Over the last several days, Isabel has given us a couple of scares. Several times she has turned blue during her feedings. This is NOT a fun feeling. She has struggled to coordinate her swallowing with breathing and the result has been choking and holding her breath. We had been very worried about her and her progress, but a couple of nights ago she really showed interest in feeding. She really attacked that bottle! Even though she was unable to take much, we were encouraged by how much she wanted to eat and knew it was time. Yesterday she turned a big corner. That sweet baby took 1 full bottle and 90% of another. Over night she took 3 half bottles and then another full bottle this morning. It was like she just finally "got it." Her current weight is 5 lbs 2 oz.
Alexander has taken every bottle that has been offered over the last 24 hours. He is doing great. They say it won't be long now until he can come home and Isabel is close too. I hope by the end of next week we will have at least one Little Wilson home with us! His current weight is 6 lbs 2 oz.
They have weaned them off there meds except for reflux medication and some vitamins. The day is getting closer and Greg and I have been preparing the house. Wednesday we will get the car seat installation inspected. We pray they will be home soon without complications. I am too excited for words!
Love,
Susan
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday July 20
So, today was kind of a bummer for me. Last night I turned up with a fever. NICU rules don't allow you to visit until you have been fever free for 24 hours. While I appreciate this rule, It does mean not seeing the babies today. Greg will go tonight and work on feeding both babies with a bottle.
As of yesterday Alexander was 5 pounds 7.5 oz and Isabel was 4 pounds 10 oz. These babies are growing like weeds. I spoke with the babies' nurse this morning and they both had a great night. Alexander took 2 full feedings from the bottle and Isabel took 2 partial feedings from the bottle. I am hoping that one or both of them can come home in 2-3 weeks!
Thanks to everyone who has been supporting us with thoughts, prayers, dinner meals, gifts, and visits. we are truly blessed!
Love,
Susan
As of yesterday Alexander was 5 pounds 7.5 oz and Isabel was 4 pounds 10 oz. These babies are growing like weeds. I spoke with the babies' nurse this morning and they both had a great night. Alexander took 2 full feedings from the bottle and Isabel took 2 partial feedings from the bottle. I am hoping that one or both of them can come home in 2-3 weeks!
Thanks to everyone who has been supporting us with thoughts, prayers, dinner meals, gifts, and visits. we are truly blessed!
Love,
Susan
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday July 17
Last night Greg and I had a slight scare. The nurse found a little bit of blood in Alexander's feeding residuals. The nurse called the nurse practitioner and although he appeared okay, they did an abdominal x-ray on him. The x-ray did not indicate a problem, but they are keeping an eye on it. Hopefully it is just a one time incident caused by irritation from the nasal gastric tube.
The babies both had their eye exam this week. Because of their prematurity, they are at a higher risk for retinopathy. There are various stages of progression with zero being the lowest. The doctor said that most babies born when Alexander and Isabel were will at least be stage 1, but they were stage zero! So happy!
Alexander currently weighs 5 lbs 2 oz and Isabel is 4 lbs 5 oz. They are really starting to fill out :)
Susan
The babies both had their eye exam this week. Because of their prematurity, they are at a higher risk for retinopathy. There are various stages of progression with zero being the lowest. The doctor said that most babies born when Alexander and Isabel were will at least be stage 1, but they were stage zero! So happy!
Alexander currently weighs 5 lbs 2 oz and Isabel is 4 lbs 5 oz. They are really starting to fill out :)
Susan
Monday, July 12, 2010
Both Babies Together Again!
Yesterday I held both Alexander and Isabel together for the first time! They were so content with each other :) Love it!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sunday July 11
The babies have been doing great this week! Speech therapy began working with them this week on taking a bottle. Before either of them can go home they will have to learn how to take ALL their milk from me or from a bottle. Working the milk out of the bottle is VERY exhausting for them. It was described to us like running 5 miles without any training. They are only allowing each baby to take 2 bottles a day in order to avoid burning too many calories. Alexander did great right away and took half his feeding by mouth. After that he was so tuckered out! It was really cute. Isabel struggled more with the bottle at first and only took about 15-20% of her feeding. She likes to play with the bottle and is still not sure what to do with the milk once it is in her mouth. But, Greg worked with her yesterday and she took half of her feeding with the bottle! What a great daddy! He was so patient with her. Something tells me she is going to be a daddy's girl :)
Isabel is just ounces away from moving to her big girl bed. She is regulating her temperature inside the isolette and once she reaches 4 pounds we will be able to move her to a new bed. Her last weight was 3 pounds 13 oz. Alexander is 4 pounds 10 ounces. From a respiratory standpoint, both babies are doing great. They rarely have an apnea episode anymore.
We are reaching a challenging point in their development. They both have made such great strides, but learning to suck, swallow, and breath while also getting enough calories is vital if they are going to come home. This will take weeks for them to learn. In every other category they are like a typical baby (just smaller), so we have to be patient as they learn how to eat.
Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers!
Susan
Isabel is just ounces away from moving to her big girl bed. She is regulating her temperature inside the isolette and once she reaches 4 pounds we will be able to move her to a new bed. Her last weight was 3 pounds 13 oz. Alexander is 4 pounds 10 ounces. From a respiratory standpoint, both babies are doing great. They rarely have an apnea episode anymore.
We are reaching a challenging point in their development. They both have made such great strides, but learning to suck, swallow, and breath while also getting enough calories is vital if they are going to come home. This will take weeks for them to learn. In every other category they are like a typical baby (just smaller), so we have to be patient as they learn how to eat.
Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers!
Susan
Monday, July 5, 2010
Monday July 5th
Today was a day of milestones for both Alexander and Isabel. Alexander got his first chance to breastfeed today. Expectations were fairly low for both the nurses and myself, but Alexander did great. He was quite successful and shocked us all! Isabel finally had her nasal cannula removed! Now we can see her pretty little face better. She kept pulling the cannula out of her nose. Since her oxygen saturation was 100% without it, they decided to go ahead a give her chance.
Both babies have gained weight. Alexander is 4 lbs 5 oz and Isabel is 3 lbs 8 oz. It looks like Isabel is on her way to wearing clothes and being in an open bed like her brother. What fun it will be to dress her up! As for Alexander, I am convinced we will be taking home a 10 pound baby!
Susan
Both babies have gained weight. Alexander is 4 lbs 5 oz and Isabel is 3 lbs 8 oz. It looks like Isabel is on her way to wearing clothes and being in an open bed like her brother. What fun it will be to dress her up! As for Alexander, I am convinced we will be taking home a 10 pound baby!
Susan
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Saturday July 3rd
Well, Alexander has big news this week! He has gained up to 4 pounds although I suspect some of that is fluid. They are going to keep an eye on it because his little feet were a bit puffy. He is now big enough to wear clothes and regulate his own body temperature. The plan is to switch him to an open bed within the next several days. He is currently in a closed bed that helps hold the heat in. The new bed will make it easier for us to see him (and change diapers) and he will be be swaddled while in the bed. We were excited to see that he had his nasal cannula removed and is now breathing without any oxygen assistance at all. He is going to start learning to breastfeed soon which usually starts at 34 weeks gestation (he is 31). The running joke in the NICU is that he thinks her is bigger than he is!
Isabel has also made great strides. She is up to 3 pounds 2 ounces! We hope this is her beginning to take off in growth, but we will try and be patient. The Dr. says they will take her nasal cannula off in the next couple of days. "Alexander, watch out! She's catching up!" Last night I witnessed Isabel attempting to manipulate her daddy. They played a game where she cried. He put the pacifier in. She spit it out. After 30 seconds, more crying and this continued for about 30-45 minutes. Greg finally wised up to her game!
As for me, I am finally driving again after nearly a month. What a strange feeling being back behind the wheel! It is good to know that no matter what time of day I can jump in the car and go see our sweet babies...anytime I want :)
Don't blink; they are growing quickly....can't wait to get them home!!!!
Susan
Isabel has also made great strides. She is up to 3 pounds 2 ounces! We hope this is her beginning to take off in growth, but we will try and be patient. The Dr. says they will take her nasal cannula off in the next couple of days. "Alexander, watch out! She's catching up!" Last night I witnessed Isabel attempting to manipulate her daddy. They played a game where she cried. He put the pacifier in. She spit it out. After 30 seconds, more crying and this continued for about 30-45 minutes. Greg finally wised up to her game!
As for me, I am finally driving again after nearly a month. What a strange feeling being back behind the wheel! It is good to know that no matter what time of day I can jump in the car and go see our sweet babies...anytime I want :)
Don't blink; they are growing quickly....can't wait to get them home!!!!
Susan
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