Brining Alex and Evan home today

Kristen just got off the phone with the nurses and doctor in the NICU and we get to bring Alex and Evan home today.  Kristen is grabbing a last shower and then we are going to pack everybody up in the swagger wagon and head to the hospital to get the boys.

YATU

Yet Another Twins Update:

We had two visits with the twins in the NICU today.  Kristen and her mom went this morning and Kristen, her dad and I went this evening to see Evan and Alex.  They are both improving rapidly and had their oxygen and feeding tube lines removed sometime last night.  They seem to be eating well, both are taking around 50 ml of food each feeding and their weights are stable at this point.  They both had a carseat test that involves putting them in their seats for two hours and monitoring their blood oxygen levels.  However, only Evan passed which we theorize may be related to a missing insert in Alex's seat.  He will be re-tested tonight with the insert included.  We are very hopeful that Evan and Alex will be able to come home by Friday, and maybe as early as tomorrow.  Kristen talked to the pediatrician this morning and he was certain that both boys would be home by New Years.

Grandpa and Alex

Mommy and Evan

Alex

Evan

Kristen and Alex + Grandpa and Evan

Dad and Evan + Mommy and Alex

Dad and the Boys.  They are more stable than they look but we have to learn how to juggle babies

Baths and feeding

Kristen and I came into the NICU to see Alex and Evan for their baths and 8:00pm feedings.  Kristen gave Evan his bath then breast fed him a little bit while I gave Alexander his bath.  She tried to feed Alex but he didn't get it worked out yet. 

There seems to be a pretty good chance we could take the little squeezers home on Thursday, but they still need to make some more progress before they are ready to come home.

Snow and Trains

Christmas

I'm posting this on my phone from the NICU while holding Evan, so I don't have any pictures to share right now.  This morning, the first morning with mom home from the hospital, we woke up to an inch of snow on the ground to open our family christmas presents.  After shoveling some snow with Davis and traditonal strawberry waffles for breakfast, we got down business of opening presents.

Davis has a blast and stayed very focused on opening presents and being a big helper to everybody.  I think he got the best present when he found mommy at home when he woke up.

Twins Update

Alex and Evan are both progressing really well. 

Evan has come off his IV and was able to take 40ml from a bottle on his last feeding.  He still has a feeding tube and high flow air, but he is quickly moving towards meeting the going home criteria: taking all his food from bottle/breast, maintaining there temperature and breathing on thheir own.  They will continue to turn down the flow rate on the air until they are comfortable removing it.

Alex is also progressing well.  He still has his IV, but is currently taking a 40ml bottle from mom and can come off the IV if he finishes it.  He is also still on high flow and that is being turned down.

The doctor said it could be as soon as 48 hours for them to come home.  After their air tubes are out, they will need to be monitored for at least 24 more hours.  It certainly seems like the end of this phase is in sight.

Another Alex and Evan Update

The boys are doing much better this morning.  Both kiddos have been changed from CPAP to high flow air and have their bed heaters turned off.  They are both being monitors closely for any signs of breathing distress and are having their CO2 levels checked regularly.   Since they are off the CPAP machines, Kristen and I have been able to hold both of them.  This morning, when I got to the hospital, Kristen was holding two sleepy little guys in the rocker.  One of the nurses took a picture which I will scan and post later.  I was also able to hold both the little ones (at different times) and loved having a sleepy little fellow curled up in my arms.

The are also both taking bottles now so they might have their feeding tubes and IVs removed as a next step.  They need to get their bottle volumes up considerably still, but it is great to see one wire at a time come off of them.  Since they have come off the CPAP, Kristen is able to try and breast feed them.  However, when she tried with Evan, he was just too sleepy and ended up cuddling instead.  We've heard that it will take a long time fore them to breast feed, perhaps as long as 4 weeks.  She will try again this evening when they are more active.

I just got back from giving both the boys their bottles.  Evan took a little longer than Alex; it was great to hold one boy then the other and be a part of their care while they are in the NICU.  Alex finished his 18ml and immediately started snoring.

Here is a video of Alex in my arms this morning.

And here are a few picture of the guys from last night and this morning:

Evan last night with his CPAP still on

Evan's Bed

Alex this morning

Alex this morning