We had newborn pictures yesterday. The photographer and her assistant was at the house for 4 hours and we can't wait to see the entire galary.
Click here for a sneak peak of the photo shoot.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
A grand adventure is about to begin ...
By Cyndi
December 26, 2010
The boys were discharged yesterday afternoon and we have survived our first night at home. More to come in a few days ....
December 26, 2010
The boys were discharged yesterday afternoon and we have survived our first night at home. More to come in a few days ....
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Week 2
By Cyndi
December 23, 2010
We are midway into week two and things are progressing, very sloooowwwwlllllllyyyyy. We've been back and forth to the hospital daily, and Matt is back at work until at least one of the boys comes home.
Updates:
1. Both are gaining weight daily. As of 8pm Weds 12/22, Tyler was 4lb 6.5oz (born 4lb 1oz) & Zachary was 4lb 11.8oz (born 3lb 14oz). They are both eating 45ml every three hours (1.5oz).
2. They have been maintaining their body temperature well also. Tyler's isolette was turned down to 28.5C & Zachary's to 28.0C last night. If Zach can continue to maintain his body temp, he will hopefully move into an open air crib by tomorrow morning. Hopefully Tyler is just a day behind Zachary.
3. Once in an open air crib, both boys will need to pass the "car seat challenge". Matt or I have to strap them into the car seat and they will sit in it for 1.5 hours. If there are no heart rate or respiratory issues, they pass that. If they fail, we can try it again or buy a car bed to take them home.
4. We are continuing to prep the house for the boys' arrival. We've done two loads of baby laundry and lots of cleaning. We're starting the bris planning, but until we know when both boys will be home, we are unable to lock down a date. We've started food planning for this, which includes lox, a delicacy that I've have not been allowed to enjoy for quite a while!!
I will add more pics to shutterfly hopefully by end of the day and will be grouping them by week.
Here's the latest family picture ....
December 23, 2010
We are midway into week two and things are progressing, very sloooowwwwlllllllyyyyy. We've been back and forth to the hospital daily, and Matt is back at work until at least one of the boys comes home.
Updates:
1. Both are gaining weight daily. As of 8pm Weds 12/22, Tyler was 4lb 6.5oz (born 4lb 1oz) & Zachary was 4lb 11.8oz (born 3lb 14oz). They are both eating 45ml every three hours (1.5oz).
2. They have been maintaining their body temperature well also. Tyler's isolette was turned down to 28.5C & Zachary's to 28.0C last night. If Zach can continue to maintain his body temp, he will hopefully move into an open air crib by tomorrow morning. Hopefully Tyler is just a day behind Zachary.
3. Once in an open air crib, both boys will need to pass the "car seat challenge". Matt or I have to strap them into the car seat and they will sit in it for 1.5 hours. If there are no heart rate or respiratory issues, they pass that. If they fail, we can try it again or buy a car bed to take them home.
4. We are continuing to prep the house for the boys' arrival. We've done two loads of baby laundry and lots of cleaning. We're starting the bris planning, but until we know when both boys will be home, we are unable to lock down a date. We've started food planning for this, which includes lox, a delicacy that I've have not been allowed to enjoy for quite a while!!
I will add more pics to shutterfly hopefully by end of the day and will be grouping them by week.
Here's the latest family picture ....
Bear Down!!
 | |||||
| December 22, 2010 Tyler is on the left, Zachary is on the right |
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Almost a week old ....
December 19, 2010
By Cyndi
I was discharged late Friday and we arrived home to enjoy matzah ball soup with the Isaacs family. Over the past two days and all future days until both are home, we will be going back and forth to see them daily.
Here are the recaps:
1. Late Friday night, both boys were moved to a new room, TOGETHER! They were now next to each other in the IMC (intermediate care, but still part of the NICU).
2. On Sunday morning, both boys were finished with their biliblankets (photo-therapy to treat jaundice). We could now dress them and finally get our first family picture (where you could see more than just my head during the delivery).
3. Feedings have increased to 35ml for both. They are continuing to monitor their body temperatures and work to reduce the air in the isolettes down to 28 C.
4. I have enjoyed a few sips of beer (Matilda by Goose Island). Tasty!! Can't drink too much since I'm nursing both boys, but a few sips was enough for now.
We still don't have a clear picture on a time frame for them to be released but now that the phototherapy is over, we hope to see daily changes in the doctor's orders.
My recovery is going well. To be honest, it's much less painful than I thought. I need to make sure to not overdo it and walk the stairs at the house too much.
One last close-up of the boys ....
PS. They can wear clothes now! These are preemie size and just barely fit with the shirt on under it.
By Cyndi
I was discharged late Friday and we arrived home to enjoy matzah ball soup with the Isaacs family. Over the past two days and all future days until both are home, we will be going back and forth to see them daily.
Here are the recaps:
1. Late Friday night, both boys were moved to a new room, TOGETHER! They were now next to each other in the IMC (intermediate care, but still part of the NICU).
2. On Sunday morning, both boys were finished with their biliblankets (photo-therapy to treat jaundice). We could now dress them and finally get our first family picture (where you could see more than just my head during the delivery).
 |
| Matt is holding Tyler, Cyndi is holding Zachary |
3. Feedings have increased to 35ml for both. They are continuing to monitor their body temperatures and work to reduce the air in the isolettes down to 28 C.
4. I have enjoyed a few sips of beer (Matilda by Goose Island). Tasty!! Can't drink too much since I'm nursing both boys, but a few sips was enough for now.
We still don't have a clear picture on a time frame for them to be released but now that the phototherapy is over, we hope to see daily changes in the doctor's orders.
My recovery is going well. To be honest, it's much less painful than I thought. I need to make sure to not overdo it and walk the stairs at the house too much.
One last close-up of the boys ....
 |
| Tyler on the left, Zachary on the right |
PS. They can wear clothes now! These are preemie size and just barely fit with the shirt on under it.
Friday, December 17, 2010
NICU & Real Simple
We love the night nurses we've met for both Tyler and Zachary. It is so much more calm and we don't feel like we are in the way. They have taught us quite a lot. We finished with Tyler's feeding and headed over for Zach's midnight feeding. He nursed, enjoyed his bottle and while chatting with the nurses, they said, you're the girl in Real Simple. They said they can't tell anyone because of patient confidentiality until we leave. I've been found out! :) Off to the the NICU in a few ....
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Day #4 Updates
December 16, 2010
By Cyndi
Between yesterday and today, we've been back and forth to the NICU a dozen times. I've felt pretty good, so we were took the Nikon camera and I got some great shots of both boys that I posted on Shutterfly. I separated the albums of each so its clear who is who. As of yesterday, both were doing great with their feedings and had been increased to 20mL every three hours.
Last night, we had a great visit with Todd, Stacie & Lincoln. Since Lincoln isn't allowed on the floor, we hung out in the cafeteria with some Chipotle & very tasty cupcakes! I had talked to Stacie about creating little name signs for their isolettes and she had fun with that. We love them and they are were hung last night!
After our visit, we went to feed the boys but there were procedures going on with other babies near them, so we weren't allowed in at that time. We went back to the room and napped and went down again at 11pm. When we arrived we fed Tyler first and then headed over to see Zachary. His IV need to be moved. If you look at the pictures the IV was taped to his head -- DO NOT BE CONCERNED!! They started with the arms, but because they move their arms so much it usually has to be moved often. An IV in the head usually stays longer. The nurse went to ask the doctor if he really needed and we found out that they were going to leave it out and continue to monitor his sugar. We could only hope that when we came back in the morning it would still be out.
So now it's Thursday morning. We went down at 830am to feed Tyler, only to find out that the day nurse moved his schedule and had already fed him. We were not very happy, but tried to smile and ask when the next time we would be able to help with that. We were happy to see that they had removed Tyler's IV too. Both are IV free!!
We went back down around lunch, fed Tyler and then I did a 30 min session of kangaroo care with Tyler (cuddle time with him directly on my chest). Matt went over to get Zachary ready for his feeding and when I arrived, we tried nursing for the first time. Let me tell you, this kid wants to eat and has NO issues. I don't have too much yet, so after 10 minutes, he was ready for his bottle.
Matt and I relaxed for the afternoon, confirmed with my OB that I was staying until tomorrow and went back down for the 6pm feedings. Both boys now have biliblankets, still no IVs & are progressing well. Tyler is doing very well with his feedings and I will be allowed to nurse him tomorrow morning. I was allowed to nurse Zachary again, which went well and he gobbled down his bottle. After dinner, we are headed down again around 11pm for a late night feeding and some rest.
Tomorrow we will do it all again and prepare to check out of the hotel, I mean hospital. We will be here most of the day and head home after traffic, drop me off at the house and pick up our other boy, Meigs, at the kennel.
Here is a quick picture from today (we will continue to upload to Shutterfly also):
By Cyndi
Between yesterday and today, we've been back and forth to the NICU a dozen times. I've felt pretty good, so we were took the Nikon camera and I got some great shots of both boys that I posted on Shutterfly. I separated the albums of each so its clear who is who. As of yesterday, both were doing great with their feedings and had been increased to 20mL every three hours.
Last night, we had a great visit with Todd, Stacie & Lincoln. Since Lincoln isn't allowed on the floor, we hung out in the cafeteria with some Chipotle & very tasty cupcakes! I had talked to Stacie about creating little name signs for their isolettes and she had fun with that. We love them and they are were hung last night!
After our visit, we went to feed the boys but there were procedures going on with other babies near them, so we weren't allowed in at that time. We went back to the room and napped and went down again at 11pm. When we arrived we fed Tyler first and then headed over to see Zachary. His IV need to be moved. If you look at the pictures the IV was taped to his head -- DO NOT BE CONCERNED!! They started with the arms, but because they move their arms so much it usually has to be moved often. An IV in the head usually stays longer. The nurse went to ask the doctor if he really needed and we found out that they were going to leave it out and continue to monitor his sugar. We could only hope that when we came back in the morning it would still be out.
So now it's Thursday morning. We went down at 830am to feed Tyler, only to find out that the day nurse moved his schedule and had already fed him. We were not very happy, but tried to smile and ask when the next time we would be able to help with that. We were happy to see that they had removed Tyler's IV too. Both are IV free!!
We went back down around lunch, fed Tyler and then I did a 30 min session of kangaroo care with Tyler (cuddle time with him directly on my chest). Matt went over to get Zachary ready for his feeding and when I arrived, we tried nursing for the first time. Let me tell you, this kid wants to eat and has NO issues. I don't have too much yet, so after 10 minutes, he was ready for his bottle.
Matt and I relaxed for the afternoon, confirmed with my OB that I was staying until tomorrow and went back down for the 6pm feedings. Both boys now have biliblankets, still no IVs & are progressing well. Tyler is doing very well with his feedings and I will be allowed to nurse him tomorrow morning. I was allowed to nurse Zachary again, which went well and he gobbled down his bottle. After dinner, we are headed down again around 11pm for a late night feeding and some rest.
Tomorrow we will do it all again and prepare to check out of the hotel, I mean hospital. We will be here most of the day and head home after traffic, drop me off at the house and pick up our other boy, Meigs, at the kennel.
Here is a quick picture from today (we will continue to upload to Shutterfly also):
 |
| Tyler enjoying some kangaroo care (also known as nap time!) |
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Hello from a mom of multiples?!?!!
By Cyndi
December 15, 2010
It's only 830am here and both boys have been fed by us along with successful diaper changes. Both had some "action" after the feeding, but due to shift change, we had to leave, so the day nurse will have to change those fun diapers!
The past 48 hours have been quite a whirlwind. I can't believe that they are here!! Of course, they wanted to arrive on their own schedule because the one we had set was not adequate, I guess. So here's a little update on them, but me first. I'm up and walking around without help. No more IV or anything, so its nice to be free. The incision is very sore, but that is to be expected. Enough about me, onto the boys.
First, Tyler ... he's the "little" one who was calm during most of the pregnancy and didn't kick me too much. I think the disposition has remained since being born. The NICU has been working to get him up to eating 15cc at every feeding (every 3 hrs). Last night, he ate all 15 at 3 of the 4 feedings, so that is great! He still has an IV, but hopefully within the next few days, he will be eating enough that it can be removed.
Zachary, on the other hand, the active baby who kicked me all the time, is doing very well with his feedings. The nurse said to me this morning that he knows his schedule and wants to stick to it! He's easily eating 15cc at each feeding.
They are watching the Billy Ruben levels in both, but that is not a big concern. Over the next 24 to 48 hours we'll see how they progress at feedings and maintaining their body temp. Hopefully by then, my breastmilk has come in and we can transition them off of formula.
Here's a few pics from yesterday (Day #2): Note: More pics added to shutterfly account for day two ... take a look!
AND ... one last bump picture over the past nine months! (Click on pic to bring up a progression of belly shots throughout the pregnancy.)
December 15, 2010
It's only 830am here and both boys have been fed by us along with successful diaper changes. Both had some "action" after the feeding, but due to shift change, we had to leave, so the day nurse will have to change those fun diapers!
The past 48 hours have been quite a whirlwind. I can't believe that they are here!! Of course, they wanted to arrive on their own schedule because the one we had set was not adequate, I guess. So here's a little update on them, but me first. I'm up and walking around without help. No more IV or anything, so its nice to be free. The incision is very sore, but that is to be expected. Enough about me, onto the boys.
First, Tyler ... he's the "little" one who was calm during most of the pregnancy and didn't kick me too much. I think the disposition has remained since being born. The NICU has been working to get him up to eating 15cc at every feeding (every 3 hrs). Last night, he ate all 15 at 3 of the 4 feedings, so that is great! He still has an IV, but hopefully within the next few days, he will be eating enough that it can be removed.
Zachary, on the other hand, the active baby who kicked me all the time, is doing very well with his feedings. The nurse said to me this morning that he knows his schedule and wants to stick to it! He's easily eating 15cc at each feeding.
They are watching the Billy Ruben levels in both, but that is not a big concern. Over the next 24 to 48 hours we'll see how they progress at feedings and maintaining their body temp. Hopefully by then, my breastmilk has come in and we can transition them off of formula.
Here's a few pics from yesterday (Day #2): Note: More pics added to shutterfly account for day two ... take a look!
 |
| Thank you Todd & Stacie for helping me make this sign. Love, Big Brother Meigs |
 |
| Zachary |
 |
| Zachary |
 |
| Zachary |
 |
| Tyler |
AND ... one last bump picture over the past nine months! (Click on pic to bring up a progression of belly shots throughout the pregnancy.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)