Monday, September 30, 2013
Day 51!!!
I got to see my boys today!!! After 3 days I couldn't go one more so I stopped in to see them this afternoon. They looked great and Joseph was doing awesome in his open crib!!!! The boys both were getting their eye exams when I arrived but the DR said everything looked good! The boys also had their feedings increased, Joseph to 36ml and Nicholas to 34!!! Nicholas remains off of oxygen and the nurse will be putting Joseph on "Micro flow" which is almost no assistance at all!!! The boys will both be receiving epogen again to stimulate the bone marrow, so hopefully we can avoid another blood transfusion. Other than that they seem to be progressing nicely and we hope Nicholas can reach 4lbs tonight or tomorrow!!!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
7 Weeks!!! Big Bro B-Day!!!
I can't believe that it has been 50 days already!!! The boys have
made outstanding progress over the last few days as well, which is
making the time go by a little faster I think!!! I have to start the
blog tonight though by wishing Vincent a very happy 2nd birthday!!! We
had a great day celebrating with him and we ventured out to Arlington
Racetrack along with Grandpa and Grandma G., Aunt Sheri and Uncle Tom,
and his cousins!!! We also celebrated my parents 39th wedding
anniversary too! The only thing missing today was the boys of
course!!!
So since I haven't seen the boys in the past 3 days, I've relied heavily on the information that Kalleigh is providing me to update everyone. She has been doing an amazing job keeping track of everything that is going on, especially with all of the new progress!!! Nicholas is now weighing in at 3lb 13.5oz, and is up to 30ml of breast milk every 3 hours! He has been tolerating his increased feeds fine, and in fact yesterday pulled off his nasal canula that was supplying the oxygen, but the nurses decided to try and leave it off to see how he responded. Of course on this news I was very nervous, but I'm happy to report that Nicholas has now been off of oxygen since he pulled off his nasal canula early yesterday!!!! It's such an amazing feeling to know he is doing so well, and to think of how much improvement he has made since he was born 7 weeks ago! We are hoping that Nicholas is able to reach 4lb early this week and be able to move to an open crib in the middle or end of the week! Nicholas also made his first attempt at breastfeeding today!!! Kalleigh said he did really good, and was able to get the technique down, but it was kind of a dress rehearsal if you will, because they wanted Kalleigh to pump first and then try to get Nicholas to attempt the feeding. The reason for this is they don't want to introduce two new experiences at once, so taking to Kalleigh is number one, and then oral feeding is another. Kalleigh will go back tomorrow and try to actually feed Nicholas. I can't begin to describe the feelings that have been going through me these past few days listening to all of this progress, and at the same time not being able to witness it by myself, but I know Nicholas is doing great, and I will be seeing him tomorrow!!!
Joseph is also doing great, he now weighs 4 lb 4.25oz, and is up to 34ml of breast milk every 3 hours! Today his nurse tried taking his oxygen away, and although he handled it for a little while, she had to put him back on, because his oxygen saturation levels just weren't staying high enough for her to be comfortable leaving him off! Instead the nurse lowered his pressure to 1 liter of air per minute, which is almost nothing, and he is hovering right around room air for his oxygen assistance!!! We of course were very happy to hear that he tolerated some time off of the oxygen, but considering all of the issues we've had with Joseph we are not surprised that he is a tiny bit behind Nicholas in his respiratory development. Joseph was also moved to an open crib today!!! He looks so much more comfortable and we hope he can remain out of the incubator from this point forward!!! We are so happy to see his progress and are looking forward to having him attempt breastfeeding tomorrow too! We will be keeping a close eye this week on Joseph's progress and hope that he can get off of his oxygen like Nicholas!
The boys are doing so great, and we know we are so lucky to be in the situation we are considering where we've come from! Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers from all of you, this has been a truly amazing experience and has given Kalleigh and I a whole new outlook on life! Sorry for the late post, but today we dedicated the majority of our time to Vince for his day!!!
So since I haven't seen the boys in the past 3 days, I've relied heavily on the information that Kalleigh is providing me to update everyone. She has been doing an amazing job keeping track of everything that is going on, especially with all of the new progress!!! Nicholas is now weighing in at 3lb 13.5oz, and is up to 30ml of breast milk every 3 hours! He has been tolerating his increased feeds fine, and in fact yesterday pulled off his nasal canula that was supplying the oxygen, but the nurses decided to try and leave it off to see how he responded. Of course on this news I was very nervous, but I'm happy to report that Nicholas has now been off of oxygen since he pulled off his nasal canula early yesterday!!!! It's such an amazing feeling to know he is doing so well, and to think of how much improvement he has made since he was born 7 weeks ago! We are hoping that Nicholas is able to reach 4lb early this week and be able to move to an open crib in the middle or end of the week! Nicholas also made his first attempt at breastfeeding today!!! Kalleigh said he did really good, and was able to get the technique down, but it was kind of a dress rehearsal if you will, because they wanted Kalleigh to pump first and then try to get Nicholas to attempt the feeding. The reason for this is they don't want to introduce two new experiences at once, so taking to Kalleigh is number one, and then oral feeding is another. Kalleigh will go back tomorrow and try to actually feed Nicholas. I can't begin to describe the feelings that have been going through me these past few days listening to all of this progress, and at the same time not being able to witness it by myself, but I know Nicholas is doing great, and I will be seeing him tomorrow!!!
Joseph is also doing great, he now weighs 4 lb 4.25oz, and is up to 34ml of breast milk every 3 hours! Today his nurse tried taking his oxygen away, and although he handled it for a little while, she had to put him back on, because his oxygen saturation levels just weren't staying high enough for her to be comfortable leaving him off! Instead the nurse lowered his pressure to 1 liter of air per minute, which is almost nothing, and he is hovering right around room air for his oxygen assistance!!! We of course were very happy to hear that he tolerated some time off of the oxygen, but considering all of the issues we've had with Joseph we are not surprised that he is a tiny bit behind Nicholas in his respiratory development. Joseph was also moved to an open crib today!!! He looks so much more comfortable and we hope he can remain out of the incubator from this point forward!!! We are so happy to see his progress and are looking forward to having him attempt breastfeeding tomorrow too! We will be keeping a close eye this week on Joseph's progress and hope that he can get off of his oxygen like Nicholas!
The boys are doing so great, and we know we are so lucky to be in the situation we are considering where we've come from! Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers from all of you, this has been a truly amazing experience and has given Kalleigh and I a whole new outlook on life! Sorry for the late post, but today we dedicated the majority of our time to Vince for his day!!!
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| Nicholas without his canula!!!! |
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| Joseph giving us a smile!!! |
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| Joseph in his open crib!!! |
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Day 49!!!
It's a beautiful day outside, and the boys are doing great!!! Not too much you can ask for on a Saturday! I still haven't been able to see the boys, but Kalleigh has been doing double time for me!!! Both Nicholas and Joseph have been weaned down to 2l of forced air per minute, and both boys are in the low 20's on their oxygen assistance, with Joseph being at room air!!! The doctor is so happy with their progress that tomorrow morning they may allow Kalleigh to attempt to breast feed them!!! That will be another great accomplishment for the boys, and we're really excited for a lot of progress this week!!
Joseph will probably be in an open crib by tomorrow or Monday at the latest! The doctor doesn't want to introduce breast feeding and an open crib at the same time, so they will do the feedings first and then open crib!!! Joseph now weight 4lb 3.75oz, and is really holding strong on all of his vitals!
Nicholas is now weighing in at 3lb 11.5oz and doing great as well! I know I mentioned this before, but his hemangioma has gotten a little bigger over the past couple of weeks, but it seems to be looking a little better and hasn't grown as much if at all in recent days. Again this isn't anything to worry about, it's only cosmetic and hopefully in a few years it will go away.
The pictures of the boys will come later, Kalleigh will be sending me some to put on here when she goes to visit them next time. Pushups went well today, and I look forward to the century mark tomorrow! I know that sounds crazy, but I believe all of the positive energy from this challenge is paying off, and the boys are feeling it!!! Keep up the hard work everyone, and I hope you can get outside and enjoy your Saturday!!!
Joseph will probably be in an open crib by tomorrow or Monday at the latest! The doctor doesn't want to introduce breast feeding and an open crib at the same time, so they will do the feedings first and then open crib!!! Joseph now weight 4lb 3.75oz, and is really holding strong on all of his vitals!
Nicholas is now weighing in at 3lb 11.5oz and doing great as well! I know I mentioned this before, but his hemangioma has gotten a little bigger over the past couple of weeks, but it seems to be looking a little better and hasn't grown as much if at all in recent days. Again this isn't anything to worry about, it's only cosmetic and hopefully in a few years it will go away.
The pictures of the boys will come later, Kalleigh will be sending me some to put on here when she goes to visit them next time. Pushups went well today, and I look forward to the century mark tomorrow! I know that sounds crazy, but I believe all of the positive energy from this challenge is paying off, and the boys are feeling it!!! Keep up the hard work everyone, and I hope you can get outside and enjoy your Saturday!!!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Day 48!!!
It's hard to believe that it has almost been 50 days since the boys joined us, and that they have spent all of their lives thus far in the NICU!!! We know they are in the best place possible though, and the care and love that they receive from the doctors and nurses in the NICU really provide us with a comfort level that we didn't know would be possible at a hospital! Again I have to thank all of the wonderful people in the NICU who have helped get our boys to the positions they are today!!!
Nicholas now weights 3lb 10.5oz!!! There was a little confusion last night with a discrepancy in his weight from the night before, but after a little math correction everything was fine and he gained almost a whole ounce! Nicholas' forced air was also lowered yesterday to 3l per minute, and he was handling it nicely! He was hovering right around "room air" (21% oxygen) yesterday, so this is a really good sign that his lungs are developing nicely!
Joseph is weighing in at 4lb 1.5oz!!! Another big gain for him which is great to see! I'm hoping they try and put him in an open crib by this weekend, which will be a very welcome site for us!!! Joseph also had his air flow decreased to 3l per minute and he was doing great! In fact he made it down to "room air" early this morning as well!!! During the first few weeks of his life, I would have never guessed he would be doing so well at this point!!!
Unfortunately I was unable to visit the boys yesterday, and I probably won't be able to see them today, I'm feeling a little under the weather, and I won't go near the NICU for fear of getting not only my boys sick, but God forbid another baby, or one of the healthcare providers! Yes we sterilize very generously when we're there, but I will not be the one who causes any illness or setbacks for my boys!!! So as hard as it is not to see them everyday, I know I'm doing the right thing by staying back. Kalleigh has been able to spend a little more time with them yesterday and will today as well, so she'll keep me informed and send pictures as well!!!
Nicholas now weights 3lb 10.5oz!!! There was a little confusion last night with a discrepancy in his weight from the night before, but after a little math correction everything was fine and he gained almost a whole ounce! Nicholas' forced air was also lowered yesterday to 3l per minute, and he was handling it nicely! He was hovering right around "room air" (21% oxygen) yesterday, so this is a really good sign that his lungs are developing nicely!
Joseph is weighing in at 4lb 1.5oz!!! Another big gain for him which is great to see! I'm hoping they try and put him in an open crib by this weekend, which will be a very welcome site for us!!! Joseph also had his air flow decreased to 3l per minute and he was doing great! In fact he made it down to "room air" early this morning as well!!! During the first few weeks of his life, I would have never guessed he would be doing so well at this point!!!
Unfortunately I was unable to visit the boys yesterday, and I probably won't be able to see them today, I'm feeling a little under the weather, and I won't go near the NICU for fear of getting not only my boys sick, but God forbid another baby, or one of the healthcare providers! Yes we sterilize very generously when we're there, but I will not be the one who causes any illness or setbacks for my boys!!! So as hard as it is not to see them everyday, I know I'm doing the right thing by staying back. Kalleigh has been able to spend a little more time with them yesterday and will today as well, so she'll keep me informed and send pictures as well!!!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Day 47!!!
WE HAVE A 4 POUNDER!!!! Last night Joseph hit the 4lb mark on the nose, and Kalleigh and I were both there to witness it!!! We were very excited as he reached this new milestone to say the least, an to think that he has put on 1.5lb's in 6 1/2 weeks is great!!! Nicholas went up the charts as well hitting 3lb 9.75oz so were hoping by this time next week both boys are over the 4lb mark!!! Joseph will be monitored for his temperature now, and as long as he can hold his temperature without the help of an incubator they will move him to an open crib!!! That will be a very exciting day for us as well!
Both boys are doing great and were very active during last night's hands on! Kalleigh and I both got to change diapers and put their pajamas on!!! It was exciting to be there with Kalleigh during this time, and we really only needed Vince to complete the picture!!! We will begin face timing with one another while we are at the hospital so Vince can start to know his brothers a little more. Right now we just show him pictures and explain to him that his two brothers are in the hospital, and Mommy and Daddy go see them everyday. He seems to be getting it a little more now, and it's priceless when he kisses their pictures on our phones!!! Out of all of the challenges we have faced, I think not having Vince see his brothers is becoming one of the hardest, especially now since they really only have their nasal canula's in and the NG feeding tubes. Before we didn't want him to see them with their IV's and other lines in, but now since they are doing so well, we're excited to have him meet them when they come home!!! We know we're still a long way away from that day, but we couldn't be happier with the progress that these boys continue to show!
Both boys are doing great and were very active during last night's hands on! Kalleigh and I both got to change diapers and put their pajamas on!!! It was exciting to be there with Kalleigh during this time, and we really only needed Vince to complete the picture!!! We will begin face timing with one another while we are at the hospital so Vince can start to know his brothers a little more. Right now we just show him pictures and explain to him that his two brothers are in the hospital, and Mommy and Daddy go see them everyday. He seems to be getting it a little more now, and it's priceless when he kisses their pictures on our phones!!! Out of all of the challenges we have faced, I think not having Vince see his brothers is becoming one of the hardest, especially now since they really only have their nasal canula's in and the NG feeding tubes. Before we didn't want him to see them with their IV's and other lines in, but now since they are doing so well, we're excited to have him meet them when they come home!!! We know we're still a long way away from that day, but we couldn't be happier with the progress that these boys continue to show!
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| Joseph was so excited he almost rolled off the scale!!! |
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| It's official!!! Four pounds on the dot!!! |
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| Nicholas looking very content!!! |
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| Joseph after Mommy dressed him!!! |
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Day 46!!!
Sorry for the late post, but as you may know we celebrated my Mom's 60th birthday last night, and lets just say I needed to sleep in a little this morning and then head to work, I'll leave it at that!
The boys are approaching 4lbs fast!!! Joseph as of last night weiged 3lb 15.5oz, and Nicholas 3lb 8.5 oz!!! Kalleigh and I are heading to the hospital shortly for tonight's weigh in, and hopefully we will see a 4 pound reading!!! It's pretty exciting considering where they boys started to see them progressing so well!!! Also, the boys have grown in length as well, they were both 13 inches at birth, and now are both 16 inches!!!
Both boys had their feedings increased today, Nicholas is now receiving 29ml every 3 hours, and Joseph is getting 32ml!!! We are hoping this increase puts on weight at an even faster pace now!!! The boys have been tolerating the increase great, and when I visited them earlier today they were both showing good vital signs, and holding strong on their oxygen saturation levels!!! It's amazing how alike they are in their vital signs too, especially when we hold them close together and they can touch each others hands!!!
I'm putting a picture of Joseph's monitor on the blog for everyone to see what we look at when we visit. The green number is the baby's heart rate which we want above 100 and usually in the 120-160 range, and the blue number is the oxygen saturation level. The nurses and doctors want the waves next to the oxygen level to be constant just like they are in this picture! The white number is the respiratory rate of the baby, which should be between 10-100. Just wanted to let everyone know how we judge their progress through out the day! The technology is great, and as you can see in the lower left, since the nurses have more than one baby they are able to put another monitor on the same screen so they can see both babies at once. The lower left here is Nicholas!!!
The boys are approaching 4lbs fast!!! Joseph as of last night weiged 3lb 15.5oz, and Nicholas 3lb 8.5 oz!!! Kalleigh and I are heading to the hospital shortly for tonight's weigh in, and hopefully we will see a 4 pound reading!!! It's pretty exciting considering where they boys started to see them progressing so well!!! Also, the boys have grown in length as well, they were both 13 inches at birth, and now are both 16 inches!!!
Both boys had their feedings increased today, Nicholas is now receiving 29ml every 3 hours, and Joseph is getting 32ml!!! We are hoping this increase puts on weight at an even faster pace now!!! The boys have been tolerating the increase great, and when I visited them earlier today they were both showing good vital signs, and holding strong on their oxygen saturation levels!!! It's amazing how alike they are in their vital signs too, especially when we hold them close together and they can touch each others hands!!!
I'm putting a picture of Joseph's monitor on the blog for everyone to see what we look at when we visit. The green number is the baby's heart rate which we want above 100 and usually in the 120-160 range, and the blue number is the oxygen saturation level. The nurses and doctors want the waves next to the oxygen level to be constant just like they are in this picture! The white number is the respiratory rate of the baby, which should be between 10-100. Just wanted to let everyone know how we judge their progress through out the day! The technology is great, and as you can see in the lower left, since the nurses have more than one baby they are able to put another monitor on the same screen so they can see both babies at once. The lower left here is Nicholas!!!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Day 45!!!
The boys are definitely growing from their Bolus feeds!!! Nicholas came in at 3lb 8oz and Joseph now weighs 3lb 14oz!!! It was great to be there for the weigh in last nigh and to see them doing so well! Grandma and Grandpa G. came along for the ride to spend some time with the boys! It was an early 60th birthday present for Grandma G. to be with her two new Grandsons last night, and she briefly got to hold Joseph!!! On that note, Happy 60th Birthday to my amazing mother, who doesn't look a day over 50!!! We are truly thankful for all that she has done for us not only in the past two months, but always!!!
Joseph as I stated now weighs over 1700 grams, and is receiving 30ml of breast milk every 3 hours. He will have labs done this week to determine how he responded to the Epogen cycle for his anemia, but he looks really good, and doesn't seem to be losing any color at all!!! He was so peaceful last night when we arrived, it was great to see!!! He remains at the 4l of air per minute, and also right at 30% oxygen assistance. He has really decreased the amount of episodes he has been experiencing as well!!! This is a great sign, because one of the requirements for the boys to come home is to go 7 straight days without an episode, or else the clock starts over!!!
Nicholas is receiving 27ml of breast milk every 3 hours, but as his weight increases he will begin receiving more. To put that in perspective, he's close to 1oz of milk, as compared to the 2oz you would typically give a newborn. My theory is that their both halfway to home!!! Nicholas received his labs yesterday, but we haven't heard the results yet, but he too like Joseph looked really good!!! Nicholas is also still at 4l of air per minute, but is a little lower on his oxygen assistance ranging from 21-25%. Nicholas has hardly had any episodes for a while, so we're hoping he continues down this path!!!
Joseph as I stated now weighs over 1700 grams, and is receiving 30ml of breast milk every 3 hours. He will have labs done this week to determine how he responded to the Epogen cycle for his anemia, but he looks really good, and doesn't seem to be losing any color at all!!! He was so peaceful last night when we arrived, it was great to see!!! He remains at the 4l of air per minute, and also right at 30% oxygen assistance. He has really decreased the amount of episodes he has been experiencing as well!!! This is a great sign, because one of the requirements for the boys to come home is to go 7 straight days without an episode, or else the clock starts over!!!
Nicholas is receiving 27ml of breast milk every 3 hours, but as his weight increases he will begin receiving more. To put that in perspective, he's close to 1oz of milk, as compared to the 2oz you would typically give a newborn. My theory is that their both halfway to home!!! Nicholas received his labs yesterday, but we haven't heard the results yet, but he too like Joseph looked really good!!! Nicholas is also still at 4l of air per minute, but is a little lower on his oxygen assistance ranging from 21-25%. Nicholas has hardly had any episodes for a while, so we're hoping he continues down this path!!!
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| Nicholas, really concentrating on his weigh in!!! |
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| My favorite onesie to date!!! |
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| Grandma waving goodnight to Nicholas!!! |
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| Joseph, passed out!!! |
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| Really happy after finding out his weight!!! |
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| An early birthday gift for Grandma, first time holding Joseph!!! |
Monday, September 23, 2013
Day 44!!!
Well the boys had another good day today, I haven't left to see them yet, so I'll post pictures in the morning. I'm visiting them tonight and hopefully will get to hold them and get their updated weights! As of this morning not much had changed from Sunday. The boys were moved from feedings every 2 hours, to every 3 now, so they are getting their feeds faster. Both boys are tolerating the Bolus feedings great though, and hopefully we see a big weight gain tonight for both boys!
Nicholas and Joseph both are still at 4l of air per minute, and the doctors hope to wean them down to 3.5 early this week, and hopefully 3l by the weekend! When I held them both yesterday they looked really good, and almost ready to breathe on their own, but I'm probably being a little too optimistic!!!
I hope the pushups are going strong for everyone! It's a struggle everyday, but just remember why you're doing them, and it makes it a little easier! The boys are really getting stronger everyday because of the love and support from all of you! Kalleigh and I continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of thoughts and prayers that everyone keeps sending us! We are forever grateful and will never forget what everyone has done for us during this stressful, yet wonderful experience!!!
Nicholas and Joseph both are still at 4l of air per minute, and the doctors hope to wean them down to 3.5 early this week, and hopefully 3l by the weekend! When I held them both yesterday they looked really good, and almost ready to breathe on their own, but I'm probably being a little too optimistic!!!
I hope the pushups are going strong for everyone! It's a struggle everyday, but just remember why you're doing them, and it makes it a little easier! The boys are really getting stronger everyday because of the love and support from all of you! Kalleigh and I continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of thoughts and prayers that everyone keeps sending us! We are forever grateful and will never forget what everyone has done for us during this stressful, yet wonderful experience!!!
Sunday, September 22, 2013
6 weeks!!!
Yesterday was a wonderful day in which Kalleigh and I were taking the day to celebrate our anniversary and our three little angels!!! Kalleigh, Vince and I started out by participating in a 5K for our neighbors church, and then we enjoyed the beautiful weather for a while, before Kalleigh's good friend and her husband were generous enough to watch Vince while we both went to see the boys!!! It was the first time in a long time that we've both been able visit the boys together, and since it was only Kalleigh and I it was a really special time! We ended our day with a nice long relaxing dinner out while Grandma and Grandpa G. took Vince for the night!!!
Joseph was wide awake when we got there and he was very alert and seemingly happy to see us!!! I know that's probably not true yet, but we like to believe it!!! His big eyes were all over the place, and he was moving his arms around a lot, and of course he pulled his nasal canula out so the nurse had to readjust it, but his feeding tube remained in!
Nicholas was sound asleep when we arrived, and didn't seem to care to much that we were both visiting him!!! He was doing great though and sleeping very peacefully on his back. The boys both seem to enjoy their stomachs more, but the nurses try to get them on their backs just as much as because their heads are still developing and they want to make them as round as possible!!!
Both boys were receiving their last dosage of the Epogen yesterday, and the doctor told us they are not looking for the number of red blood cells to increase from the medication, but rather the number of developing red blood cells to increase. We won't know how the medication worked until both boys receive labs next week, but the doctor was happy with their status after he evaluation yesterday while we were there. The doctor also ordered that the boys move to Bolus feedings, which is different than the continuous feeds that the boys have been receiving. Bolus feedings are intermittent feedings where the boys are receiving the same amount of breast milk through their feeding tubes but at a faster pace over a shorter time. Joseph was on this type of feeding earlier in the process, but he wasn't tolerating it too well, but since they are farther along in their development now the doctors want to try again. The doctor stated that on continuous feeds the milk fat can actually settle in the feeding tubes and not make it to the boys, so they don't receive the total caloric intake they need. On Bolus feedings the milk is moving at a faster pace and doesn't have time to separate, which we found kind of interesting!
After all of our updates Kalleigh and I got to hold both boys for about an hour together, and it was fantastic!!! The room was so quiet and both boys were so good for us!!! I will be heading to the hospital this morning and will provide an update on their weights and their progress from the new feeding method, but as of very early this morning, they were both doing really well!!!
Joseph was wide awake when we got there and he was very alert and seemingly happy to see us!!! I know that's probably not true yet, but we like to believe it!!! His big eyes were all over the place, and he was moving his arms around a lot, and of course he pulled his nasal canula out so the nurse had to readjust it, but his feeding tube remained in!
Nicholas was sound asleep when we arrived, and didn't seem to care to much that we were both visiting him!!! He was doing great though and sleeping very peacefully on his back. The boys both seem to enjoy their stomachs more, but the nurses try to get them on their backs just as much as because their heads are still developing and they want to make them as round as possible!!!
Both boys were receiving their last dosage of the Epogen yesterday, and the doctor told us they are not looking for the number of red blood cells to increase from the medication, but rather the number of developing red blood cells to increase. We won't know how the medication worked until both boys receive labs next week, but the doctor was happy with their status after he evaluation yesterday while we were there. The doctor also ordered that the boys move to Bolus feedings, which is different than the continuous feeds that the boys have been receiving. Bolus feedings are intermittent feedings where the boys are receiving the same amount of breast milk through their feeding tubes but at a faster pace over a shorter time. Joseph was on this type of feeding earlier in the process, but he wasn't tolerating it too well, but since they are farther along in their development now the doctors want to try again. The doctor stated that on continuous feeds the milk fat can actually settle in the feeding tubes and not make it to the boys, so they don't receive the total caloric intake they need. On Bolus feedings the milk is moving at a faster pace and doesn't have time to separate, which we found kind of interesting!
After all of our updates Kalleigh and I got to hold both boys for about an hour together, and it was fantastic!!! The room was so quiet and both boys were so good for us!!! I will be heading to the hospital this morning and will provide an update on their weights and their progress from the new feeding method, but as of very early this morning, they were both doing really well!!!
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| Joseph sporting his bears pride!!! |
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| Nicholas doing the same!!! |
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Day 42!!!
Sorry there wasn't an update after yesterday morning, but there really wasn't any change in the boys status, and since I didn't get back home from seeing them until late, I figured I would just update you this morning! The boys look GREAT! I can't tell you in words how happy we are with their progress and how impressed we are with their ability to maintain the low air flow and oxygen assistance!!! Joseph was really active last night when I visited him, and Nicholas was just relaxing as usual!!! The boys had two surprise visitors late last night as well, as Uncle Danny and Aunt Terry paid a nice visit! As many of you know anything with Uncle Danny is usually entertaining, so I'll just leave it at that!!!
The boys both lost a few grams yesterday, Joseph 15grams and Nicholas 5grams, which after the poop the nurse told me about for Joseph it's not surprising. I told her she shouldn't have weighed him after that, but hopefully tonight hes up to at least 3lb 13oz or more. Nicholas' drop wasn't a concern as 5 grams could have been a scale error, so we will see where he is tonight as well!
Both boys are still on the 4 liters of air per minute, and according to their doctor today, she may order them down to 3.5 lpm, but we'll see!! I don't want her to rush them down, and since they are receiving their final dose of the Epogen for anemia today, she will probably wait until tomorrow to wean them down some more!
Other than that the boys look great, and are continuing on their positive paths!!! 42 (84) is the push up number today, and even those of you just doing one more per day are probably cursing me by now, because I know the two extra per day people sure are!!! Keep up the hard work, I know it's paying off for the boys!!!
The boys both lost a few grams yesterday, Joseph 15grams and Nicholas 5grams, which after the poop the nurse told me about for Joseph it's not surprising. I told her she shouldn't have weighed him after that, but hopefully tonight hes up to at least 3lb 13oz or more. Nicholas' drop wasn't a concern as 5 grams could have been a scale error, so we will see where he is tonight as well!
Both boys are still on the 4 liters of air per minute, and according to their doctor today, she may order them down to 3.5 lpm, but we'll see!! I don't want her to rush them down, and since they are receiving their final dose of the Epogen for anemia today, she will probably wait until tomorrow to wean them down some more!
Other than that the boys look great, and are continuing on their positive paths!!! 42 (84) is the push up number today, and even those of you just doing one more per day are probably cursing me by now, because I know the two extra per day people sure are!!! Keep up the hard work, I know it's paying off for the boys!!!
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| Little Joey, so alert and happy last night!!! |
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| Nicholas, mad at me again for waking him up!!! |
Friday, September 20, 2013
Day 41!!!
Things are going good this morning!!! The boys had a good night and have both put on a little weight. Joseph only put on 5 grams, which didn't move his ounces up at all so he is still at 3lb 12.75 oz, and Nicholas put on 30 grams and is now weighing in at 3lb 5.6oz!! After speaking with the nurse last night, she was explaining to me that at around 4lbs the boys will be able to go into an open crib!!! There are some baseline milestones that must be met for this to happen, but she said with their progress she doesn't think it will be an issue! We're praying that in a week or so both boys are out of the incubators and resting comfortably in cribs!!!
We did find out last night that the boys are getting a reputation around the NICU for being the "stinky kids!!!" It's not really their reputation, but apparently they were both a little stinky yesterday so the nurse had to do some major cleansing of both the boys and their rooms!!! It was kind of funny going to see them last night as the nurses were just finishing the clean up!!!
We did find out last night that the boys are getting a reputation around the NICU for being the "stinky kids!!!" It's not really their reputation, but apparently they were both a little stinky yesterday so the nurse had to do some major cleansing of both the boys and their rooms!!! It was kind of funny going to see them last night as the nurses were just finishing the clean up!!!
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| Nicholas giving me the "I'm watching you" fingers!!! |
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| Joseph zonked out!!! |
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Day 40!!!
Wow 40 days!!! It's kind of unbelievable, but we are very fortunate that most of the days have been positive! My parents and I visited the boys late last night, and it was a great visit!!! I got to assist with the "hands on" for both of the boys, and got to hold them briefly while their beds were made!!! Joseph and Nicholas are both doing great, and are continuing to have their flow assistance decreased. Both boys moved from 4.5 liters per minute down to 4 liters per minute, and there were no negative reactions! Nicholas was also able to remain at "room air" while Joseph was still holding strong in the mid 30's of oxygen assistance.
Joseph now weighs in at 3lb 12oz, and Nicholas is at 3lb 4.75oz! As I'm sure you can see from the pictures they both look pretty healthy albeit they're still very small!!! I hope that Kalleigh and I can visit the boys together tonight and have them both out at once, but we'll see how the big brother holds up!!! Other than that, not too much has changed, which at this point is great news!!!
Joseph now weighs in at 3lb 12oz, and Nicholas is at 3lb 4.75oz! As I'm sure you can see from the pictures they both look pretty healthy albeit they're still very small!!! I hope that Kalleigh and I can visit the boys together tonight and have them both out at once, but we'll see how the big brother holds up!!! Other than that, not too much has changed, which at this point is great news!!!
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| Nicholas all ready for bed last night!!! |
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| Joseph getting a change of clothes!!! |
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Day 39!!!
The boys are continuing to improve on a daily basis!!! We received an update last night that Nicholas now weighs 3lb 4oz, and Joseph weighs 3lb 11oz!!! They are really growing at a good pace, and it's amazing just how different they look from one another because of 7 ounces!!! They have been handling their breathing well, as Nicholas remains at 21% or "room air" and Joseph is at 33%. The boys will have a day off from their Epogen medication today, and that will pick up again tomorrow. They let the body get a one day break in between doses. I'm not sure as to why they do this, but I will follow up and let you know! One thing I do know is that I'm not going to question the decisions made by the doctors and nurses in the NICU because they have been amazing in how they have treated our boys!!!
On a side note I have to wish my amazing wife Kalleigh a happy 3rd anniversary! I can't believe how fast time has gone, and that we now have 1 boy for each year we've been married!!! I couldn't have a better partner to go through life with, especially when facing the challenges we have overcome in the past few weeks, and the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead!!! Kalleigh has been amazing through this whole process, and has stayed strong and positive no matter what kind of day the boys are having! She has also been able to keep Vince occupied and happy too, so she has a lot to handle but is doing great!!!
On a side note I have to wish my amazing wife Kalleigh a happy 3rd anniversary! I can't believe how fast time has gone, and that we now have 1 boy for each year we've been married!!! I couldn't have a better partner to go through life with, especially when facing the challenges we have overcome in the past few weeks, and the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead!!! Kalleigh has been amazing through this whole process, and has stayed strong and positive no matter what kind of day the boys are having! She has also been able to keep Vince occupied and happy too, so she has a lot to handle but is doing great!!!
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| 3 Years ago today!!! |
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| 2 Years ago on September 29th!! |
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| This year!!! It's amazing how much has happened in three short years!!! |
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Day 38!!!
The boys are doing really well! They have made a lot of progress over the past few days, especially in their respiratory development from being on "High Flow" and not the C-PAP machines any more!!! Nicholas has seemed to handle it a little better than Joesph, but that doesn't surprise us since Nicholas really didn't have any trouble from day one of being on the C-PAP and Joseph had to go back on the ventilator. The doctors and nurses though are very pleased with both boys, and continue to have positives prognoses for both boys!
Nicholas is on room air!!! He made it to the 21% level last night, so we of course are hoping that he can remain at this level for at least today, but hopefully longer! The nurse said he was holding his oxygen levels constant and didn't have much drifting! We were extremely happy to hear this, because this means he's basically breathing on his own with no assistance!!! Nicholas put on some ounces last night as well and is now weighing in at 3lb 3oz!!! The doctor was concerned the past two nights because he was losing a few grams, so yesterday they increased his caloric intake and sure enough last nights weigh in was great!!!
Joseph has been handling the "High Flow" better than we expected, but he hasn't been able to get below 28% on his oxygen assistance yet. The nurse said he was drifting a little too much when it was down to that level so he has been in the 30's on his assistance, and will probably hang out there for a while until he can really show signs of stability. The doctor isn't concerned about this though, so as long as their happy, then so are we!!! Joseph also continues to gain weight nicely, he now weighs 3lb 10oz!!!
Today marks what would have been 32 weeks in the gestational period for the boys! Even though they were born on August 11th the doctors and nurses are still treating them based on their gestational period. 32 weeks was our primary target date to hit, but obviously God had other plans, and thankfully we have both boys with us today!!! A physical therapist will be seeing the boys beginning today, they look for head development and make sure that they are not getting too much time on one side v. the other. The physical therapist will also help the boys to avoid developing torticollis, which is basically a cramping in the neck muscles that can develop with the babies being in certain head positions. We actually experienced mild torticollis with Vince, and we are well aware of how to treat it. Infants with torticollis will tilt their head to one side and not the other, prefer to breastfeed from only one side so their neck is comfortable, and will be unable to turn their heads to follow you in some cases. We didn't enjoy having to do stretches with Vince, because they seemed so painful for him, but he is fine now, so if the boys develop any signs of torticollis we know the physical therapy will help them "straighten out!""
UPDATE 9/17/2013 8:15 PM: Kalleigh and I both enjoyed visiting the boys today! Kalleigh got to go this afternoon while Vince was in school, and I stopped by after work to make sure everything was okay! Both Nicholas and Joseph are doing great, and are continuing to improve, but both boys were put on a medication called Epogen for anemia. Again anemia is perfectly normal in preemies, but instead of doing another blood transfusion to increase their red blood cell counts, the doctor ordered 3 doses of Epogen which stimulates red blood cell growth. The nurse explained to us that they don't want to do a transfusion and give the bone marrow a "rest" from developing the red blood cells, so they are going to try the Epogen every other day for three doses. The medication is administered through a shot in the boys thighs. Their blood numbers weren't bad, but the doctors hope that this round of treatment will bring them up and allow the bone marrow to keep producing the red blood cells so that they will be free of any anemia moving forward.
Nicholas continues to breathe room air, and his assisted air flow was reduced from 5l per minute down to 4.5l per minute. He has been tolerating this decrease wonderfully though and we hope they can decrease the pressure tomorrow as well! Nicholas wasn't weighed yet today but his feeds were increased to 9ml every hour which is really good and were hoping for another double digit gain tonight!
Joseph is also doing great on his "High Flow" and his oxygen assistance remains around 35%. His pressure was decreased as well form 5l per minute down to 4.5l per minute just as Nicholas, and his is handling the change well! Joseph wasn't weighed yet either but he looks like he's a 4lb baby to me!!! I'm sure he's not there yet, but he looks so full in his face compared to just a week ago!!!
We're so happy both boys are doing well, and continue to be blessed by the love and support from all of you! The push ups are down right hard now 38 (76) so hopefully these boys continue to progress and get out of the hospital earlier than expected!!! No rush though, we want to make sure they are strong and ready to come home!!!
Nicholas is on room air!!! He made it to the 21% level last night, so we of course are hoping that he can remain at this level for at least today, but hopefully longer! The nurse said he was holding his oxygen levels constant and didn't have much drifting! We were extremely happy to hear this, because this means he's basically breathing on his own with no assistance!!! Nicholas put on some ounces last night as well and is now weighing in at 3lb 3oz!!! The doctor was concerned the past two nights because he was losing a few grams, so yesterday they increased his caloric intake and sure enough last nights weigh in was great!!!
Joseph has been handling the "High Flow" better than we expected, but he hasn't been able to get below 28% on his oxygen assistance yet. The nurse said he was drifting a little too much when it was down to that level so he has been in the 30's on his assistance, and will probably hang out there for a while until he can really show signs of stability. The doctor isn't concerned about this though, so as long as their happy, then so are we!!! Joseph also continues to gain weight nicely, he now weighs 3lb 10oz!!!
Today marks what would have been 32 weeks in the gestational period for the boys! Even though they were born on August 11th the doctors and nurses are still treating them based on their gestational period. 32 weeks was our primary target date to hit, but obviously God had other plans, and thankfully we have both boys with us today!!! A physical therapist will be seeing the boys beginning today, they look for head development and make sure that they are not getting too much time on one side v. the other. The physical therapist will also help the boys to avoid developing torticollis, which is basically a cramping in the neck muscles that can develop with the babies being in certain head positions. We actually experienced mild torticollis with Vince, and we are well aware of how to treat it. Infants with torticollis will tilt their head to one side and not the other, prefer to breastfeed from only one side so their neck is comfortable, and will be unable to turn their heads to follow you in some cases. We didn't enjoy having to do stretches with Vince, because they seemed so painful for him, but he is fine now, so if the boys develop any signs of torticollis we know the physical therapy will help them "straighten out!""
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| Nicholas getting really mad at me for waking him up!!! |
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| Joseph actually seemed to enjoy me holding him!!! |
UPDATE 9/17/2013 8:15 PM: Kalleigh and I both enjoyed visiting the boys today! Kalleigh got to go this afternoon while Vince was in school, and I stopped by after work to make sure everything was okay! Both Nicholas and Joseph are doing great, and are continuing to improve, but both boys were put on a medication called Epogen for anemia. Again anemia is perfectly normal in preemies, but instead of doing another blood transfusion to increase their red blood cell counts, the doctor ordered 3 doses of Epogen which stimulates red blood cell growth. The nurse explained to us that they don't want to do a transfusion and give the bone marrow a "rest" from developing the red blood cells, so they are going to try the Epogen every other day for three doses. The medication is administered through a shot in the boys thighs. Their blood numbers weren't bad, but the doctors hope that this round of treatment will bring them up and allow the bone marrow to keep producing the red blood cells so that they will be free of any anemia moving forward.
Nicholas continues to breathe room air, and his assisted air flow was reduced from 5l per minute down to 4.5l per minute. He has been tolerating this decrease wonderfully though and we hope they can decrease the pressure tomorrow as well! Nicholas wasn't weighed yet today but his feeds were increased to 9ml every hour which is really good and were hoping for another double digit gain tonight!
Joseph is also doing great on his "High Flow" and his oxygen assistance remains around 35%. His pressure was decreased as well form 5l per minute down to 4.5l per minute just as Nicholas, and his is handling the change well! Joseph wasn't weighed yet either but he looks like he's a 4lb baby to me!!! I'm sure he's not there yet, but he looks so full in his face compared to just a week ago!!!
We're so happy both boys are doing well, and continue to be blessed by the love and support from all of you! The push ups are down right hard now 38 (76) so hopefully these boys continue to progress and get out of the hospital earlier than expected!!! No rush though, we want to make sure they are strong and ready to come home!!!
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| Nicholas resting comfortably!!! Goodnight buddy!!! |
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| Joseph knocked out!!! Goodnight little man!!! |
Monday, September 16, 2013
Back in action!!! Day 37!!!
After a few days off from blogging I'm back!!! I had an very enjoyable weekend in St. Louis with great friends running in the tough mudder, which lived up to its name, but we all finished, and had a great time! I really missed all of my boys and Kalleigh terribly, but next year hopefully they can all be there!!!
Okay so enough about me, let's talk about these two boys who have now been in the NICU for 37 days and counting, but continue to get better and stronger everyday! Nicholas has finally reached the 3lb mark!!! Joseph also continues to put on weight weighing in at 3lb 9.75oz!!! Do I hear four pounds by next week??? We'll see, but they are both looking so much better now, as they are both off of their C-PAP machines! They have done well with their respiratory development, and these next few weeks will be important as they breathe more and more on their own, with less and less oxygen assistance!
I'm heading to see the boys this morning and will provide updated pictures and reports this afternoon, but here are some of the wonderful pictures that were sent to me over the weekend!!!
Okay so enough about me, let's talk about these two boys who have now been in the NICU for 37 days and counting, but continue to get better and stronger everyday! Nicholas has finally reached the 3lb mark!!! Joseph also continues to put on weight weighing in at 3lb 9.75oz!!! Do I hear four pounds by next week??? We'll see, but they are both looking so much better now, as they are both off of their C-PAP machines! They have done well with their respiratory development, and these next few weeks will be important as they breathe more and more on their own, with less and less oxygen assistance!
I'm heading to see the boys this morning and will provide updated pictures and reports this afternoon, but here are some of the wonderful pictures that were sent to me over the weekend!!!
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| Joseph without his tubes!!!! |
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| Nicholas without tubes as well!!! |
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| Our Tough Mudder Crew!!! You can't see it but I had all of my boys initials written on me to help me through it!!! |
Friday, September 13, 2013
Day 34!!!
I had a nice long visit with the boys last night, and got to hold both of them! I didn't get back until late, so I didn't update everyone! Both boys are doing really well, with no real issues to report, which is always good! According to their nurse last night the boys will both be put on the "High Flow" today!!! We are praying that goes well, and that both boys can remain off of the C-PAP/Ventilator machine moving forward!!!
Nicholas is holding steady at 2lb. 15oz, he didn't gain any weight from the night before, but he did put on 50 grams the other day, so he can take a little break! Hopefully tonight he reaches the 3lb mark! He was at 24% oxygen assistance the last time we checked in early this morning, and all of his vitals were holding strong! He was very alert last night while I was holding him, and in fact pulled out his C-PAP tube!!! He's a little active bugger but that is a very good sign!
Joseph put on some weight last night and is up to 3lb 6.4oz!!! As you will be able to see from the pictures he looks a lot fuller than Nicholas, but we know Nicky will catch up quick! Joseph was at 40% oxygen, and to be honest I'm a little concerned with taking him off of the C-PAP today, but as the nurse reassured me last night, if he doesn't respond well, they can put him right back on to the C-PAP, but it's best to try and get them to the "High Flow" to build up their respiratory strength and ability to oxygenate themselves! Joseph was also very feisty last night and we had to cut his holding time short because he was drifting up and down on his oxygen stats, but Mommy got to hold him early in the day so it's okay!!!
How are those push ups going everyone??? 34 (68) today!!! I hope everyone has a great Friday, and can enjoy their weekend! Just as an FYI I will be posting tomorrow morning, but then I'll be headed to St. Louis to run a Tough Mudder for the Wounded Warriors Foundation, and I'll also be running for my boys too!!! I'm not one for distance running but bring on the obstacles!!! There probably won't be a post for Sunday depending on what time we return, but I'll do my best to keep everyone updated on the boys progress, and you can bet Monday the posts will continue!!!
Nicholas is holding steady at 2lb. 15oz, he didn't gain any weight from the night before, but he did put on 50 grams the other day, so he can take a little break! Hopefully tonight he reaches the 3lb mark! He was at 24% oxygen assistance the last time we checked in early this morning, and all of his vitals were holding strong! He was very alert last night while I was holding him, and in fact pulled out his C-PAP tube!!! He's a little active bugger but that is a very good sign!
Joseph put on some weight last night and is up to 3lb 6.4oz!!! As you will be able to see from the pictures he looks a lot fuller than Nicholas, but we know Nicky will catch up quick! Joseph was at 40% oxygen, and to be honest I'm a little concerned with taking him off of the C-PAP today, but as the nurse reassured me last night, if he doesn't respond well, they can put him right back on to the C-PAP, but it's best to try and get them to the "High Flow" to build up their respiratory strength and ability to oxygenate themselves! Joseph was also very feisty last night and we had to cut his holding time short because he was drifting up and down on his oxygen stats, but Mommy got to hold him early in the day so it's okay!!!
How are those push ups going everyone??? 34 (68) today!!! I hope everyone has a great Friday, and can enjoy their weekend! Just as an FYI I will be posting tomorrow morning, but then I'll be headed to St. Louis to run a Tough Mudder for the Wounded Warriors Foundation, and I'll also be running for my boys too!!! I'm not one for distance running but bring on the obstacles!!! There probably won't be a post for Sunday depending on what time we return, but I'll do my best to keep everyone updated on the boys progress, and you can bet Monday the posts will continue!!!
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| One of my favorite pictures of our sweet Joseph!!! |
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| Nicholas was not too happy with the close ups!!! |
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| Joseph hanging out in his I Love Mommy clothes!!! |
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| Nicholas in my arms!!! |
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Day 33!!!
The boys had a busy one month birthday yesterday, but overall had a good day!!! Both of the boys received head scans which is ordered at one month routinely, so it wasn't anything for us to worry about, and both of them got an eye exam, again which is completely normal at one month. The nurse said that the eye exam results would state that their eyes were pre-mature, surprise surprise right! Sure enough that's what both exams stated, but apparently they check to see if anything else may be wrong, and to this point everything looks okay for both boys! We haven't received any information on the head scans yet, but we are assuming that no news means good news here.
Nicholas had a big growth day yesterday!!! He is now weighing in at 2lb 15.8oz!!! He put on 50 grams from the night before, so that was good to see! He's looking a lot fuller in his face too, it's amazing how much 50 grams changes them when they're at this weight! Nicholas is also resting comfortably at 23% oxygen, and we imagine that by next week he will be on the "High Flow" air instead of the C-PAP machine! We'll have a celebration when the C-PAP/Ventilator machines are out of their room!!!
Joseph was drifting a little bit yesterday, and they noticed that he was dropping his O2 levels when he was getting his feedings every 3 hours. The nurses consulted with the doctors and they put him on continuous feeds like Nicholas, and he really responded well!!! Joseph is still getting his 26ml every three hours, but it's being administered constantly. Joseph weighs in currently at 3lb 5.8 oz! We're able to get more precise readings now because both boys are big enough for the high quality scales now! On a personal note I got to change Joseph's diaper yesterday, and he didn't take it easy on me!!! It's difficult to change them in the incubators, but I eventually got it, only to have him poop immediately after again!!!
Nicholas had a big growth day yesterday!!! He is now weighing in at 2lb 15.8oz!!! He put on 50 grams from the night before, so that was good to see! He's looking a lot fuller in his face too, it's amazing how much 50 grams changes them when they're at this weight! Nicholas is also resting comfortably at 23% oxygen, and we imagine that by next week he will be on the "High Flow" air instead of the C-PAP machine! We'll have a celebration when the C-PAP/Ventilator machines are out of their room!!!
Joseph was drifting a little bit yesterday, and they noticed that he was dropping his O2 levels when he was getting his feedings every 3 hours. The nurses consulted with the doctors and they put him on continuous feeds like Nicholas, and he really responded well!!! Joseph is still getting his 26ml every three hours, but it's being administered constantly. Joseph weighs in currently at 3lb 5.8 oz! We're able to get more precise readings now because both boys are big enough for the high quality scales now! On a personal note I got to change Joseph's diaper yesterday, and he didn't take it easy on me!!! It's difficult to change them in the incubators, but I eventually got it, only to have him poop immediately after again!!!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Happy 1 Month Boys!!!
We made it to 1 Month!!! The time has really gone by quickly, but it feels like forever! I know that statement contradicts itself, and I know I've tried to explain what I mean before, but unless you have been in this situation you truly can't understand the feelings that go through you on a daily basis!!! My Wife and I remain positive about this whole experience because of the love and support we have from everyone behind us, and we know that the prayers that are said for our boys are being answered all the time!!! Thank you to everyone for your continued love and support, it really has helped us and will continue to help us through this situation!!! These boys have come such a long way since day one, and we are so proud of both of them, we have truly been blessed!!!
The boys are doing great, I had a late night visit with them last night so I didn't update the blog, but things have remained relatively the same. Joseph still weighs 3lb 5.5oz and Nicholas is back up to 2lb 14oz., and their oxygen levels have been consistent with Nicholas around 28-30%, and Joseph between 35-40%! As they continue to gain weight they look more and more healthy, and their features become more defined on a daily basis!
I'm going to head to the hospital this afternoon to spend some time with the boys and wish them a happy 1 month birthday!!! Hopefully we will be able to hold them later today and we will update with some more family pictures! The chest is getting big from the push ups, 32 (64) today, it's becoming a struggle and I may have to start splitting them up throughout the day soon, but a lot of people are still participating and the boys keep on fighting, so I'm not stopping either!!!
The boys are doing great, I had a late night visit with them last night so I didn't update the blog, but things have remained relatively the same. Joseph still weighs 3lb 5.5oz and Nicholas is back up to 2lb 14oz., and their oxygen levels have been consistent with Nicholas around 28-30%, and Joseph between 35-40%! As they continue to gain weight they look more and more healthy, and their features become more defined on a daily basis!
I'm going to head to the hospital this afternoon to spend some time with the boys and wish them a happy 1 month birthday!!! Hopefully we will be able to hold them later today and we will update with some more family pictures! The chest is getting big from the push ups, 32 (64) today, it's becoming a struggle and I may have to start splitting them up throughout the day soon, but a lot of people are still participating and the boys keep on fighting, so I'm not stopping either!!!
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| Happy 1 Month Nicholas Anthony!!! |
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| Happy 1 Month Joseph Daniel, Jr.!!! |
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Day 31!!!
Before I say anything today, I must say these push-ups are really getting tough!!! 62 total today or 31 if you're only doing the days! Okay, I just wanted to make sure everyone knew that! Now for the important part, the boys did "Great" last night, and are doing "Great" this morning, according to their nurse!
Joseph is now weighing in at a massive 3lb 5.5oz!!!! Quite a jump from the previous night, but he's really starting to pack on the weight, which is a really great sign! His oxygen assistance is in the upper 30's right now, which is a little higher than we had hoped, but the nurses and doctors don't seem to concerned, especially since they have lowered the pressure of the assisted breathing and the total number of assisted breaths! His feedings are going great too, which is obvious from his weight gain! Hopefully we're looking at 4 pounds in a week or so!!!
Nicholas also put on some weight last night but still remains at 2lb 13.75 oz. I know this is less than his 2lb 14oz but he was on the diuretic to decrease his puffiness, but he responded well and is has been off of the diuretic since Sunday night, and has started to gain weight again. Nicholas is doing great on his oxygen assistance which was down to 25% this morning! The nurse was going to talk to the doctor about moving him to the "High Flow" which I discussed yesterday, so we're praying that he is able to get there!!!
Joseph is now weighing in at a massive 3lb 5.5oz!!!! Quite a jump from the previous night, but he's really starting to pack on the weight, which is a really great sign! His oxygen assistance is in the upper 30's right now, which is a little higher than we had hoped, but the nurses and doctors don't seem to concerned, especially since they have lowered the pressure of the assisted breathing and the total number of assisted breaths! His feedings are going great too, which is obvious from his weight gain! Hopefully we're looking at 4 pounds in a week or so!!!
Nicholas also put on some weight last night but still remains at 2lb 13.75 oz. I know this is less than his 2lb 14oz but he was on the diuretic to decrease his puffiness, but he responded well and is has been off of the diuretic since Sunday night, and has started to gain weight again. Nicholas is doing great on his oxygen assistance which was down to 25% this morning! The nurse was going to talk to the doctor about moving him to the "High Flow" which I discussed yesterday, so we're praying that he is able to get there!!!
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| Jr. starting to peek at me!!! |
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| Nicholas sound asleep!!! |
Monday, September 9, 2013
Day 30!!!
My Wife and I didn't get back from the hospital until late last night, so I apologize for not updating the blog or uploading any pictures, but there will be pictures today!!! It had been a long time since we both went to see the boys together, so after Vince went down for the night and Grandma came over to watch him, we headed over to see the two little munchkins!!! The boys are really beginning to fill out, and they ever got to be in little sleepers yesterday!!! This was the first time they had worn any type of clothing besides diapers! It was great to see, and they looked so cozy too! We spoke with the doctor on call last night at some length, and she was really happy at their progress, and discussed the possibility of having the boys off of their C-PAP's this week and onto a "High Flow"!!! The high flow is still oxygen assistance, but it's basically the same thing you see when people need to carry around oxygen tanks, it will be the two little prongs going into their nostrils, but they won't be on the ventilator machine like on the C-PAP. We were really surprised to hear this from her, but are hopeful that both boys can move to this "High Flow" this week!!!
Nicholas lost a few more grams last night, but the nurse reassured us that because he is still receiving his diuretic we can expect that. Today is the last day he will be receiving the diuretic though, so hopefully he begins to gain some more weight here soon! His oxygen assistance has been really low hovering right around 30% for the past few days. He seems to be developing his ability to oxygenate himself well!
Joseph had no change in his weight last night, but he also had a relatively large bowel movement just prior to his weigh in, so we're thinking that had a lot to do with it!!! He seems to know just when the nurse removes his diaper that it's his queue to do his thing!!! Joseph's oxygen assistance has also been holding relatively low in the 30-34% range. We are so happy with how far he has come in the past 4 weeks, considering his heart complications, and we weren't sure how he was going to hold up!!! He was so alert last night and looking really happy!!!
Nicholas lost a few more grams last night, but the nurse reassured us that because he is still receiving his diuretic we can expect that. Today is the last day he will be receiving the diuretic though, so hopefully he begins to gain some more weight here soon! His oxygen assistance has been really low hovering right around 30% for the past few days. He seems to be developing his ability to oxygenate himself well!
Joseph had no change in his weight last night, but he also had a relatively large bowel movement just prior to his weigh in, so we're thinking that had a lot to do with it!!! He seems to know just when the nurse removes his diaper that it's his queue to do his thing!!! Joseph's oxygen assistance has also been holding relatively low in the 30-34% range. We are so happy with how far he has come in the past 4 weeks, considering his heart complications, and we weren't sure how he was going to hold up!!! He was so alert last night and looking really happy!!!
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| Nicholas all swaddled up, trying to reach his pacifier!!! |
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| Joseph in his cuddly sleeper!!! |
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| Joseph looking at Mommy!!! |
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| Finally a Picture of the 4 of us!!! Just wish Vince was in the Middle!!! |
Sunday, September 8, 2013
4 Weeks!!!
The boys had a great night! We're going to see them shortly, but I wanted to do a quick update so no one gets worried!!! We learned from their nurse today that since they are weighing more now, the boys don't need to have their body temperature probes on, and the nurse was able to swaddle them this morning! We're really excited to go see them and we will update the pictures later on today!!! No news otherwise, but you know you will be notified of any progress or news as we find out!!! GO BEARS!!!!
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Day 28!!!
I can't believe it's almost been a month since we were blessed with these two new beautiful baby boys!!! It seems like it was just yesterday they were born, but it also seems like time has dragged on!!! I guess these feelings can only be understood if you've been put in the situation that my Wife and I have! It's been a life changing event, and really makes your realize just how precious life is and not to take on second for granted!!!
Joseph did great last night! He is up to 26ml every 3 hours, which is his new maximum allowance based on his weight! He did lose about 20 grams last night, but the doctor said it could have been due to his PICC line being removed and the stress of being handled like he was, so hopefully tonight his numbers go back up!!! Joseph is in the low 30's on his oxygen assistance too!!!
Nicholas also did great last night, and he also lost some weight too! Again the doctor said since she was giving him the diuretic to rid him of some fluids that she expected this. He still is technically at 2lb 14oz though!! Joseph's oxygen is also in the low 30's like his brother, so hopefully they are beginning to have the ability to oxygenate themselves and in a few weeks they can come off of the C-PAPs!!!
UPDATE 9/7/2013 11:00 PM: So we received more good news today that Nicholas had his PICC line removed as well!!! We were hoping this would be the case today, but we weren't sure that he would have been ready! His doctor said he is doing great, and he didn't see a need to keep the line in! This is really good news that both boys have their PICC lines out now, because this reduces their risk of any infections significantly!!! They both only have the feeding tubes and monitors now!!! Their weights went back up a few grams, but not enough to change the conversion, so Joseph is still 3lb 3oz and Nicholas is 2lb 14oz! They have both been doing great since their PICC lines have been removed, so we will keep praying for the positive response! I also received more information on the birthmark developing on Nicholas' finger, it's called a hemangioma, which are benign vascular tumors, very common in preemies. The growth can continue for as long as 6 months of life, but also more than often reduce in size and almost disappear by age 7, so we will keep an eye on it of course, and hope it's only cosmetic!!!
Sorry this post is a little late, we had a small get together for Vince's 2nd birthday today, which was really nice, and I think he really needed it! My chest is begging me to stop doing push ups, but I'm not stopping and I hope you're not either! Until these boys come home I wills stay dedicated to fight through the work, just as they fight everyday!! Goodnight to you all, and I will update you in the morning on the boys conditions!!!
Joseph did great last night! He is up to 26ml every 3 hours, which is his new maximum allowance based on his weight! He did lose about 20 grams last night, but the doctor said it could have been due to his PICC line being removed and the stress of being handled like he was, so hopefully tonight his numbers go back up!!! Joseph is in the low 30's on his oxygen assistance too!!!
Nicholas also did great last night, and he also lost some weight too! Again the doctor said since she was giving him the diuretic to rid him of some fluids that she expected this. He still is technically at 2lb 14oz though!! Joseph's oxygen is also in the low 30's like his brother, so hopefully they are beginning to have the ability to oxygenate themselves and in a few weeks they can come off of the C-PAPs!!!
UPDATE 9/7/2013 11:00 PM: So we received more good news today that Nicholas had his PICC line removed as well!!! We were hoping this would be the case today, but we weren't sure that he would have been ready! His doctor said he is doing great, and he didn't see a need to keep the line in! This is really good news that both boys have their PICC lines out now, because this reduces their risk of any infections significantly!!! They both only have the feeding tubes and monitors now!!! Their weights went back up a few grams, but not enough to change the conversion, so Joseph is still 3lb 3oz and Nicholas is 2lb 14oz! They have both been doing great since their PICC lines have been removed, so we will keep praying for the positive response! I also received more information on the birthmark developing on Nicholas' finger, it's called a hemangioma, which are benign vascular tumors, very common in preemies. The growth can continue for as long as 6 months of life, but also more than often reduce in size and almost disappear by age 7, so we will keep an eye on it of course, and hope it's only cosmetic!!!
Sorry this post is a little late, we had a small get together for Vince's 2nd birthday today, which was really nice, and I think he really needed it! My chest is begging me to stop doing push ups, but I'm not stopping and I hope you're not either! Until these boys come home I wills stay dedicated to fight through the work, just as they fight everyday!! Goodnight to you all, and I will update you in the morning on the boys conditions!!!
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| Nicholas before his PICC line was removed this morning!!! |
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| No More PICC!!! I look so much happier now!!! |
Friday, September 6, 2013
Day 27!!!
I didn't get back home until late last night, so I apologize that there was no update!!! I went to see the boys late last night and they were doing great!!! Joseph was the only one who had an episode yesterday, but again that is very common at their age! Nicholas continues to be a trooper and is has seemed to have found a nice comfortable groove!!!
Nicholas is now receiving fortified feedings and as of last night he was up to 5.7ml of breast milk every hour!!! His weight has also increased to 2lb 14oz, so were hoping tonight's weigh in brings him over 3lbs!!! The doctor reduced the number of assisted breaths per minute from 60 to 55 yesterday, and he tolerated it nicely, while remaining at a low oxygen assistance level of 31-32%!!! The doctor said they will continue to slowly lower the assisted breaths as his apnea decreases, since his brain development is coming along nicely and he's not forgetting to take breaths anymore!!! It sounds crazy of course, but their brains haven't developed enough to send the signal to breathe constantly so that is why the C-PAP provides assisted breaths, and the boys both receive caffeine on a daily basis for the breathing issue as well!!! Nicholas' blood work also came back with good results, and there are no signs of bleeding anywhere!!!
Joseph had a total of two episodes yesterday but nothing to be alarmed about. He now is up to 22ml of breast milk every 3 hours!!! This is the maximum amount he can receive through his feeding tube, and they will begin to wean him off of his TPN (Total parenteral nutrition) which he has been receiving since the first week. The TPN is given through the PICC lines, and even though they will wean him off of the TPN, they will continue to give him clear liquids to keep the line open, just in case they need to put him back on the TPN for whatever reason. This will continue for a few days until the doctor is completely confident that he is getting enough nutrients from breast milk alone!!! Joseph now weighs 3lb 3oz, and is really looking healthier by the day!!! Joseph's blood work came back with good results as well yesterday!!! The doctor also decreased Joseph's assisted breaths from 60 to 55 like Nicholas which he handled well, and actually ended up with a lower oxygen assistance of 43% yesterday!!!
On a side note, I guess it's not too smart to allow your almost 2 year old to sit on your lap and draw pictures with a pen this early in the morning!!!
UPDATE 9/6/2013 9:45 PM: The boys had another great day!!! We even received news that Joseph had his PICC line taken out!!! He reached his 22ml of breast milk so they could take away the TPN, but the doctor was so happy with his progress that she ordered his PICC line, and he only has the feeding tube and his caffeine line going into him now!!! The nurse said that the goal is to slowly remove all IV's and machines slowly, so the only thing they have on them in a few weeks is the monitor for their vitals! We're excited on the progress and hope he can keep it up!!!
Nicholas also had a great day today, but he was showing some signs of retaining fluids. The nurse said it didn't seem like a big deal, but the doctor ordered that Nicholas receive a diuretic for three days to try and reduce some of his "puffiness". They have also located a small birth mark developing on his finger. The doctor told me the exact term for it, but I can't recall exactly what it is, so I'll get back to you on that one, However the growth can continue to get larger, but apparently it's purely cosmetic. We think of this now as a good way to tell them apart!!! The doctor said they usually will stop growing and possibly even fall off, or we'll have to see a dermatologist later on to determine the best treatment for it. This isn't anything for us to worry about now, but it was brought up to me and my Wife today, and we like to share the news with you as soon as we can! Nicholas had a good day otherwise, and hopefully can have his PICC line removed tomorrow or Sunday!!!
I hope everyone has a great night and enjoys their weekend!!! I know I'll be enjoying the fact that football is back so GO BEARS!!!
Nicholas is now receiving fortified feedings and as of last night he was up to 5.7ml of breast milk every hour!!! His weight has also increased to 2lb 14oz, so were hoping tonight's weigh in brings him over 3lbs!!! The doctor reduced the number of assisted breaths per minute from 60 to 55 yesterday, and he tolerated it nicely, while remaining at a low oxygen assistance level of 31-32%!!! The doctor said they will continue to slowly lower the assisted breaths as his apnea decreases, since his brain development is coming along nicely and he's not forgetting to take breaths anymore!!! It sounds crazy of course, but their brains haven't developed enough to send the signal to breathe constantly so that is why the C-PAP provides assisted breaths, and the boys both receive caffeine on a daily basis for the breathing issue as well!!! Nicholas' blood work also came back with good results, and there are no signs of bleeding anywhere!!!
Joseph had a total of two episodes yesterday but nothing to be alarmed about. He now is up to 22ml of breast milk every 3 hours!!! This is the maximum amount he can receive through his feeding tube, and they will begin to wean him off of his TPN (Total parenteral nutrition) which he has been receiving since the first week. The TPN is given through the PICC lines, and even though they will wean him off of the TPN, they will continue to give him clear liquids to keep the line open, just in case they need to put him back on the TPN for whatever reason. This will continue for a few days until the doctor is completely confident that he is getting enough nutrients from breast milk alone!!! Joseph now weighs 3lb 3oz, and is really looking healthier by the day!!! Joseph's blood work came back with good results as well yesterday!!! The doctor also decreased Joseph's assisted breaths from 60 to 55 like Nicholas which he handled well, and actually ended up with a lower oxygen assistance of 43% yesterday!!!
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| It was a little dark last night sorry!!! Nicholas sleeping comfortably!!! |
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| Joseph Looking really comfortable as well!!! |
UPDATE 9/6/2013 9:45 PM: The boys had another great day!!! We even received news that Joseph had his PICC line taken out!!! He reached his 22ml of breast milk so they could take away the TPN, but the doctor was so happy with his progress that she ordered his PICC line, and he only has the feeding tube and his caffeine line going into him now!!! The nurse said that the goal is to slowly remove all IV's and machines slowly, so the only thing they have on them in a few weeks is the monitor for their vitals! We're excited on the progress and hope he can keep it up!!!
Nicholas also had a great day today, but he was showing some signs of retaining fluids. The nurse said it didn't seem like a big deal, but the doctor ordered that Nicholas receive a diuretic for three days to try and reduce some of his "puffiness". They have also located a small birth mark developing on his finger. The doctor told me the exact term for it, but I can't recall exactly what it is, so I'll get back to you on that one, However the growth can continue to get larger, but apparently it's purely cosmetic. We think of this now as a good way to tell them apart!!! The doctor said they usually will stop growing and possibly even fall off, or we'll have to see a dermatologist later on to determine the best treatment for it. This isn't anything for us to worry about now, but it was brought up to me and my Wife today, and we like to share the news with you as soon as we can! Nicholas had a good day otherwise, and hopefully can have his PICC line removed tomorrow or Sunday!!!
I hope everyone has a great night and enjoys their weekend!!! I know I'll be enjoying the fact that football is back so GO BEARS!!!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Day 26!!!
The boys did great again last night, no real issues other than another episode for Joseph, but according to their nurse they did "Fabulous!!!" We are really beginning to develop good relationships with the nurses in the NICU and we're seeing that typically the same ones are requesting the boys! This is nice because they are not only familiar with the boys progress and issues, but also familiar with our concerns and inquiries as well!!! The nurses really provide me with most of the information, and I'm so happy with every one of them thus far!!!
Joseph is still weighing in at 3lb 1oz but he did gain 20 grams so that is good. He is still on the 19 ml of breast milk, but will be bumped up today, and hopefully end the day at 21ml!! Joseph's oxygen is also back under 50% for the first time in a while, and he is currently at 45% as of this morning!!! We are very happy to see that number dropping again, especially after his lung incident!
Nicholas is continuing to remain stable, and hasn't had an episode for a while, so that is a very good sign! Nicholas now weighs in at 2lb 13oz, which isn't surprising considering how much his feedings have increased in the last day!!! My personal goal for him is 3lb by tomorrow nights weigh in, and I'll let him know that today!!! Nicholas is still at 5ml every hour for his feedings, but again we hope to see that increased today, along with receiving the fortified breast milk as well!!!
Joseph is still weighing in at 3lb 1oz but he did gain 20 grams so that is good. He is still on the 19 ml of breast milk, but will be bumped up today, and hopefully end the day at 21ml!! Joseph's oxygen is also back under 50% for the first time in a while, and he is currently at 45% as of this morning!!! We are very happy to see that number dropping again, especially after his lung incident!
Nicholas is continuing to remain stable, and hasn't had an episode for a while, so that is a very good sign! Nicholas now weighs in at 2lb 13oz, which isn't surprising considering how much his feedings have increased in the last day!!! My personal goal for him is 3lb by tomorrow nights weigh in, and I'll let him know that today!!! Nicholas is still at 5ml every hour for his feedings, but again we hope to see that increased today, along with receiving the fortified breast milk as well!!!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Day 25!!!
This morning has started out great so far!!! The boys stayed stable all night, and they hardly experienced any episodes!!! Their nurse said this was one of the better nights for them, and she is assigned to the boys a lot, so that's good to hear! The boys are measured for length every Sunday, but the nurse looked up the information for us, and we found out that Nicholas is measuring at 13.5 inches, and Joseph is measuring at 13.75 inches! Both boys were born at 13 inches, so this is pretty much what we expected, considering Joseph has been getting some more feeds, and weighs more at the moment. I expect that Nicholas will begin to pack on some weight today though because I believe they will start giving him the fortified milk as well!!! We are very happy with the boys progress so far, and we are looking forward to seeing both of them over 3lbs. soon!!!
The push ups today were hard, but we got through them unbroken as promised up to this point! I say we because at our 5:15 workout hour, Uncle Drew and I hit the deck and didn't let up until we were done with 50!!! Hopefully everyone is enjoying this little challenge, I know it's hard, but if you saw what these boys have to go through on a daily basis aside from what I post here, it wouldn't seem as difficult!!! I'm posting some pictures to show some scale on the boys size again, they are still pretty tiny as you'll see, but they really are starting to look fuller and a lot healthier!!!
UPDATE 9/4/2013 8:15 PM: The boys have had yet another great day!!! Nicholas is now up to 5 ml per hour, and Joseph is up to 19 ml every three hours!!! The doctor has not authorized Nicholas for the fortified milk yet due to the issue with his stomach ulcer. They don't want to risk having another complication, but the nurse told me that in another day or two she was sure they would begin the fortified milk feedings!!! We don't have an updated weight yet, but I'm sure they put on a few grams, hopefully Nicholas can start to narrow the gap again!!! Both boys were extremely cozy when I visited them tonight, so I didn't want to disturb them! Their doctor today decreased the amount of pressure that the C-PAP machines were providing to the boys to help them breathe, which is a good sign. Both boys seemed to be tolerating that fine, and Nicholas was down in the low 30's for oxygen, and Nicholas in the low 50's! Joseph had one episode today which is pretty good, and Nicholas didn't experience any!!!
We're waiting for the daily weigh in and if I get an update I'll let you know tonight, if not you'll just have to wait in suspense for tomorrow!!! That's the exciting news we wait for every night (Funny how our lives have changed a bit!!!). At home, Vince is moving into his new room tonight, but he seems to love his new bedroom set so far, so hopefully he'll be okay! After he is comfortable in his new room, my Wife and I will begin getting the room ready for the two new boys!!! I'm sure I mentioned this before, but our goal is to have both boys home by Thanksgiving, which will make the holiday's an even more special time for us!!! Goodnight to everyone, I hope you are enjoying the blog and watching our boys progress!!! Believe me it's all due to the love and support they have received from everyone, so Thank you!!!
The push ups today were hard, but we got through them unbroken as promised up to this point! I say we because at our 5:15 workout hour, Uncle Drew and I hit the deck and didn't let up until we were done with 50!!! Hopefully everyone is enjoying this little challenge, I know it's hard, but if you saw what these boys have to go through on a daily basis aside from what I post here, it wouldn't seem as difficult!!! I'm posting some pictures to show some scale on the boys size again, they are still pretty tiny as you'll see, but they really are starting to look fuller and a lot healthier!!!
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| Me holding Nicholas' foot!!! |
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| Have to treat both boys equally now!!! |
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| Joseph being very good!!! |
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| Nicholas looking a little tired after his bath!!! |
UPDATE 9/4/2013 8:15 PM: The boys have had yet another great day!!! Nicholas is now up to 5 ml per hour, and Joseph is up to 19 ml every three hours!!! The doctor has not authorized Nicholas for the fortified milk yet due to the issue with his stomach ulcer. They don't want to risk having another complication, but the nurse told me that in another day or two she was sure they would begin the fortified milk feedings!!! We don't have an updated weight yet, but I'm sure they put on a few grams, hopefully Nicholas can start to narrow the gap again!!! Both boys were extremely cozy when I visited them tonight, so I didn't want to disturb them! Their doctor today decreased the amount of pressure that the C-PAP machines were providing to the boys to help them breathe, which is a good sign. Both boys seemed to be tolerating that fine, and Nicholas was down in the low 30's for oxygen, and Nicholas in the low 50's! Joseph had one episode today which is pretty good, and Nicholas didn't experience any!!!
We're waiting for the daily weigh in and if I get an update I'll let you know tonight, if not you'll just have to wait in suspense for tomorrow!!! That's the exciting news we wait for every night (Funny how our lives have changed a bit!!!). At home, Vince is moving into his new room tonight, but he seems to love his new bedroom set so far, so hopefully he'll be okay! After he is comfortable in his new room, my Wife and I will begin getting the room ready for the two new boys!!! I'm sure I mentioned this before, but our goal is to have both boys home by Thanksgiving, which will make the holiday's an even more special time for us!!! Goodnight to everyone, I hope you are enjoying the blog and watching our boys progress!!! Believe me it's all due to the love and support they have received from everyone, so Thank you!!!
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