Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Overdue Updates



OK, lots of good stuff coming at you.  John and I are both really encouraged right now at their progress.  Basically, both babies are progressing similarly, except Nora's a little bit better at breathing than Ryan.  Nora is breathing room air, but the cannula pushes the air directly up her nose.  Ryan is on a smidge of oxygen (he's at 23%--room air is 21%) and is doing great--off the CPAP totally for the past 5 days.  Both babies' o-g tubes were out once the CPAP was stopped and now they have naso-gastric tubes (n-g), which are much more comfortable for them.  They are both getting 16cc's of milk every 3 hours and, as of yesterday, their milk is being mixed with "human milk fortifier" to give them extra calories and nutrients.  Their milk will be mixed with the fortifier for at least a few months.  Yesterday I changed tons of nasty diapers--yay!
IVs should be out TOTALLY within the next 5 days!  They stopped the IV nutrition already and babies are both just on some sugar water for the next couple days while they adjust their feeds a little bit. 
Nora is now 2 pounds 15 ounces (born 2 lbs 8 ounces).  Ryan is now 2 pounds 14 ounces (born 2 lbs 11 ounces).  They think that the reason that Ryan is not gaining weight as well as Nora is that he's been burning more calories trying to breathe than she has.

Also, now that they are both breathing so well and the staff doesn't have to watch them breath so much (to make sure they aren't working too hard to breathe), they are now dressed!  I'm going to go shopping and get them some preemie clothes.   They are both getting a "preemie head"--very flat on the sides--from laying on the sides of their heads so much--they are starting to do some "head shaping" and encouraging them to lay on the backs of their heads more.  Problem is that each of them has strong preferences for laying on the sides of their heads--it helps them breathe easier when compared with laying on the backs of their heads.   hopefully the headshaping helps with this.  Here is little miss Nora--she has a little halo-looking circle pillow that she lays on--this is part of the head-shaping.
waving hello...


Ryan in clothes
And, just to end with a funny story: I tried on my pre-pregnancy jeans yesterday.  the end.

Monday visitors: Amy W, Elka, Julie
Tuesday visitors: Grandpa Wayne
Wednesday visitors: Nana, Aunt Patty

4 comments:

  1. Smiling ear to ear here Jess and John! What wonderful news! I can't wait to share it with all of the prayer warrior moms on the Catholic Mom message board who have been praying for your babies (and special prayers for their mom, Jess)!!!

    Keep up the good work...prayers and love continue on this end!

    Jody

    PS. Good choice for Ryan's shirt...Chris will love it!

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  2. Jess-I was lmao at the little story at the end. I love it. I am so happy that Nora and Ryan are doing so great. I will continue to keep you guys in my prayes. They are so cute.

    Kati-BBC SCS

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  3. Great news you guys. We're thinking of all of you constantly.
    (Great story too! HA!)

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  4. I'm so happy the babies are doing so well! I love the pictures. I'll keep you all in my prayers.
    Kathy

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