Awww, where has the time gone??

The girls are now 9 months old!!! Every week I thought about updating the blog and every week it seemed like there was something to do in our spare time... like sleep!! Soo here is my attempt to back track!

Home!!!Crisis!!

Jake and I could not wait to get the girls home, however, once we were home we quickly forgot why we wanted to come home so badly. Both of our families live out of town and we would not have help until the following day.  When you stay in the NICU they provide you with bottles, nipples, wipes and diapers. We were able to take all of the supplies home with us that they had stocked us with during our stay. This included 3 60ml single use graduated cylinders and 2 little normal flow single use nipples. When we arrived home I grabbed the remainder of the bottles and nipples that we brought home and made the girls bottles. They both ate well and went back to sleep. I soon realized afterwards that the next feed we would not have any bottles. I got the bottles that we had registered for and started to sterilize them. However, as you can see we ran into a little problem. Nipple size and flow were WAY too fast and big for the girls. They both started choking and coughing and spilling the breast milk everywhere.

It was 10pm, neither one of us had gotten any sleep the last10 days and were both emotional wrecks. I was still hurting from my c/s and Jake had not done any good treatments escorting visitors to and from the NICU, we were not in good shape. We had NO way of feeding our babies! I completely broke down. WE ALL COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN. Jake said that we could run to the store, but the thought of being alone with two screaming babies and no way to feed them was way too much for me to handle. After 20 min I thought maybe we could just re-use the 2 nipples that we already used. We called the NICU and the charge nurse told us that we could just re-sterilize them and could use them a couple more times. We grabbed the used bottle and nipple from the trash, and boiled them  (yes, this sounds terrible, but at the time was our only option, PLEASE DONT JUDGE!!) SO, after an hour of 4 people crying we were able to feed our poor babies! Crisis #1 averted.  The next day when help finally arrived, Jake went to the store and brought back some bottles that were more conducive for feeds. Woo hoo!

First 10 days- NICU

Monday January 16th- Baby girls are here!! After my recovery was finished I was taken in my stretcher to see the girls. I don't think anyone can prepare you for the first time you get to see and touch your baby. The hardest part is not being able to hold them without monitors and wires.

Avery

Neely

Tuesday- Wonderful day! Neely was taken off her CPAP, contiunous positive airway pressure, (which helps her breath easier by pushing air into the bases of her lung bugs leaving them open so that she does not have to work at doing it while breathing), and placed on a little oxygen. Avery and Neely both needed IVs to help them stay hydrated and had a gavage tube in place for feedings. We were able to hold both girls and have some skin to skin time! I have been able to pump more colostrum for the girls feedings.

Avery

Neely

Wednesday- Rough day, when we arrived to see our sweet girls Neely's IV infiltated (stopped working) and they needed to restart it. I was able to start trying to breastfeed Avery while daddy stayed with Neely while the team of nurses tried restarting her IV. After 5 sticks and tearful mom and dad, Neely was completely stressed out and needed to be put back on CPAP. The stress caused her to breathe faster than her normal rate which resulted in her working too hard to breathe. As a nurse I understand that restarting the IV was completely necessary and that sometimes it takes more than one try to start IV's, but as a parent it was one of the most grueling things. It was very hard watching your poor baby struggle. Dr. Whitney ordered a stat chest x-ray that showed infiltrates and they started her on two days of IV antibiotics. Meanwhile Avery had done so good keeping her body temperature stable that they decided to put her in an open air crib and remove her pulse ox monitor. They were still using the NG in her nose for her feeds while I pumped. It was a very hard day celebrating one child's improvements while tearfully watching the other struggle.

Thursday- Much better day! They have removed Avery's feeding tube and IV and we are breastfeeding her and bottlefeeding her breastmilk. She is tolerating her feeds well and have increased the amount that she is getting. Neely had a repeat chest x-ray that still showed lung infiltrates and are continuing antibiotics. Neely is having a hard time tolerating her feeds but has improved since giving her breastmilk instead of formula. They are watching the bilirubin levels closely as they continue to climb but for now are still in a normal range. Neely seems to continue to bat at her CPAP tubing and has dislodged it 3 times within 30 minuets. The nurse practitioner decided to take it out and see how she did without it thinking that it was irritating her more than helping. After removing it, Neely was able to keep her oxygen levels up above 92% without even requiring supplemental oxygen!! They also moved her feeding tube from her mouth to her nose! Mommy and Daddy having a much better day!

Friday- Wonderful day! Both girls are doing great! Neely did wonderful throughout the night and still does not require any additional respiratory support. With the help of the lactation consultant we were able to start tandem breastfeeding today. Avery is actually feeding while Neely is still getting her feeds through her feeding tube but is able to be on the breast while doing so. We are able to start giving Neely bottles and once she is able to take feeds for 24 hours and tolerate them without needing the tube than it can be removed! Bilirubin levels have continued to climb but still just under the normal range.

Saturday- We have some blue babies! Both bilirubin levels have gone over the normal range so they have both been started on bili lights. Neely is down to 4lb 10 oz and Avery 4lb 4oz. Still breast and bottle feeding both girls.

Neely

Avery

Sunday- Neely gets her big girl crib and IV and NG have come out!! YAY! Both girls bili levels have dropped back down and they are off the lights! We have officially graduated to the NICU step down unit and now they just have to pack on the pounds! Neely weight dropped another ounce so we are watching it closely and praying that they start gaining so we can all go home.

Monday- Another rough day. Today was rough only cause Jake and I were told that we could no longer stay in the hospital in postpartum. I was not a happy camper. I had been able to breastfeed and bottle feed the girls around the clock and going home meant that I was not going to be able to do that 30 min away at home. But on the bright side Neely did not loose anymore weight, while Avery lost another ounce. Avery passed her hearing test and Neely only passed it in one ear, they reassured us that this could be normal and will repeat this test tomorrow.

 Tuesday- Wonderful day! Neely gained 3oz and Avery gained 2oz!! The girls also passed their car seat test which means that they can safely be transported home in their car seats without having any apnea or bradycardic episodes. Another step in being discharged! Neely passed her hearing test!

Wednesday- Woo Hoo! Neely is up to 4lb 13oz and Avery 4lb 7oz. Dr. Whitney is happy with their weight gain and we received rooming in orders! This means we are moving back up to the hospital and will have the girls in our room to make sure the transition from the NICU to home goes as smoothly as possible!!

Thursday- We received our discharge orders!! The girls got an injection called Synergis which helps to prevent RSV, due to the fact that they will both be at risk due to their prematurity. Both girls are  very tiny in the car seats! Made us both sooo nervous getting them home.

playing catch up

I can not believe that it has been 7 weeks since our girls have made their grand entrance!! I have soo much to write about, I am pretty sure it might take me 7 more weeks to get it all down!! The first 10 days were crazy ups and downs in the NICU. But on day 10 we were on our way home with our girls!! After that the weeks have flown by, mostly sleepless, but have been fast nonetheless. Hoping this week I will be able to get it all down before it escapes my crazy mind!

They're Here!!

The girls decided that they would make thier arrival Monday evening. I went to have my follow up appointment on Monday morning to drop off the urine, do lab work and get checked. Dr. Larson was on call for Dr. Motley and checked my cervix to find little toes dancing on her finger and a cervix that was 3 to 4cm dilated. I was sent over to Labor and Delivery to see if they could hydrate me and give the girls more time to cook. I of course left my phone in the car and had to use the nurses phone to call Jake to meet me at the hospital. Poor guy had a little sweat on his brow when he finally made it to my room. Dr. Motley came to see us and explained that we were just going to wait and see what happened. I could deliver sooner than later or stay pregnant til the 1st for my scheduled csection. They were able to slow down the contractions that I didn't even know I was having with IV hydration. By 2pm my contractions were minimal, Jake went back to work and I was able to come off the monitor. The plan was for me to be transferred to the antepartum unit where I would remain until it was time for delivery. Around 3pm I started noticing that not only were my contractions starting up again, but they were getting stronger and becoming more frequent. They tried to give me more hydration but this time it was not affective. I called Jake and told him he better come back and my nurse tried getting a hold of Dr. Motley. By 5pm the contractions were every 3 min and my cervix was almost 5cm dilated and I was being prepped for a Csection waiting for Dr. Motley to arrive at the hospital.  Our girls arrived at 6:15pm and 6:16pm.

Neely Ann
4lb 13oz

Avery Grace
4lb 11oz



Because we were 34.5 days girls both needed some extra attention and needed some love from the NICU staff. Neely needed some help opening her airways because she was working too hard to breathe and was put on CPAP. Avery was holding her own and didn't need any help breathing. Both girls needed help with their blood sugar and staying warm. Daddy got to go see his girls while I rested in recovery.

34.2

Well, both girls are doing well. BPP was good and will scan for weights next week.  I on the other hand will need some additional testing to make sure I am not developing any pregnancy complications. There was protein in my urine and within the last week swelling has spread to hands and legs and not just my ankles. My fake wedding ring is now to small :(  I had a couple other little symptoms but my blood pressure is still normal. So I now get to collect my urine for 24 hours (I know, nice right?) and take it in to the office on Monday, sounds like a blast. She said she wanted to do some additional blood work and recheck my blood pressure. Good news is my belly is measuring about 38 weeks, which means they are dropping. Baby girl A still has her little feet right next to my cervix, so still looking like a C/S.  17 more days, hopefully!!!

34 Weeks!!

I have to say I am very excited that I still able to give pregnancy updates!! 34 weeks!! Nursery is done! Jake hung the last of the pictures on the wall last night. Once we settle on some names we will be able to hang up some initials.

Now that all my nursery projects are done I'm not sure what I am going to do with myself for the next 3 weeks. Finished the sign and finishing touches on the bedding from bed, and Jake helped with the the fabric covered canvases. Thank goodness we were able to finish our trees before, not sure how I would have made those from bed. Very glad it is all finished! Our bedroom has become a library, cafeteria, and craftroom.  I have now been on bedrest for 4 weeks and still not used to having to ask Jake to do things for me. Run errands, get all the groceries, and pick up nursing bras because I just realized that I'm going to need some very soon and have no clue which kind/size to buy. Thank god for close friends that can give me a clue on what I need and for Jake for being such a good sport about all of it. 3 weeks to go!

We traded in my car last week for a Honda Pilot, our new family car and very excited to have some little girls riding in the back seat in a couple of weeks. Last night was my work shower and I'm pretty sure that they purchased the remainder of my registry!! I could not feel more blessed and loved from my co-workers, they are absolutely amazing! I still can not believe all the amazing things they got for us. The girls will have everything they need when they make their grand arrival and with stinking cute outfits I might add.

We have our vehicle, nursery done, and all of our baby items... now we just countdown the days till we have babies to put in all of them!!

34 weeks

33.2 weeks

Had our weekly appointment today and both girls are growing growing growing! They each are measuring 4lbs and 4 oz! Big girls! My belly is measuring 41 weeks, up from 37 weeks just last week. They are still in the same position they were in last time. Both feet of the presenting baby against my cervix! And her sisters head sitting on her feet. So it looks like we are getting closer and closer to a C/Section delivery. The sonographer pointed out that they both have fuzzy little heads and could see their hair. Guess that means that we need to buy some more bows!! Both girls scored a 10/10 on their BPP's and are very healthy. On the not so good side, my cervix was a good 1cm dilated. Dr. Motley didn't want to press further to stir anything up and collected our last FFN. If negative, it suggests that I will make it to 35 weeks.We have 26 more days until our induction or c/section at 37 weeks! Praying that we can keep them swimming for that much longer.