11/29/06 - 1 week old!!!

Well, my precious babies are a full week old today! They have both made such incredible improvement, it seems unreal!

Last night after i posted I talked to their night nurse. Both babies had lost some more weight (after gaining back a little...). Evie got down to 3 lbs 3/4 oz and Jackson got down to 3 lbs 1 3/4 oz. Both babies began receiving "human milk fortifier" mixed with the breastmilk at each feeding. It contains an additional 4 calories per feeding, to help them gain a little weight. I hope it works and quickly! Ill be glad to see them back up to their birth weights!

Let's see... it was a very exciting day for us with our babies. We arrived at the NICU and both babies were in their new beds... basically they had been in some special beds that had equipment attatched to them already. Now they are in the regular heated isolettes. My Mother had bought the babies each a special blankie, so i washed them and took them up today. The nurse draped the blankets on top of their isolettes, their little area looks more inviting now.

Jackson had his cannula removed yesterday - well he has done so well without it they removed his pulsox monitor this morning!! These little changes are very exciting and also very scary at the same time! Im glad he doesnt need it anymore but also worried he doesnt have it anymore, in case he does need it. I hear this is a common concern among nicu parents when changes like these are made. He was also taken off the billilights!! So with the exception of his feeding tube and heart monitor (and i think 2 other little sticker monitors) Jackson is free from wires!!! He is actually "mobile" - he can be completley unplugged and carried like a regular baby! :) Some great news, Jackson is finally pooping regularly!!! Like, with every feeding pretty much LOL He seems so much more comfortable now when he is receiving his feedings and even tho he does continue to have some residual, its improved GREATLY!!

Evie is doing well too! :) She is still at 2 liters of oxygen, but they expect that to be turned off and remove the cannula sometime tommorrow!! She is also off the billilights! As of right now she has the cannula, feeding tube and various monitors, but that should change tommorrow. She is tolerating her feedings so well... has only had 1 residual incident! Her bladder and bowel are working well and everything really seems to be going good. Today i held her while she received her 11am feeding and she sucked on her pacifier the entire time. This girl has an amazing sucking reflex!!! Once she was done with her feeding she stopped sucking. Like she realises the whole sucking/feeding connection. She's so brilliant ;)

The BIGGEST news of the day - I got to hold the babies together for the first time today :) It was only for about 5 minutes, but long enough to snap a few pictures and watch in amazement as my little ones were together again :) Their day nurse told me on the phone earlier that she let Jackson hang out with "big sister" Evie in her bed for about 20 minutes this afternoon. She said they really seemed aware of one another and held hands. She took a pic for us - I cannot wait to see it!!! :) She also said that when Jackson had to go back to his own bed, Evie's heartrate dropped a little - like she knew her brother was gone and she wanted him BACK! Well, she will have her way soon. The NICU, thanksfully, encourages co bedding for mulitples once they are in an open crib. So as soon as that happens my babies will be together all the time!

Also, tommorrow we get to start kangaroo care!!! That on top of getting to hold them for 20 minutes. Im REALLLLY looking forward to this :)

Well, thats about it i think. Im sure im leaving something out but im so tired i cant think of what it is im forgetting. Heres a few pictures of my sweet little ones *together*.

Evie is above Jackson in this one...


Jackson on left, Me, and Evie on right!

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