HUGE Update!! 6/17

JAKE 6/17

Lil Jake is OFF CPAP...as of 12:15 pm today.  I was hesitant to take him off already, he's still so small.  But they reassured me that if he showed signs of getting to tired they would put him back on.  But he is doing great so far.  Way to go JAKE!!

Both boys have officially hit 3 pounds!!!
We are now 31 Weeks and 2 days!!
Days in the NICU = 37 days (1 month 7 days)

8 pm Weighs on 6/16
NIK  -  1410 grams (gain of 40 grams)
JAKE  -  1420 grams (gain of 30 grams)

6/15 3 pounds!

Both NIK and JAKE have offically hit 3 Pounds!!!


YEA!!!!  You have both hit 3 pounds.   Huge Day!!  Now the work of growing is in full swing.  Keep up the good work.  I'm so proud of you both!


It seems like the boys are familiar with being held and now they are starting to crave it.  They settle in quickly now and fall fast asleep.  They have both really been liking it.  Almost as much as I do

6/15 Wed
8:00 pm Weights
NIK  -  1370 (gain of 40 grams) = 3 pounds
JAKE  -  1390 (gain of 30 grams

Good Job My Beautiful Boys!!

31 Weeks Today 6/15

NIK and JAKE are 31 weeks gestational age today!!  Huge milestone for us!

Last night at the big weigh-in JAKE hit 3 pounds!!!  Wow, Can't believe he's grown so big.

Lil NIK is not to far behind...Only 30 grams more to go till he hits his 3 lb mark!!  Grow, boy, grow!

It was sooo nice to hold NIK.. I haven't been able to hold him for a while...  We, were both loving it!!

I was able to hold Jake today!!!  He loved it almost as much as I did!!  He kept rubbing me with his tiny hand...like he was the one comforting me!  He's such a strong little guy!



Both boys had their eye exams yesterday.  They told me not to come for them...they are hard to watch.  But I was there!!  I decided if they had to go through it...then so did I.  The least I could do was to be there for them when they needed me.  They both did great!  The Dr. said their eyes look just as they should at this point.  Both have undeveloped vascularization in both eyes.  They have not fully developed their eye vessels yet.  Neither of the boys had any signs of ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) which is the leading cause of childhood blindness...Super Great News!!!  The Dr. will come for another eye exam in 2 weeks to make sure their eyes are continuing to develop.  Great News!

The past day or two they boys seem to be getting a little stronger each day.  They still only make little squeaking sounds in protest...but it won't be long till we hear a full cry.

6/14
8 pm Weights
NIK  -  1330 grams (gain of 10 grams)
JAKE  -  1360 grams = 3 pounds (gain of 20 grams)

6/10 - 1 Month Birthday!!

To my Beautiful Boys!!

Happy 1 Month Birthday!!

NIK

Nik turned 1 MONTH today!!  He has done super the past 2 days on his CPAP check.  Although after we took his pics he had a brady and desat.  But recovered ok.  They weaned him down to a CPAP setting of 4 earlier during the day...he's doing great with it.  He also is doing well with his highly fortified feedings.  Nik did receive a bloody nose this morning during examination.  Hopefully it will resolve it's self and not be an issue.



JAKE 6/10

Jake is 1 MONTH today!!  He is also doing great the past couple days on his CPAP check as well.  He was just bumped up to a 27 cal diet as well.  He's still doing great with his feedings....and the fortification has not slowed down his pooping one bit!!!  He IS his father's son!

 Nik 6/10 

Pic of NIK...he always looks like he has a story he wants to tell!!! 


I'm so proud of the boys.  They are so strong and are little fighters.  I see them getting a little stronger every day.  I long for the day when I can give them a bath and kiss their tiny toes.


Weight Gains on 6/10
NIK - 1230 grams (30 gram gain)   YEA!!
JAKE - 1280 grams (50 gram gain)  YEA!!

??

I've been at the hospital all night.  Our boys are doing great today.  They have both done great with their cpap check.  Both had weight gains as well.

The night in the NICU was one that no mother should ever see.  I have images in my heart and mind that I will never forget the rest of my life.  My mother in law said that the NICU is a place that is filled with angels watching over the little babies....but tonight I just don't know about that now.  I do feel grateful for the health our boys have had.  But, I just don't understand why these little ones, so Innocent and beautiful, have to endure all the pain and suffering they do.  All the babies in the NICU try so hard, and battle with all they have...and to many of them don't win.

I just pray my boys keep fighting.

30 weeks!!

NIK 6/8

Nik has hit 30 WEEKS!!

He has been doing pretty well today.  He has had a bunch of up and downs with his stats.  More than they would generally like to see right now.  But during his CPAP check at 8pm he totally rocked it!!  He did a great job to every ones surprise.  They are usually ready for all kinds of reviving techniques.  But he did fantastic.  I think it was because he knew I was going to take his pic for his 30 week special day!

Nik had his blood work done today.  His Hematocrit level (red blood count) was on the low side, but with in the bottom few number of what they consider acceptably normal at this point.  He also had his Retic level (new red blood cell count) checked.  His was lower than Jakes but does show he is trying to produce his own little red blood cells...but just not to quickly.  At this point they will not give Nik another blood transfusion.  But will watch his oxygen stat closely to see if he becomes symptomatic and warrants another blood transfusion in the next couple days.

Nik's growth panel came back...he is already on the 27 calorie per ounce fortification feedings.  He was put on this amount 1 1/2 days ago.  He seems to be doing well with it..although it does slow things down a bit on the way out.  But last night he did gain weight!!! Yea, better than a loss.

Jake 6/8

Jake has hit  30 WEEKS!!!

He had a rough day on his 30 week day!  Poor baby.  Just couldn't keep the breathing thing going.  He totally crashed during his CPAP check, which it totally unlike him.  Took a bit of time to get him to come back around.  Scary for me.  But he's a little fighter...and tomorrows a new day!!

He had his blood work done.  His hematocrit levels (red blood count) was lower than what they consider normal.  (I was expecting this...he's been pale and his oxygen level hasn't been as stable.)  But his Retic level (newly produced red blood cell count) was actually higher than they expected.  This means he is trying to produce his own little red blood cells...which is great!!  But they don't carry oxygen well yet, and they may not sustain him...therefore, I'm watching really close for any symptoms or signs of respiratory distress to indicate he needs his blood transfusion.  I would rather he receive extra blood...just so his tiny body doesn't have to work so hard.

His growth panel came back as well.  Not as much gain and growth as they would like to see...so they may increase his fortification and calorie intake per ounce to assist him.  I would also like to see that happen...sooner would be better than later.

I'm looking forward to when both my tiny boys can put together a few good days in a row with some consistent weight gain....even if it's just a few grams each night.

6/7

There is another family, or couple, that we have met a few weeks ago.  They have triplets that were born a few weeks earlier than our boys...so they have been here about 3 weeks longer than us. They have 2 girls and 1 boy that were born at 24 weeks gestation and have had a rough time so far.  The 2 girls both had pretty large brain bleeds and it was thought they would need a cranial shunt to drain excess fluid putting excess pressure on the brain.  All 3 of them have had a very hard time breathing, as all preemies do.  Then just a couple nights ago one of the little girls coded and quit breathing and her heart stopped.  they performed cpr on her for a little over 10 min.  and gave her 3 shots of epinephrine.  Finally she came back but could only hang on for a few hours...then she passed away.  I can't imagine their pain.

Apparently she had an infection that had been raging through her tiny body and eventually won.  Now just yesterday their boys condition has worsened.  He is now on an oscillator type breathing machine and also has developed an infection.  Possibly NEC.  Hopefully they have caught it early and it will respond to treatment. 

I laid awake the past 2 nights just thinking about them and our boys and all the possibilities, similarities, and differences.  Their babies are now 34 weeks, 4 weeks older than our boys, and still...by far not out of the woods....they are deep in the thick of it.  Their babies will have severe disabilities throughout life and will need lifelong extensive care.  Made me realize that the effects of a premature birth sometimes don't end when you leave the NICU.

It really humbles me to see them and think of their situation.  The two situations they are in are my worst nightmare.  It hits closer to home when I see it all unfold right across the room, and realize those babies are 3-4 weeks older than ours.  It's a sharp stick of reality of life in the NICU.  Everyone talks of only the positive...because they're all deathly afraid of what tomorrow can bring, praying it never will.

On the bright side our boys do not have their PICC lines in or and IVs with direct access to their blood stream.  But we still have the risk of infection in the backs of our minds....and a lot of time left in the NICU.

I apologise to my family for not being able to focus on anything back at home right now.

8 pm Weights

NIK - 1150 grams (lost 20 grams)
Jake - 1210 grams (gained 10 grams)