From the sounds of it we will be at the hospital another few weeks. They keep saying that they probably wont catch on to feedings for at least another 2. Then at that point it's going to be more practice for them to be feeding from bottle or nursing on all their feedings. They haven't directly told us, "You're here another month", but they do keep saying twins are naturally a couple weeks behind on development so even though they are 35 weeks they consider them to be 33 weeks. Which in all honestly I am not understanding, especially when I've been reading and was told by my doctor they consider twins full term at 37 weeks....way confusing. Or it's just 3am and I'm going to be confused by default!
Bottom line, it looks like we are in for the long haul. I don't know how either of us are going to tough through it. It already feels like it's been forever! The girls have changed so much and are already up to 5lbs from their original 3lb 13oz. Which is great! I couldn't be happier that they are putting on weight and growing strong. I just wish that it meant the end was in sight. When in reality to us the end seems far away. I really hope I'm wrong and we are closer than we think. :p This is one I wouldn't mind admitting I'm incorrect. That will be a first I guess, he he.
Oh well, I'm enjoying my time with them as little as it may be it's all fun, exciting and worth it. I can tell it's a little early for them especially when they both do great for about 5 minutes then end of getting tired and scaring mom and dad to death by choking on the milk! Little buggers! Non the less they are doing really good for their age and we couldn't be happier. We were more than blessed due to the fact they weren't born earlier than their 32 week mark.
It's all about the prayers, hope and positive attitude!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Graduated!
The doctor called this morning and it's official. The girls are progressing so nicely they have graduated them to Nursery B. The "feeder and grower" side, where our main focus will be to get the nursing thing down so they can make it that much closer to going home! I've been told I need to be there for 2 a day feedings since within the next week or so they may need to progress to 4 a day feedings. If the hospital didn't already feel like a second home, it sure will now. I don't mind too much the people are more than nice and the NICU has a great parent room to relax, eat, watch TV and use a computer during the times we want to leave the bedside for a break.
Kenzington is still having some brady episodes the worst we've seen was last night while the hubs was holding her and she turned a little blue. We are a little worried but hope the doctor is right about her growing out of it within the next couple weeks.
So, we are that much closer and I see them changing daily! I can't wait to see them today and help them in their progression.
Kenzington is still having some brady episodes the worst we've seen was last night while the hubs was holding her and she turned a little blue. We are a little worried but hope the doctor is right about her growing out of it within the next couple weeks.
So, we are that much closer and I see them changing daily! I can't wait to see them today and help them in their progression.
Practice
The last couple days have been a bit frustrating. The twinks are doing very well. All the nurses say they are just so great and love taking care of them because they are so easy to watch. (We know that will change when they get home right? ;). )
The other day we gave them their first tub baths--
it was probably one of the single most frustrating yet coolest nights of my life. Being tired probably did not help the situation on the frustration part. I simply felt like I didn't know what the heck I was doing. I've bathed babies before while babysitting and such but it was like all of that just went out the window and my brain acted like the action of a bath was alien. I was in charge of Kenzington and she seemed extra peeved at me for even waking her up to do so!
I think them being so far away from me and not seeing them throughout the day has weighed on me pretty dramatically lately. It's made the feeling of being a mom seem like a dream, like it hasn't fully set in yet and wont until their home. The hubs has been amazing in trying to let me know things are going to be alright. I love him so much for being there for me and being strong for us.
I'm really hoping once all 3 of us get the hang of nursing things will seem a lot better. They are so young/early and I shouldn't be so frustrated that they didn't catch on right away. Practice makes perfect right? That says it all for everything really, if you think about it!
The fact that I have completely lost my appetite since they've been born has sure to of added to the list of all things. =p Blood sugar levels are probably not the greatest.
I really need to just keep telling myself, "They are doing amazing, we are going to be fine, just be patient". I'm impatient, haha, go figure right. We can do this though and it's just going to take some time. Even through the frustrations of nursing, it's all worth it just to sit with them in my arms while they look around their new world and try their hardest to focus on who is sitting in front of them. Who would of known something so small could grab your heart so tight. <3
The other day we gave them their first tub baths--
it was probably one of the single most frustrating yet coolest nights of my life. Being tired probably did not help the situation on the frustration part. I simply felt like I didn't know what the heck I was doing. I've bathed babies before while babysitting and such but it was like all of that just went out the window and my brain acted like the action of a bath was alien. I was in charge of Kenzington and she seemed extra peeved at me for even waking her up to do so!
I think them being so far away from me and not seeing them throughout the day has weighed on me pretty dramatically lately. It's made the feeling of being a mom seem like a dream, like it hasn't fully set in yet and wont until their home. The hubs has been amazing in trying to let me know things are going to be alright. I love him so much for being there for me and being strong for us.
I'm really hoping once all 3 of us get the hang of nursing things will seem a lot better. They are so young/early and I shouldn't be so frustrated that they didn't catch on right away. Practice makes perfect right? That says it all for everything really, if you think about it!
The fact that I have completely lost my appetite since they've been born has sure to of added to the list of all things. =p Blood sugar levels are probably not the greatest.
I really need to just keep telling myself, "They are doing amazing, we are going to be fine, just be patient". I'm impatient, haha, go figure right. We can do this though and it's just going to take some time. Even through the frustrations of nursing, it's all worth it just to sit with them in my arms while they look around their new world and try their hardest to focus on who is sitting in front of them. Who would of known something so small could grab your heart so tight. <3
Thursday, June 3, 2010
So many changes!
Whew!
There has been a lot of happenings in the past few days or it feels that way to us at least. It has definitely been an emotional roller coaster thus far and I'm certain it will be till the end. One thing I can say for sure is these little ones are totally worth it!
Since last post they are both off the C-paps still. For a little while there Kenzington wasn't doing the greatest and so they kept her on a high flow nasal cannula while Oakley was put on a low flow.
They stuck Oakley's feeding tube down her nose which I think should have been done for Kenzington as well--but Kenzlee has had it down through her mouth since she was put on the cannula.
Oakley without c-pap!
Just as I was about to leave that afternoon the Doctor on duty started her rounds on the girls. She said they both seem to be doing really great and she was even a little surprised at their progress. Seeing as they were doing so good and had reached their 14 days since birth she thought it would be great to get those picc lines out right away. Oakley was going to be taken off all of her medications even the caffeine since she hadn't had any respiratory problems in the past couple days. Kenzington on the other hand they were going to keep putting the caffeine in her food for now since she was still on her high flow cannula due to faster breathing.
Last night while there we were able to give them another bath and this time we weren't going to be putting them back in a heated bed. We got to put some actual clothes on the girls and the nurse was going to see how well they maintained their body temps. It was so cute to see little Kenzington wrapped up with a beanie on her little head looking like an elf!
With their picc lines out and their meds practically non existent we knew it would be close for when they could be co-bedded.
We were right..
When we got there this evening sure enough they were together!
(If you're wondering--no we cannot tell them apart! LMAO Not yet anyway.)
We spent the first hour or so just hanging out while they slept. At their 7pm feeding we tried some more non-nutritive feeding which turned out really well for both of them. Oakley did so well she got a little over excited and bit me! lol Yeah..owe!... Kenzington did much better now that she had all those changes made. They did so well that the Occupational Therapist and the nurse said they were going to speak with the doctor to see if it would be possible to upgrade them to the B nursery!
Now the B nursery is like a step forward in their stay at the hospital which is also called the "feeder/grower" side. It's a lot quieter and a little more private so that moms and babies can focus on what's needed for their return home. =D
SO, we will see if tomorrow when we go in if they are in their same spots or have been moved. :) We can only hope and pray for the best. If not! It's ok too! I've learned through this that set backs happen, it's just life. The best thing to do is just work through them if they happen and be grateful if they don't!
I've been thinking about putting together a post about my experience/frustrations with c-section and breastfeeding. Simply due to the fact that those have also caused a good portion of these emotional ups and downs. :) We will see. I've been pretty scatter brained and most of my re-caps I feel like I'm missing details I hope to remember later on.
Anyway in closing--Here's looking to the future!
There has been a lot of happenings in the past few days or it feels that way to us at least. It has definitely been an emotional roller coaster thus far and I'm certain it will be till the end. One thing I can say for sure is these little ones are totally worth it!
Since last post they are both off the C-paps still. For a little while there Kenzington wasn't doing the greatest and so they kept her on a high flow nasal cannula while Oakley was put on a low flow.
They stuck Oakley's feeding tube down her nose which I think should have been done for Kenzington as well--but Kenzlee has had it down through her mouth since she was put on the cannula.
Oakley without c-pap!
Wide awake looking at mom! We noticed she really likes to take in the things around her, more so than Kenzington.
Here's Kenington with dad- she made this weird face a lot because of her feeding tube being down through her mouth--
On Monday they both were doing really good with their respiratory rates so we were able to start trying non-nutrative breastfeeding. Which in short is them getting used to, well me! :p
It was probably the first of many close and amazing experiences I am going to be able to have with my girls. It was almost like it was just me and them being able to bond in our own little world.
Oakley did great! She seemed to get the idea right off the bat. While Kenzington got frustrated pretty quickly because of her feeding tube getting in the way. Which them made her began to breath a little fast. So we cut it short with her and put her back to bed so she could rest.
We were happy to hear they both have been gaining weight and are not above their birth weights. They are eating about 38-40 ML of milk each feeding and taking to them well. It was apparent when it came to how many stinky diapers we would have to change while their. As soon as we could clean one up and put a new diaper on she would just mess in it again!
Tuesday my mom was nice enough to take me to the hospital for an early morning non-nutrative. It was really great for her to be there and be able to watch the girls for that period of time. They even began to smile! Even if it was the kind of smiles that you can tell they don't know what the crap their mouth is doing yet but they do it anyway! Since then they have just been smiling more and more! Later that night my grandparents were able to finally drop by and see them. They seemed to enjoy seeing how tiny they were and all that good stuff.
Wednesday Austin's mom was so great and took the time away from work to take me in so I could spend some one on one time with the girls. When we got there we could hear one of them crying and saw they had been working on Oakely. The nurse let us know that earlier this morning they were debating on putting both girls back on their c-paps because their respirations were so high. Which would have been a step back. Instead they decided to do some suctioning and see if they could get any gunk out of the way that may be causing them to breath heavier. They had already finished with Kenzington when we got in. I could see her in her bed passed out from the stress. It was almost too hard for me to stand there and hear Oakley scream as they suctioned her throat and nose. After a few tries and getting some good amounts of gunk suddenly this huge booger just flew out of her nose! I swear it was the size of a freaking skittle. A skittle seems small but think about how stinking tiny their noses are!
The nurse doing the suctioning laughed saying she had to go show this off. I was just glad it was over and she could finally rest.
I was there for almost 4 hours, mostly watching them sleep and rest. I really wanted to take the day to just let them relax so hopefully there would be more progression in the future. After the mornings suction they both were doing so good it was great to see. The nurses on duty were so awesome! They saw me running back and forth between the two beds and 3 of them decided they would get together and put their beds closer together so I wouldn't look like one of those silly cartoon characters running round! They really made things a lot easier.
Last night while there we were able to give them another bath and this time we weren't going to be putting them back in a heated bed. We got to put some actual clothes on the girls and the nurse was going to see how well they maintained their body temps. It was so cute to see little Kenzington wrapped up with a beanie on her little head looking like an elf!
With their picc lines out and their meds practically non existent we knew it would be close for when they could be co-bedded.
We were right..
When we got there this evening sure enough they were together!
(Oakley left making her "worried" face-Kenzington Right just chillin)
They were both wrapped up in the blankets the Parents Network had given us the night before. With their little onsies on underneath.
Not only were they together, but they had taken Kenzington off of the high flow nasal cannula and put her on a low flow as well as they took her feeding tube out of her mouth and put it through her nose. I could tell right away that she was much happier without it in the mouth!
We spent the first hour or so just hanging out while they slept. At their 7pm feeding we tried some more non-nutritive feeding which turned out really well for both of them. Oakley did so well she got a little over excited and bit me! lol Yeah..owe!... Kenzington did much better now that she had all those changes made. They did so well that the Occupational Therapist and the nurse said they were going to speak with the doctor to see if it would be possible to upgrade them to the B nursery!
Now the B nursery is like a step forward in their stay at the hospital which is also called the "feeder/grower" side. It's a lot quieter and a little more private so that moms and babies can focus on what's needed for their return home. =D
SO, we will see if tomorrow when we go in if they are in their same spots or have been moved. :) We can only hope and pray for the best. If not! It's ok too! I've learned through this that set backs happen, it's just life. The best thing to do is just work through them if they happen and be grateful if they don't!
I've been thinking about putting together a post about my experience/frustrations with c-section and breastfeeding. Simply due to the fact that those have also caused a good portion of these emotional ups and downs. :) We will see. I've been pretty scatter brained and most of my re-caps I feel like I'm missing details I hope to remember later on.
Anyway in closing--Here's looking to the future!
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