1.30.12 Weekly Update

It's so hard to believe that an entire week has gone by. I swear that the NICU must be some sort of time warp because the minutes and hours seem to fly by when we're there. Ryan and I spend most of our days just holding the boys and it never seems like enough time. Here's a quick update from where I left off earlier in the week...

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 - The boys continued to do great. John's bilirubin levels rose a little, so he received some photo therapy for jaundice. Andrew's levels were a bit elevated but not enough to require treatment.

John with his tanning goggles

I was also discharged from the hospital and headed home that afternoon. It was incredibly tough to leave the boys and go home as just the two of us. You always picture leaving the hospital in a wheelchair with your baby snugly resting in arms while your husband loads up the car with balloons, flowers, and toys. Instead I walked to the car empty handed, knowing that one baby would never come to our house and two others would hopefully come home in a few months. The gifts and toys that many of you generously gave were all left behind in the NICU to decorate the boys' room. It was definitely not what I expected or imagined, but I know that it's how it was meant to be. It reminds me that these experiences and "things" are just that...things. God's promises in the Bible tell us that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." and I'm reminded that He is enough for me. This world isn't perfect, it's far from it - there are going to be sad days, and bad things are going to happen to "good people", but knowing that at the end of it, I have a Savior who willingly died for me puts things back in the proper perspective.

Andrew



John

 

Goodbye hospital room!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 -  In addition to their IVs, the boys started on a small amount of formula on Tuesday. The amount is increased by 3 mLs every 12 hours. so today they're up to 24 and 25 mL per feeding (30 mL = 1 ounce).  Since Andrew is bigger, he needs more calories than John so he receives more throughout the day.  John had some more photo therapy this morning but his bilirubin levels had dropped back down to normal, so he was taken off in the afternoon. Overall they"re both doing great!


Kangaroo care with Andrew



Kangaroo care with John

John

 

Andrew

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 - The boys moved into new "houses" after we left today. They have different isolettes which means they're one step closer to open-air cribs. They still have to master the art of maintaining body temperature, so for now the isolettes are still temperature controlled.
 

Dad & Andrew

 

Andrew all warm & cozy



Mom & John



John"s Zoolander face

The night nurse also decided to do a little photo shoot so they boys wouldn't get lonely...


SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 - Hooray for no IVs! John & Andrew no longer need their IVs for extra fluids, so they're now only taking formula.  Plus, Mom finally got to change diapers today. I think the process will be a lot easier when we don't have to worry about cords and wires or sticking our arms through cut-outs in the isolette.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30 - Today there's not much to report  - but no news is good news! The boys are doing well with their feedings and just need time to gain weight and keep developing. They both continue to have occasional bradys, so the doctors are keeping an eye on it but are not ready to treat them.