April 14, 2011

Six Days Old

Payton 4 pounds 6 ounces
McKinley 3 pounds 15 ounces

This morning the girls were up a little before the 6:00 feeding. We got them up, changed them, and nursed them without any help from the nurses! The girls and I made a mess and they were covered in spit up but they were full and happy in the end! We realized that we will be able to handle 2 babies and knowing this we were ready to go home!!



After they ate McKinley spent some time with Matt and Payton got her iv out!! Payton's feeding was also increased to 30mL and McKinley's stayed at 24mL. McKinley decided that she was sick of having her feeding tube in so she pulled it out and it did not have to be replaced. She knows what she wants and goes for it!! Now the girls are free from all feeding tubes and iv's, as long as they keep nursing and taking a bottle well and keep having wet diapers. We are another step toward going home!



This afternoon both of the girls were awake and alert. They were sitting and "talking" with me and both girls smiled! It was so wonderful seeing their first smile.



This evening the nurses were a little concerned that Payton had not had a wet diaper. They began talking about replacing her iv because she could be dehydrated. They said they would give her till midnight to have a wet diaper before calling the doctor to have the iv replaced.



The girls were both weighed before the 9:00 feeding. Little Miss Payton decided that while she was naked on the scale she would go to the bathroom. The scale was covered and we couldn't be more excited!! She is going to be a little girl that does things on her own time.


We are so blessed!

April 13, 2011

Five Days Old

Payton 4 pounds 4 ounces
McKinley 3 pounds 14 ounces

This morning during our first visit we were told that the girls iv's had to be replaced over night because they did not have enough wet diapers. This made me very upset, I am still really emotional and I hate to see them get stuck repeatedly. They told us that the lack of wet diapers could be due to the girls getting more dehydrated from the bilirubin lights or they are not getting enough during the feedings. So, the doctors increased their feedings so that, hopefully, the will have more wet diapers and not need the iv fluids. Payton was increased to 25 mL and McKinley increased to 16mL.
During the late morning the girls were having wet diapers so the iv's were decreased in hopes that they will be out tomorrow. As soon as the girls can maintain without iv's then they get to be moved out of the critical care NICU...we have our fingers crossed they get moved tomorrow!
This afternoon a lactation nurse came and helped me nurse both girls at the same time. It was a big success! The girls ate really well. We discovered that Payton is a very noisy eater! McKinley watched her sister the whole time, I guess she was wondering what all the noise was about!!
This evening when Matt got to the hospital after work we went down to see the girls. The nurses were packing the girls things and told us we were moving to the Step Down NICU! The doctors said that since the iv's were lowered and the girls were doing great they were going to go ahead and move them early. We were so excited!


Our new room!

The Step Down nursery has parent rooming in rooms, so we were going to be in the room with the girls taking care of them. During the move McKinley's iv came out and was not replaced.


Payton: "Hi Dad! I think I am gonna like it here!"


McKinley: "I love my new blankets!"

Tonight was the first night that we were in charge of the girls feedings. I nursed them both at the 9:00 feeding.


Hanging out after the feeding! It is so different in the new room, we are able to take the girls out of their bed and hold them!

The nurses recommended that I pump and bottle feed every other feeding so that we know for sure how much the girls are eating. So, the girls were given their first bottle of breast milk at the midnight feeding.


I fed McKinley and Matt fed Payton.

Sleeping peacefully under the warm lights!!

Payton


McKinley

We are so fortunate to have healthy babies and to be rooming in with our girls.

April 12, 2011

Four Days Old

Payton 4 pounds 4 ounces
McKinley 3 pounds 13 ounces

This morning the both of the girls iv fluids were reduced, the doctors hope that they will be off of iv fluids soon. They were also moved to a covered bed. We were really excited about this because the new bed is climate controlled and will allow them to be warmer and it is quieter for them to get good rest. The doctors increase both girls feedings. Payton will not be getting 15 mL every 3 hours and McKinley will get 9 mL.


Hanging out in the new bed!

This morning I was also released from the hospital. I was glad to be able to leave but sad because we would be leaving the girls. I was also concerned because Matt was back at work and I still wouldn't be able to drive so it made things complicated because I needed to be able to come up and see the girls during the day. Thankfully, right before checking out we were offered one of the hospitals family rooms. It was a very small room right outside the NICU. We were so fortunate to have this opportunity to stay with the girls.



This afternoon I got the all clear from the doctors to nurse the girls every 3 hours. They had been hesitant to let me feed because the goal is for the girls to gain weight and they cannot monitor their calorie intake if I nurse them. Right now the girls are still practicing how to suck so I will alternate feeding each girl, Payton will nurse one time and McKinley the next. They will be given formula the feeding that I don't nurse them and supplemented with formula if needed. I was so excited to get to feed my girls.



Later this evening the girls iv fluids were lowered again! Once their iv's are taken out they will be moved from the critical NICU to the non-critical care. Their formula feedings were also increased again, Payton will now take 20 mL and McKinley 12 mL. The girls are growing and needing more calories.
Right before the 8:30 feeding both of the girls were wiggling around and managed to pull out their iv's. The nurses said that everything looked great and they would try to not replace them. The girls will be monitored and if everything stays normal the girls will be off iv fluids! I think the girls are very smart and pulled their iv out on purpose to get to move out of the critical NICU! :)

April 11, 2011

Three Days Old

Today is day 2 of sunbathing under the lights. The doctors are still trying to regulate their bilirubin levels.





Payton







McKinley





The girls are now on a feeding schedule. Payton eats 10mL of formula every 3 hours through a feeding tube. McKinley eats 6mL of formula every 3 hours through a feeding tube. I continue to pump and we are able to feed them what I pump using q-tips.
Today was a great day for Payton, she was finally taken off of air flow! McKinley continues to breathe very well on her own!

Tonight we were able to Kangaroo Hold the girls again. Matt held McKinley who was very active. She was awake and enjoyed sucking on her paci. I held Payton who slept very happily!!

April 10, 2011

Two Days Old

Payton 4 pounds 2 ounces
McKinley 3 pounds 12 ounces

This morning both of the girls were given their first formula feeding. The nurses said that they were starving! They were fed through their feeding tube and they calmed down once they had a full belly!! Their bilirubin levels were also tested and they were low so the girls were placed under lights to help regulate their levels. Payton was also put back on air flow as a precaution because she was breathing shallow. Little McKinley was taken off air flow because her breathing was excellent!

Under the lights...I love their little "sunglasses"!


Payton enjoying the lights




McKinley sleeping peacefully



This afternoon some of my friends came down to see us.

They were so sweet to come even though they didn't get to meet the girls.

Tonight we had a wonderful nurse who encouraged Kangaroo Care, holding the babies skin to skin. She said that it was a great bonding experience and the babies did better when they felt the warmth of their parent.


Matt got to hold Payton for the first time. She slept so peacefully on his chest.


I held McKinley and she practiced nursing and did a great job, she is going to be a fighter! We sat for hours just holding them and listening to them breathe.
It was one of the best experiences for Matt and I!

April 9, 2011

One Day Old
Yesterday after the girls were born I was taken into the NICU to see them before moving into my regular room. It was so amazing seeing them for the first time. I was able to hold them briefly and visit with the nurses. It was so wonderful to get to hold them and know that they were going to be fine!

Payton


McKinley

After seeing the girls I was taken to my room so that I could fully recover and rest. That night I didn't sleep very well from the nurses coming in every 3 hours to take my vitals to thinking about the girls in the NICU. The morning of April 9 we were up early! I was determined to get out of bed, take a shower, and go see the girls. Matt and the nurses helped me get ready and within a few hours I was off to see my girls.

When we got into the NICU the nurses reported that Payton's air flow was able to be reduced and McKinley was moved from oxygen to air flow. During the night McKinley was very active and had pulled out her oxygen and feeding tube. I was able to feed them colostrum that I had pumped using a q-tip. They both loved it! McKinley stuck out her tongue for more and Payton sucked on the q-tip!

That afternoon the girls were moved into their own NICU room and were put in the same bed together. They were given their first wipe bath and, of course, hated it! After their bath they were weighed, Payton 4 lb 8 oz and McKinley 3lb 14 oz. They both lost weight, they are expected to lose several ounces from their birth weight.

That night for their 8:00 feeding Matt and I were able to hold them while they were fed through their feeding tube. I held Payton and Matt held McKinley. Payton also practiced nursing, such a wonderful experience for both of us!

The girls had a great first day and are progressing very well! We are the luckiest parents to be given 2 beautiful little girls!