Back to work...

Hi All, Sorry we haven't posted any news for you to read so far this week. It has been a hectic few days as Ryan went back to work on Monday, which makes for really long days. I was at the hospital almost all day on Monday (which I loved). Lindsay took me to the hospital around noon and then picked me up at 3pm (Thank you Linds, you are an amazing friend). After getting home around 4, I turned around and went back to the hospital with Ryan at 5pm. Needless to say I was exhausted that night. Yesterday, I didn't get to the hospital until the evening with Ryan. We were there longer than the night before because we got to hold both Nathan and Grayson. Ryan and I had to divide and conquer to be able to do so but it was worth it. We both did Kangaroo Care with the boys and it seems that they love it. The more time we spend with the boys the more we realize their similarities. They both wrinkle their foreheads, squirm a lot in their sleep and make grunting noises in their sleep. It will be so amazing when they are together and we get to learn more and more about them.

We haven't been able to hold Emery since Ryan held her over the weekend. Over the last few days she has been breathing a little heavy. She seems to be taking more short breaths instead of longer deeper breaths. They think it may be because she has reflux. They have moved her feeding tube into her intestines, elevated her bed, and turned up her oxygen. They think these changes will help her. They are of course monitoring her very closely and will adjust her care as needed. I think I will be able to hold her later tonight. When I walked up to her isolette last night, I instantly noticed something different about her. She was in a little outfit and wrapped in a blanket. They have turned off the heat on her isolette and it is know at room temperature. This is allowing her to start to maintain her own temperature which is another step forward. At some point, we will be able to bring in outfits from home. Take a look at our little princess....



We received some REALLY good news yesterday regarding Nathan. He was diagnosed with having a moderate PDA a few days after birth. PDA is a common heart problem in premature babies. Before birth, much of a fetus' blood goes through a passageway from one blood vessel to another instead of going through the lunges, because the lungs are not developed. This passageway should close soon after birth. If it doesn't close on its on drug treatment is the first step they will take to help close the passageway. If that doesn't work then they will perform surgery to close it. Nathan had an ECHO yesterday afternoon that confirmed his PDA had closed on its own!!!! We were so thrilled to hear the news. Now that it has been confirmed that his PDA is closed they can start to increase his feeds more rapidly. Which will help our little guy gained weight and catch up with his brother and sister. Below is a picture taken when Ryan was holding him on Sunday. As soon as we get more pictures we will post them.



Grayson has come off the bili lights again. We are hoping he stays off of them this time but it will all depend on his levels staying low. He is still breathing without any assistance and has been doing well. Below is a picture of him from yesterday when he was still under the bili lights. We haven't gotten many pictures of them over the last 2 days but we will over the next few days and will post them as soon as possible.



I am going to be staying at the Ronald McDonald house the rest of the week through the weekend so that I can get to the hospital more times in a day and have a place to rest in between. Ryan will be joining me on Friday so that we will be able to spend as much time with them as we want over the weekend. We should have more pictures for everyone over the next few days. We know how much you all want to see them and we like showing them off...LOL!!