look alike? Do they have distinctive features?
They don't look a lot alike, their faces do look different (Emery's face is a little more long & narrow, Collin's nose is a little more "button nose-ish"). Collin has hair similar to Miles, but a bit darker, Emery is more bald. She looks a bit more feminine/petite (Erin insists Emery's mouth looks a LOT more feminine than Collin's) and is just a bit smaller in general.
Can you see their personalities? Do they "behave" differently?
They both cry a little bit - Emery moreso than Collin. Collin wiggles around a little bit more, Emery seems more content to lay in her little "nest" either on her side or on her back. They both wriggle around a little bit, with normal "newborn" type motions...
Can you touch or hold them?
They allow Erin and I to scrub up, and reach in to calm them, or help do little things like change diapers or take their temperature. If they start to fuss, we can reach in and place on hand on the top of their head, and one hand under their bottom to provide "containment" that helps them feel comfortable and secure. They like to hold their hands up close to their faces, so helping them keep their hands/arms clutched close to them is a good thing. Interestingly, they don't like to have arms/legs stroked, or feet tickled or anything - it's overstimulation; they just like a soft hand resting on them to help them feel "contained". They say that in a couple weeks, visitors who come to see them might be able to reach in and do the same.
How long will they be in the NICU (Newborn ICU)?
They say we should plan on having them here until their due date - which would be September 25th. BUT, if the babies are doing well, they may be sent home early (often times twins don't come home together, rarely is their progress exactly the same)... it depends on three things: 1) if they are continually putting on weight, 2) if they can keep their own body temperature outside the incubator, and 3) if they take all their feeding/nourishment orally, as opposed to through a feeding tube of any sort.
Do they open their eyes? Or are they just asleep the whole time?
For the most part, they are just asleep, even if moving their arms/legs a little bit. They'll rarely crack their eyes open to peek around, but obviously can't focus on any person or object. I think Emery has turned and opened her eyes a couple times in response to our voices, Collin just has some seemily random moments of cracking his eyes open every once in a while.
What's it like in the NICU? Are the nurses & doctors helpful, accomodating, etc?
It's a fascinating place. Very intense, lots of machines, computers, etc. around with nurses tending to them and checking them frequently. It's a little intimidating at first, but the medical staff has been VERY warm and welcoming each time we come to see the twins. They always answer questions, explain what is going on, teach us about what they are looking for and hoping to see, and encouraging us to participate as much as we feel comfortable. If we are sitting close to one of the babies and sort of getting in their way as they approach to do something, we say "oh, sorry let me get out of the way," to which the common response has been, "no no, they are YOUR babies, you are not in our way". What a wonderful sentiment. We are grateful to have such fantastic nurses to help us through this long journey ahead.
Things are good. Not much new to report - the babies are good. We are grateful for that.
Is there something you'd like to know? Feel free to ask! We are happy to share whatever people may be curious to know...
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Getting settled in...
So, today we sort of embark upon this next phase of our adventure. Erin will be here in the hospital probably until Tuesday, and has felt very good all things considered. She has been able to get up and walk around, and take a couple wheelchair rides down to the NICU. She can get up and out of bed as much as she feels she's able, and is encouraged to do it as much as possible to facilitate recovery.
We went down to the NICU a couple times yesterday, then again this morning. Collin and Emery are doing very well. They are both now on "room air" meaning they breathe on their own (subject to change, they may be given oxygen in the future if needed), and are basically just getting acclimated to their new surroundings. They have an umbilical line for feeding & medicine, as opposed to a normal IV in a wrist/hand or something.
For this first little while, Erin and I are the only ones who can reach in to the "isolet" (aka incubator) to touch the babies... which is an absolutely fantastic experience. Last night Emery was squirming and fussing a little bit, so the nurse handed me a warm blanket and said "put this on her then rest your hand on top of her," which I did. As my hand rested on her, she calmed right down and went back to sleep. This morning the nurse had Erin change their little wet diapers (which neither really liked, but Emery was quite a bit more vocal - she cries a good amount, and pretty loudly for such a little one) and take their temperatures. Wow, what a neat experience. We are so grateful to be able to have that close human interaction with both babies.
The NICU is a fascinating place - sort of intense and overwhelming in some regards, but so far it has been SO good to have many attentive medical professionals (nurses, speech pathologists, neonatologists, nurse practitioners, etc) who have been wonderful in explaining things, teaching and helping Erin and me feel at ease. Collin and Emery are both in the same room, with beds probably 15-20 feet apart. One nurse cares for both of them all day long. We are grateful for such nurses, and their consistent monitoring.
I would imagine progress will be slow for now, and not too exciting, but we'll certainly keep apprised of any changes. We probably won't post pictures quite yet - we'll wait until they have fewer lines/chords, etc in them so everyone can appreciate how beautiful they are! :)
We went down to the NICU a couple times yesterday, then again this morning. Collin and Emery are doing very well. They are both now on "room air" meaning they breathe on their own (subject to change, they may be given oxygen in the future if needed), and are basically just getting acclimated to their new surroundings. They have an umbilical line for feeding & medicine, as opposed to a normal IV in a wrist/hand or something.
For this first little while, Erin and I are the only ones who can reach in to the "isolet" (aka incubator) to touch the babies... which is an absolutely fantastic experience. Last night Emery was squirming and fussing a little bit, so the nurse handed me a warm blanket and said "put this on her then rest your hand on top of her," which I did. As my hand rested on her, she calmed right down and went back to sleep. This morning the nurse had Erin change their little wet diapers (which neither really liked, but Emery was quite a bit more vocal - she cries a good amount, and pretty loudly for such a little one) and take their temperatures. Wow, what a neat experience. We are so grateful to be able to have that close human interaction with both babies.
The NICU is a fascinating place - sort of intense and overwhelming in some regards, but so far it has been SO good to have many attentive medical professionals (nurses, speech pathologists, neonatologists, nurse practitioners, etc) who have been wonderful in explaining things, teaching and helping Erin and me feel at ease. Collin and Emery are both in the same room, with beds probably 15-20 feet apart. One nurse cares for both of them all day long. We are grateful for such nurses, and their consistent monitoring.
I would imagine progress will be slow for now, and not too exciting, but we'll certainly keep apprised of any changes. We probably won't post pictures quite yet - we'll wait until they have fewer lines/chords, etc in them so everyone can appreciate how beautiful they are! :)
Friday, July 16, 2010
BABIES ARE HERE!!!! :)
Well, it's not exactly what we had expected, but early this morning I got "the call"... it was 6:00 am, Erin said she had been having contractions during the night, and was dialated, so they were going to prep her to delivery the babies via C section.
So I rushed over to the hospital to be with Erin, and by 6:40 they had her in the operating room, prepping for the C section. Everything went very smoothly, the doctors and nurses were absolutely phenomenal and kind (as they have been for the duration). So...
We are pleased to announce the arrival of (in this order):
Emery Jill Ence - 3 lbs 2 oz, born at 7:00 am
Collin Richard Ence - 3 lbs 11 oz, born at 7:03 am
They were taken quickly to the NICU, and I was just able to visit them a little while ago. Things are good, they are holding steady - all vital signs are positive and the nurses tending to them there are satisfied with their status.
Erin is doing great, just trying to catch up on some rest now... we'll have more information soon, and maybe some pictures of the babies. We are grateful that the next chapter of our little adventure seems to have started off very well.
So I rushed over to the hospital to be with Erin, and by 6:40 they had her in the operating room, prepping for the C section. Everything went very smoothly, the doctors and nurses were absolutely phenomenal and kind (as they have been for the duration). So...
We are pleased to announce the arrival of (in this order):
Emery Jill Ence - 3 lbs 2 oz, born at 7:00 am
Collin Richard Ence - 3 lbs 11 oz, born at 7:03 am
They were taken quickly to the NICU, and I was just able to visit them a little while ago. Things are good, they are holding steady - all vital signs are positive and the nurses tending to them there are satisfied with their status.
Erin is doing great, just trying to catch up on some rest now... we'll have more information soon, and maybe some pictures of the babies. We are grateful that the next chapter of our little adventure seems to have started off very well.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Happy Birthday Miles!!!
Today is a big day. Miles turns two today. Amazing that exaclty two years ago we were having a similar (but also very different) experience.
Many people thoughtfully ask, "how is Miles doing with all this?" The truth is, he couldn't be happier. He is very lucky to have wonderful cousins, aunts, uncles and especially grandparents who love and support him, and have taken him different days - and even occasional sleepovers. So he is having a great time, and may be in for a bit of a shock when the babies come home. :) We are very, VERY blessed to have such a good (flexible/adaptable) little boy.
Things continue pretty steady around here. Erin will occasionally be wheeled down to the labor & delivery floor, for more careful/constant monitoring; so far the babies continue to have strong, steady heartbeats. Life is good.
Many people thoughtfully ask, "how is Miles doing with all this?" The truth is, he couldn't be happier. He is very lucky to have wonderful cousins, aunts, uncles and especially grandparents who love and support him, and have taken him different days - and even occasional sleepovers. So he is having a great time, and may be in for a bit of a shock when the babies come home. :) We are very, VERY blessed to have such a good (flexible/adaptable) little boy.
Things continue pretty steady around here. Erin will occasionally be wheeled down to the labor & delivery floor, for more careful/constant monitoring; so far the babies continue to have strong, steady heartbeats. Life is good.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Growing babies!!!
Today is a VERY good day. The usual commotion of non-stress tests, heart rate monitoring, fluid levels, etc did not change, but we (well, really just Erin and the babies...) had a much anticipated ultrasound today. So they did the usual ultrasound, and the doctor from the MFM (maternal fetal medicine) group that came to read/interpret the ultra sound happened to be an acquaintance of Erin's family, which is fun. He was absolutely fantastic. Answered so many questions, explained SO much, and made the experience positive for Erin... which we are grateful for.
So, the big news was they were able to measure the babies... little sister is now 2 lbs 13 oz and her brother is 3 lbs 12 oz!!! That's about a pound they've both put on since the previous ultrasound about two weeks ago. And just in case we would have been worried about the difference between the two, the Dr said "you have one normal sized baby, and one huge baby!" :)
What wonderful news, we are humbled and grateful that they are both doing well. The sonographer, and subsequently the Dr will try to look at as much as possible, and measure/record many features of each baby... they only ran into trouble briefly when measuring little girl's stomach, because her brother had his head/face shoved RIGHT in her belly!!! ha! And so the teasing begins...
The Drs have said that our next milestone is 32 weeks (July 31) - this is a date at which point numbers go way up in terms of baby survival, and way down in infections, problems, etc. So we'll let the countdown begin!!!
So, the big news was they were able to measure the babies... little sister is now 2 lbs 13 oz and her brother is 3 lbs 12 oz!!! That's about a pound they've both put on since the previous ultrasound about two weeks ago. And just in case we would have been worried about the difference between the two, the Dr said "you have one normal sized baby, and one huge baby!" :)
What wonderful news, we are humbled and grateful that they are both doing well. The sonographer, and subsequently the Dr will try to look at as much as possible, and measure/record many features of each baby... they only ran into trouble briefly when measuring little girl's stomach, because her brother had his head/face shoved RIGHT in her belly!!! ha! And so the teasing begins...
The Drs have said that our next milestone is 32 weeks (July 31) - this is a date at which point numbers go way up in terms of baby survival, and way down in infections, problems, etc. So we'll let the countdown begin!!!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Windows on the Wasatch
Good evening,
We just returned from a lovely evening of fine dining at the cafeteria (aka "Windows on the Wasatch"). A nice little date, probably to become a weekly tradition - and in all seriousness, the burgers & chicken fingers were delicious!
Today is another milestone day - 29 weeks!!! As we are frequently reminded that every week (and to a lesser extent, every day) the babies can spend growing inside mommy is a victory, because they are better protected (from infection) and better nourished inside than they would be in the NICU. However, the Drs have felt confident all along that if the babies were to be born in the next short while, the prognosis would be good and the babies would not only survive, but succeed with some medical help.
The only update is a small, simple one - the babies are easier to track down and monitor because they don't wiggle as much, this means they are growing and gaining all important weight! It's a good thing for all involved!
It's hard to believe we have been here almost two weeks. In some ways it's gone by pretty quickly, in other ways (probably for Erin, mostly), it has dragged on.
We just returned from a lovely evening of fine dining at the cafeteria (aka "Windows on the Wasatch"). A nice little date, probably to become a weekly tradition - and in all seriousness, the burgers & chicken fingers were delicious!
Today is another milestone day - 29 weeks!!! As we are frequently reminded that every week (and to a lesser extent, every day) the babies can spend growing inside mommy is a victory, because they are better protected (from infection) and better nourished inside than they would be in the NICU. However, the Drs have felt confident all along that if the babies were to be born in the next short while, the prognosis would be good and the babies would not only survive, but succeed with some medical help.
The only update is a small, simple one - the babies are easier to track down and monitor because they don't wiggle as much, this means they are growing and gaining all important weight! It's a good thing for all involved!
It's hard to believe we have been here almost two weeks. In some ways it's gone by pretty quickly, in other ways (probably for Erin, mostly), it has dragged on.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Massage day!!!
The mere thought of a hospital stay that may last many weeks is daunting, to say the least. When a Dr says "mental health is something we are concerned about" it may be a sign that most don't handle it all that well. But if you don't mind my saying so, Erin is doing fabulous. She has kept her normal bright personality and had a great attitude about the whole thing (even making fast friends with another mother-to-be down the hall in a similiar situation - they have had lunch together and everything). We are blessed to be near such great medical facilities, which is very re-assuring. There is some good quality pampering going on too, which Erin very much deserves - a milkshake brought in the afternoons for a snack, and a massage today!
Babies continue to behave themselves very nicely. Heart rates are both strong and steady. The only change as of late is that they used to be in a sort of "T" shape, with girl pointing down and boy across the top. Now the boy has shifted more to his sisters side, so they are sort of parallel to each other, but a little offset with boy being a little higher. Doesn't mean too much, we're told, just something kind of interesting.
Thanks for continued thoughts and prayers!
Babies continue to behave themselves very nicely. Heart rates are both strong and steady. The only change as of late is that they used to be in a sort of "T" shape, with girl pointing down and boy across the top. Now the boy has shifted more to his sisters side, so they are sort of parallel to each other, but a little offset with boy being a little higher. Doesn't mean too much, we're told, just something kind of interesting.
Thanks for continued thoughts and prayers!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Happy 4th (5th?) of July!
Gratefully, another uneventful day came and went today. It's fun to be able to spend a good chunk of a day with Erin, and many thanks to the endless love & support of our siblings & parents for all the wonderful help...
The daily routine seems to be this: a nurse, Dr/resident or other medical staffer comes in to monitor the babies for a set period of time... BUT little do they know when they enter our room, that they are in for quite a wrestling match! They start by holding a small "paddle" used for ultra sounds on Erin's belly right over one of the babies, and try to hold it in place with an elastic medical wrap over baby's heart to monitor for a while. Then they take another paddle to try to locate the other baby. This proves to be difficult, partially because they are so close together that it's hard to tell if the second paddle is on the other baby or the same baby, but even more so because that baby wiggles around a lot as the medical staffer gives chase, and by the time that baby is caught and being watched, baby #1 has moved and is now "off the radar"! :) It's great fun, as they tease all of us and wiggle around a lot. Ok these trained medical professionals may not find it so amusing, but we find it fun to know that they are doing very well and have a bit of a sense of adventure! (yes, insert "boy you guys are really in for it once they are born" comment here __________________)
Babies are good, Erin is great. We'll check in again soon!
The daily routine seems to be this: a nurse, Dr/resident or other medical staffer comes in to monitor the babies for a set period of time... BUT little do they know when they enter our room, that they are in for quite a wrestling match! They start by holding a small "paddle" used for ultra sounds on Erin's belly right over one of the babies, and try to hold it in place with an elastic medical wrap over baby's heart to monitor for a while. Then they take another paddle to try to locate the other baby. This proves to be difficult, partially because they are so close together that it's hard to tell if the second paddle is on the other baby or the same baby, but even more so because that baby wiggles around a lot as the medical staffer gives chase, and by the time that baby is caught and being watched, baby #1 has moved and is now "off the radar"! :) It's great fun, as they tease all of us and wiggle around a lot. Ok these trained medical professionals may not find it so amusing, but we find it fun to know that they are doing very well and have a bit of a sense of adventure! (yes, insert "boy you guys are really in for it once they are born" comment here __________________)
Babies are good, Erin is great. We'll check in again soon!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
28 Weeks!!!
Yesterday was a landmark day. We have heard from Drs, nurses, etc. that while we should feel fortunate that this didn't all happen at 24 weeks or so, it's much better for the babies to last until 28 weeks, and even better than that if they last until 29 weeks, and so on.
So Saturday marked the official 28 week mark. Miles got to come over and watch Nemo, and sit in mommy's bed with her a little bit (not to mention enjoy some snacks that family and friends have given). As he and I were driving home to go to bed, he said, "Where's mommy?" When I responded that she was going to sleep at the hospital, he thought for a second and replied, "I sleep at the hospital for a minute?" He loves mommy, and doesn't yet seem too concerned about any of this, but I think he can sense there is some sort of new arrangement.
Erin was able to go down the hall last night with some of her fellow patients and catch some of the fireworks across the valley. As for Miles and me, any celebration of the 4th of July sort of came and went without any fanfare... :)
After the pattern of a popular football coach, we gratefully declare that "the best thing about being 28 weeks along is the chance to be 29 weeks along..."
So Saturday marked the official 28 week mark. Miles got to come over and watch Nemo, and sit in mommy's bed with her a little bit (not to mention enjoy some snacks that family and friends have given). As he and I were driving home to go to bed, he said, "Where's mommy?" When I responded that she was going to sleep at the hospital, he thought for a second and replied, "I sleep at the hospital for a minute?" He loves mommy, and doesn't yet seem too concerned about any of this, but I think he can sense there is some sort of new arrangement.
Erin was able to go down the hall last night with some of her fellow patients and catch some of the fireworks across the valley. As for Miles and me, any celebration of the 4th of July sort of came and went without any fanfare... :)
After the pattern of a popular football coach, we gratefully declare that "the best thing about being 28 weeks along is the chance to be 29 weeks along..."
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Field trips!
Thursday evening, all is well. Beautiful hot summer weather outside, and just hanging out with Erin in the cool hospital room is quite nice. We're grateful that we can just hang out for a few hours in the evening (thanks Grandmas for watching Miles!).
Today Erin took what will be the first of many, many daily 'field trips' down stairs to get checked out. It's a 'non-stress-test' officially, but basically they are checking heart rates, breathing and movement of the babies, as well as fluid levels of each. Today went especially well - the nurse happened to catch the boy in the midst of feverish movement (he was sort of heart to catch, his own little game of tag, which was fun...) and then caught little girl in a "breathing excercise" - where a little baby will literally breathe noticably harder just for the practice. So the nurse was very encouraged by that, noting that movement and breathing is a sign of good healthy babies. Very good news.
So Erin will continue to be tested one every day - a daily field trip if you will - and checked various other times to make sure her vital signs are good, and the babies are still maintaining good solid heartbeats.
I'll say it over and over, we are humbled and grateful at the outpouring of love and support. We really are grateful.
(If posts taper off from a once-a-day pattern, it's just because there isn't anything new to report - that's a good thing. We'll give some updates, but if you don't hear for a day or so it's just because "no news is good news!")
Today Erin took what will be the first of many, many daily 'field trips' down stairs to get checked out. It's a 'non-stress-test' officially, but basically they are checking heart rates, breathing and movement of the babies, as well as fluid levels of each. Today went especially well - the nurse happened to catch the boy in the midst of feverish movement (he was sort of heart to catch, his own little game of tag, which was fun...) and then caught little girl in a "breathing excercise" - where a little baby will literally breathe noticably harder just for the practice. So the nurse was very encouraged by that, noting that movement and breathing is a sign of good healthy babies. Very good news.
So Erin will continue to be tested one every day - a daily field trip if you will - and checked various other times to make sure her vital signs are good, and the babies are still maintaining good solid heartbeats.
I'll say it over and over, we are humbled and grateful at the outpouring of love and support. We really are grateful.
(If posts taper off from a once-a-day pattern, it's just because there isn't anything new to report - that's a good thing. We'll give some updates, but if you don't hear for a day or so it's just because "no news is good news!")
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)