Day 8 Good night

This afternoon Brian and I had to sign some papers so we ended up going home after and I pumped from home instead of in the NICU.  It was nice being home for a bit but weird being away from my babies.  We had dinner together, went through some of the stuff I sent home from the hospital and I got to see the finished product of our basement renovation!!  Like I said it was nice being home but I would much rather be with the babies and I was happy to be back with them for their 8 pm feed and cuddle time and to be staying at the hospital over night again.

Here is a picture of Dad with his little ones from tonight.  They really recommend that we both do skin to skin with them because our bodies keep them warm and they get used to our sent.  Plus there is absolutely nothing better than snuggling a warm little baby.  

Day 8 - one week old!

All the days are blurred together but I am pretty sure that it is Tuesday which means that Josie and James are one week old!  

James slept the whole night in his big boy bed so they've removed his isoltet.  Josie has started to develop a better handle on breast feeding.  They both got little premie onsies yesterday and Grandma Charlotte showed up this morning with little premie sleepers so we will try them soon!  

Today they weighed each baby before and after their feeding to see how much they had taken in.  James breast fed for 30 min and got 26 mL.  Josie breast fed for 12 minutes and got 8mL.  Knowing this helps the nurse figure out how much extra pumped milk to give them after they breast feed. 

As for me I had a minor set back yesterday night.  I was briefly readmitted to the hospital after passing a blood clot. The dr checked things out and couldn't find any fresh clots so hopefully that is the last of it.  It is great that I am able to sleep over at the hospital in case anything goes wrong.  It was also sweet of Brian to sleep over with me just to be sure I was okay.  

On the plus side I was able to get more sleep last night (as in I got to sleep for 2 hours straight- twice!)

Here is a pic of their space in the NICU and of James in his big boy bed!  As well as one of grandma Charlotte holding both babies yesterday afternoon.  Grandma Jane also came by yesterday evening to help me feed the twins so that Brian could run a few errands.  She got some good cuddle time with James.

Day 7 - more pics of our growing babies

I stayed over at the hospital again last night.  It is so great being so close to them and getting to feed them/pump every 3 hours in the hospital.  We are on a schedule now where every other feed I try them at breast feeding and the opposite times they get all their milk through their NG tube.  The NG feeds are much faster for me and the babies so it gives us all more time to rest (it takes 15 min to pump and the the nurse does the tube feeding).  Breast feeding them takes about 1.25 hours because I have to feed them individually and then pump after.  

James has become a champion breast feeder, he can go for like 20 min!  Josie is a little slower to progress but we've been given some tips to try with her today. 

 

I got some great pictures of Josie this morning while my mom was holding her.

I also got to cuddle them both together  at 2am last night because it was just me there for their feeding.  Josie was trying to snuggle into James, it was so cute. 

Day 6 - good night

Tonight featured more little milestones.  Both Josie and James were taken off their photo lights and had their IVs removed!  This means that their area in the NICU is much less crowded and that they are one step closer to bring ready to come home.  Although, to be honest,  we are getting such great care and support here I don't actually want to leave.  

Grandma Charlotte come tonight and helped the nurse give Josie a bath while I fed James.  She then got to have some snuggle time with James while I fed Josie.   I don't know how I would do this witho a second pair of hands!

Day 6 - my view

So it is day 6 with James and Josie and it is amazing how much my life has changed to revolve around them.  My schedule now consists of pumping, sleeping and bathroom breaks.  I do my pumping in the NICU so I never go more than 2.5 hours without seeing my babies.  It is wonderful!  Here are some pics of my babies while I snuggle with them.

Everyday we have new milestones. 

 Today Josie will be completely weaned off her IV.  That means here only nourishment is breast milk or formula.  I have been pumping like crazy so we haven't had to give them formula since their 8 am feed!

 Today James will finish with his phototherapy for his jaundice.  He only needed it for two days!  I have noticed an improvement in his alertness since going on the phototherapy so it seems to have worked.

My mom is on her way to spend the evening with me and help me when I get to breast feed the twins again at 11 pm.  Then she will be going home for the night and joining me again in the morning.  Brian is going back to work tomorrow so he will come by for the evening.  At night all I do is pump every 3 hours so I handle that myself.  

I am off to the NICU now to give the twins their first bath!

Diaper Battle

# of poopy diapers changed:

Brian - 3

Michelle - 0

:-)

Day 5 - the babes are gaining weight!

Now that the twins are getting lots of breast milk and formula they are starting to gain weight.  They lost a bit in the first few days, this is normal, but now they are making it back up.  Both James and Josie gained 20 grams today (30 grams is an oz.). They also both breast fed like champs the two times we tried.  Brian and I are loving all the little milestones they are achieving.