Growing Babies!

Miles

First Family Portrait

Baby Girl

All has been going very well with my little ones, with a few set backs were mostly progressing now. I feel "home" is in site.

For those of you who do not know, I returned to work. I want as much time with them possible, and helps take my mind off of everything. Work has been so good with all of this. Once they come home, my maternity leave will start again.

Both Brooklyn and Miles are in basinets. These are the beds that normal size babies are born to. Movin up! (this is one thing they must do before they can leave, regulate there own tempeture) In the isoletes they were in previously monitored there temps and would cool them down, or heat them up when there body temp was too low or high. (I am learning as I go, and do not fully understand the reasons they do things until after theyre done.. Then Im like OH! That makes total sense!) They do so many diffrent things to them, and they hit you with it all at one time. It's so much to take in at times.

Brooklyn now weighs more than her Big Brother at 4.7lbs. As far as feedings go, she is now going up 5cc's a day until she is at "full feeding". This began yesterday. They will increase for 4 more days. Once this is done she will be taken off all IV fluids. This is where she has been getting her nutrition, now since she's getting my milk she wont need it after reaching full feedings. Then they will begin bottle feeding her (Another step they have to do before they come home). The nurses say this is the biggest step for them. A lot of issues can start showing once they start bottle feeding. To make a long story short they are learning to swallow, suck, and breath at the same time. They can forget to breath, or can have reflux. Were hoping baby girl does just fine with bottle feeding. She sucks that paci or thumb, so hopefully she wont have any problem. She has also become a daddys girl. I was jealous at first, but it is so amazing to watch, I cant be.. She will just stare at Mike while he holds her, when I hold her, Mike will stand behind me just to remind me of it! Of course, those lil eyes wonder right passed me and to her daddy.. All the nurses say "she already has him wrapped!"

Now for Big Brother, in my previous post I have mentioned a heart murmur, its known as a "PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosus". It is VERY common, especially in premature babies. They treated this with medicine before and it made the PDA smaller, however brother has been having some pauses in breathing again, (stating, Apneas, and Bradys). They did an echo on him last night, and his murmur has gotten larger again. Theyre treating him with a dieretic/lasik, this will take away any fluid around the heart and possibly close the murmur. If this doesnt work, he will have surgery. We will know in 5 days. At first I was all worried, but now Im not. This is such a common procedure, and he will probably be home before they even do it. It is a very tiny incision on the left side of his back, they go in with a metal piece and clamp the artery. Other than this, he is doing fine. He is gaining weight at 4.6lbs, and off all IV fluids, he has already been getting "full feeding". They will attempt bottle feeding him next week as well with sister.

They are doing so well, it is so amazing. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, however anything can happen. Just try to live it day by day, rather than looking into the future. I cant wait for everyone to meet these beautiful little babies. Thank you all so much for the thoughts, concerns, and prayers. It is so appreciated.

Two steps forward, a few back..

So much happens within a couple days..

Miles murmur has gotten very small, and they barely hear it now. YAY! He started eating again and he gained weight. He's 3lbs 14oz now. GO MILES! : ) They also put him in a incubater, but do not use the incubater part. They use it for him to focus on his growth in a quiet enviorment. They say he graduated, and got his own house! HA! (pics above) Now, for the step back. As of two days ago, he was "A,B,C,D Stating" (this is on machines). Which means that he was breathing, but breathing irregular, like breathing normal and then all this sudden start breathing diffrently. Like he got really relaxed. They then have to put him on oxygen real quick. FREAKED me out the first time it happened, I as holding him, machines dinging galore.. I just called them, and they did a CBC (Complete blood count) and found out he does have an infection. Pre mature babies have a very small immune system, and of course, no way of letting you know that theyre sick, so this was his way of letting them know he is sick. This means, no more milk for Mr Miles. They began antibiotic and he wont get to eat for 7 days (he will get nutrients through the IV).

As for Brooklyn, all of this happened to her as well (the infection in my original post). Its gone! They will begin feeds on her Monday again.. Thank goodness! Im ready for my baby girl to start gaining weight! Lets hope she graduates and get her own house soon. She is doing well.. A beautiful lil girl!

They were saying we would get to start bottle feeding this coming week. Hopefully we will for Brooks still.

Wow.. These are some amazing, beautiful babies.. They're so strong, they have already been through so much. It still breaks my heart to leave them every night, and I leave with a tear in my eye each time, but I know theyre where they need to be. I couldnt have asked for better nurses to care for them.

Thank you everyone for all the thought's and prayers. Please dont stop!

PICS ABOVE

Daddy and Bobby Miles

Bobby Miles In his house

Mommy and Brooks

Brooks

The run down.. Kangaroo Care and No more TUBES!

Saturday, two weeks ago.. Most of you know the issues I have had with swelling. I woke up and had no knuckles on my hands. My mom called the dr and she wanted me to come in, so she took me to labor and delivery. While there, we learned I was contracting every three minutes. To make a long story short they admitted me. From there my blood pressure went sky high, and protien in my urine increased. I was in the hospital for 1 and a half weeks. The babies came at 30 wk's and 2 day's. I had pre eclampsia.

Bobby Miles York was 3.8lbs 17.5 inches long
Brooklyn Gail York was 3.6lbs 16 inches long

We have come a long way in the 6 days of life. The babies are still in the NICU. We hope they will be out in the next 4 weeks.

Ill just start off from today...

As of this morning, Bobby Miles heart murmur has gotten smaller. They have decided to let it run it's course, and not give him anymore meds for it.
Brooklyn does have an infection in the bowels, and theyre giving her antibiotics for it. The unfortunate thing is they do not feed her during this, however she does get all of her nutrients through the IV, and will not lose any weight.

Last night, we started what they call "Kangaroo Care". This is skin to skin bonding, and helps them grow, learn your scent/voice, and feel close. It was absolutely amazing, I felt so much closer to them already.

On top of this, Brooks is off the CPAP, and theyre both off oxygen. Amazing things!

I have to say that the last couple of weeks have been the most insane/scary time of my life. What doesnt kill you, only makes you stronger. There is so much truth to this. My mom has always said you will never experience "true love" until you have a child. Boy... was she right. I have never felt so complete when Im with them, and incomplete without.