Parker Meets the Twins and Other Updates

 Today was an exciting day, Parker finally was able to meet the babies!  Before we got to the hospital he was talking to Caroline and told her he was going to meet his babies, and did she know they had come out?!

Since they were born, almost a month ago, he has had to wrap his head around the fact that they were no longer in my belly, but they were not at our house yet.  He has asked me a million times how big they are, and if they're talking yet.  Today, he finally got to see for himself.  Even as we were washing our hands to head into the unit, he was telling us that he could hear them calling his name.  He inspected every part of their bodies, and wanted to see how big their feet and hands were.  However, in a three year old's mind, the most exciting aspect of the trip, was when "Addison pooped in her pants."

 

This picture is crazy to me because it looks just like one of Kent feeding Parker.

The past month has actually flown by.  We have fallen into a rhythm of balancing life at the hospital with the girls, and life at home with Parker.  We could not have found this balance if it was not for all the help Mom is providing us!  When Parker was born, we knew we had a much long hospital stay ahead of us, and I returned to work pretty quickly so I could be home with him.  This time is different, and I will return to work later so I am spending each day with the girls.  This has provided me a much different experience, and I am much more involved in the everyday care the girls are receiving.  

Over the last month, they have gotten rid of oxygen support, and quickly become "feeders and growers."  Meaning that their sole reason for being in the hospital is to learn to eat by mouth, and to grow to a safe weight to ride in a car seat (four pounds).  Today, Addison is right at the cusp of that weight (she's 3 lbs 14.5 ounces), and Sybil is 3 lbs 7 ounces.  According to Kent's calculations, Sybil is about seven days behind Addison in growth.  Two weeks ago, we were also transferred to Duke Regional.  This move meant they were doing really well, and no longer needed the NICU.  They were ready for a move to the Special Care Nursery, or a step-down unit.

In this unit, the nurses are all trained in feeding and growing babies.  When we first arrived, Sybil was still not ready to start eating so I asked for a speech therapy consult.  That day, she decided it was time to start eating (which is totally a Parker move)!  Now, most days the girls eat about half of their meals by mouth.  They are still only about 36 weeks so they tire out easily.  I told the doctor that Sybil heard Addison may get to leave before her, so she has really stepped up her eating to match what Addison is doing.  

The girls are a lot alike, but also have differences about them.  They both prefer being held, which we obviously oblige.  They do not like for the other to get more attention, and if the other is, they find a way to drive their heart rate up to make it known that they are not happy with you.  Sybil has a birthmark on her bottom, and she also has an inguinal hernia (we will have surgery similar to Parker's as an outpatient sometime later).  Addison poops A LOT and a lot more often.  I thought they also looked different when they sleep, but they actually both sleep with their mouths open!  

Addison is having more heart rate dips.  They're not sure if she a) needs a transfusion b) just has a little reflux or c) is trying to stall so Sybil can get big enough and they can go home together.  They're both scheduled for blood work Monday to see if they need a transfusion.  This is very common with preemies because their bone marrow does not start producing red blood cells until they're about six weeks old.  So, that will be the next hurdle.  If anemia is not causing the heart rate dips, it will just be immaturity or reflux, both of which we will just have to wait for her to get older to resolve itself.  

Information overload!  I will try to do better about writing updates more regularly.  I think this is a perfect example of second/third child problems.  Kent pointed out that Parker had a blog for everyday he was in the hospital, and the girls have less than five.  We're just ready to have them home, and each day feels a little be closer to that goal! I was explaining to Parker today that they eat throughout the night, and he said that he believes they should eat their food at dinner so they do not wake us... he really has no idea how life is about to change!

Any guesses as to who this sweet sleeping baby is?