The Gang's All Here!

As we had hoped, Elzi came home Thursday. So far, everything is going as well as can be expected. I have given up on the hope of ever feeling rested for the next few months, but it is just so nice to have them home.

We took the girls to their first doctor's appointment yesterday, and they are both doing well. We have to go back next Friday just to make sure that they are gaining weight as they should and that there are no other problems.

The dogs are adjusting well to the little ones. June really likes to lick them A LOT, but is backing off a little bit. She has gotten to the point that when I have them in the boppy on the ottoman to feed them, she will just walk in, lick their head once or twice, and lay down beside me. Pipen growls at June when she tries to lick them. I don't think he really knows what they are, but he knows he doesn't want to share them with June.

I will post pictures later...or get Ben to post them. I need to get ready for the next feeding. Although they never seemed to cry in the hospital, they have definitely learned how since they have been at home. If I am a few minutes late with their food they let me know!

Lilly's Home!!!

We brought Lilly home last night and will bring Elzi home today. I fear that posts will be few and far between from here on out but wanted to share the good news!

Still Waiting

This is not the post I was hoping to be able to make at this point, but we are making progress. When I went to the hospital today, Lilly had pulled out her feeding tube, (She has become the master at that) and the nurse was not going to put another one in unless she needs it. I am hoping when we go back tonight, that it will still be out.

Both girls are still working on breastfeeding and eating from the bottle. Lilly is doing a little better than Elzi as she has longer periods of alertness. Yesterday she only had to have 35 mL by tube out of 400 mL for the whole day. She is now eating at will (as much as she wants) with a minimum of 40 mL per feed.

Both girls ate their entire first feed today by bottle. When I was there for the second feeding, they both breastfed a little, and then finished their feeds with the bottle. Hopefully, they have kept it up for the rest of the day. Lilly is now 5 pounds, 4 ounces and Elzi is 4 pounds, 10 ounces. They are both wearing Newborn diapers! Now I have to try to sell the 240 Preemie diapers I bought in anticipation of them being home to wear them. Who knows, maybe they will be home this week, and I will be able to squeeze them into them. We can always hope!
Update: Lilly's tube was still out when we went to the hospital at 8:00 PM. Both girls finished their feeds for us. Looking good!

Sharing a Crib!

The girls are now attempting to take every feed orally and are sharing a crib! This is the first time they have been in contact with each other since they were in Mommy's tummy. I think they enjoy being together. They already seem to be doing the same things now that they are together. 

Each girl took 14 mL from the breast today and almost finished their bottles afterwards. They have been taking at least 2/3 of every feed by bottle, finishing the whole bottle about every other time. Elzi is now 4 pounds, 4 ounces, and Lilly is 4 pounds, 13 ounces. We are trying to be patient as we wait for them to be ready to come home.

Getting Close

A few days ago the girls' nurse told me, "We're getting close now, Mom." She told me to go ahead and bring in the car seats, so the girls could have their car seat test. (They have to be able to sit in the seats for 30 minutes without their heads flopping over and suffocating themselves.) Of course, I brought the seats the next day. I cannot wait for the girls to come home.

They still have to be able to take all of their feeds for 24 hours by mouth (either by breast or bottle). Right now they are taking ever other feed by bottle, and we practice breast feeding once a day. They are finishing most of their bottle feeds now, and breastfeeding is a work in progress. They each usually only take about 4-8 mL of their 40 mL feed by breast before getting too tired. However, Elzi and Lilly have both taken half their feed by breast twice! This is quite an accomplishment for their age and size.

Lilly now weighs about 4 pounds, 10 ounces, and Elzi weighs 4 pounds, 2 ounces. They are becoming much more alert more often, and getting stronger, lifting their heads up off their beds. We are hoping that they will come home sometime this week. The nurses are confident that their feeding will take off soon. Now we just wait as the girls achieve this last accomplishment in order to come home. Wish us luck!

Grandma & Lilly and Mommy & Elzi

(Not the most flattering picture of Mommy, but the first picture of the girls together)

Sleeping and Growing

Sorry it has been so long with no news. This motherhood stuff is exhausting, and the girls aren't even home yet! At least when they come home I won't have to worry about driving back and forth to the hospital.

The girls are doing great, and we can't wait for them to come home. They were moved to the Special Care Nursery at Durham Regional on December 30th. Since they have been there, every other baby in their room has gone home. They now have the room all to themselves, and we are encouraged by seeing so many babies getting to go home.

Both girls are now in basinettes, controlling their own body temperature. Elzi weighs 3 pounds, 9 ounces and Lilly weighs 4 pounds, 3 ounces. They are gaining weight very quickly, especially since they are only taking 2 or 3 bottle feeds per day instead of every other feed. They had not been finishing their bottle feeds and were just getting too tired, so they decreased the number of bottle feeds to allow them to rest and grow. The rest of their feeds are given to them through their NG tubes.

We are practicing breastfeeding daily with the lactation consultant. Each girl only practices for ten minutes, so they don't get worn out. Both girls are doing well so far, latching on and sucking. Elzi was even able to swallow some. Hopefully, both girls will continue to make progress on the feeding front this week. From what I understand, they must be able to take all feeds orally (by bottle or breast) for 24 hours in order to come home. Let's hope they are able to that this week!