Friday's Quick Update

Doug and I are 'boarding' at the hospital tonight so we can visit the babies whenever we want. We've spent most of the evening with them and loved every minute. It's getting late, but I wanted to share a quick update.

Ethan is up in feedings! He is now getting 18 cc of my milk every 3 hours. That's over 1/2 ounce. His bilirubin levels were down this morning, but they are keeping him under lights for one more day. He has one more day with the shades. He has gained weight (we're on the up-swing) and now weighs 3 lbs 8 oz after his initial weight loss. He went down in respiratory support to 1.5 liters of forced room air through his nasal cannula. (I can't believe all the terms we're learning.)

Sydney is also up in feedings! This is good news for them being able to be free of their picc lines (once they don't need additional nutrition) and be able to share a bed together. Her bilirubin levels were also lower, but she is under lights one more day. She lost a little weight and is weighing in at a whopping 3 lbs 6 oz. She went down in respiratory support to 1.5 liters also...she has caught up with Ethan in this department.

They are getting cuter by the day and I think they look bigger--even though they are weighing in less. I'll just share a quick video tonight and hit the airbed--which is mysteriously losing air...could be an interesting night.

Here's 2 videos--Ethan going cross-eyed and Ethan getting fed. Both of them keep going cross-eyed tonight (we haven't seen their eyes much since they've been on the bilirubin lights though). The nurse told us that this is normal and it's just due to the muscles not being completely developed. Hope that stops soon--it's freaky!

One of the 5 criteria for them to come home is "suck, swallow, breathe". Babies don't normally have this reflex until 34 weeks and they mature slower outside my belly than inside. That's why we get so excited when he wants something in his mouth when getting fed.