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
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