It's tough to think that a week has already past since the girls were born. To me the week has gone relatively fast. Of course I've still been pretty busy seeing the girls, trying to help out Kristina, and working (I need to save my time off for when the girls come home). Kristina's Dad and Step-Mom have been in town this week which has been a great help in shuttling Kristina to the hospital to see the girls (Kristina needs to recover for about a week more until she should attempt driving).
The girls continue to make progress and I got to hold Evelyn yesterday and Clara today for the first time. They are very very sweet to hold. It's nice to feel their warmth and look right at their faces so close.
The girls' nurses are hovering over them much less. This is actually a good sign since the nurses feel comfortable enough with the progress and stability of the girls that the twins no longer need so much attention. It's also good for the girls so they can get plenty of sleep, and as the sign by their beds state "sleeping time is growing time." While my last post wondered if the girls are making swift progress I am rethinking my position. When I think it's only been a week, the progress seems quite remarkable.
That's all for now.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Still Doing Well
I know I haven't even posted yet since our daughters were born (Kristina handled that), but if you are silly enough to just read my blog for info and updates...our daughters were born last Thursday (Dec. 13th) morning!
It's been interesting to see the girls progress a little bit each day. It's also been nice to hear less concern about the girls from the nurses and doctors. On day two, one of the NICU nurses that Kristina and I really like said that Clara was doing "ok" and seemed careful to never say she was doing "well." On day 4, she said Clara was doing well. The doctors also seem to be using more positive words and tone when talking about the girls. With that said, I still get the feeling that the girls are a bit behind schedule. We frequently hear that some form of intervention will be necessary just "one more day" and come to find out the next day that it will be "one more day." Maybe it's just optimism by the staff, maybe the staff is eager to reassure us that the girls are making progress, but I think the "one more day" line really means that the staff's expectations are that the girls should be progressing a bit faster.
All that being said I can see progress being made as outside intervention ends or is lessened. The girls are no longer on a ventilator and no longer under bili lights. The amount of IV fluid they are taking on is decreasing as they are fed more and more breast milk through a gavage (feeding tube). The girls are now deemed fit enough to be held by an outsider (i.e. a parent) once a day. And while Kristina and I would really like to see the end of the use of those CPAPs to help them breathe, we can see that the girls are requiring less of a concentration of oxygen and less pressure as well.
Ok, that's all for now. Thanks for everyone's continued well wishes and congrats and gifts. They are much appreciated!
It's been interesting to see the girls progress a little bit each day. It's also been nice to hear less concern about the girls from the nurses and doctors. On day two, one of the NICU nurses that Kristina and I really like said that Clara was doing "ok" and seemed careful to never say she was doing "well." On day 4, she said Clara was doing well. The doctors also seem to be using more positive words and tone when talking about the girls. With that said, I still get the feeling that the girls are a bit behind schedule. We frequently hear that some form of intervention will be necessary just "one more day" and come to find out the next day that it will be "one more day." Maybe it's just optimism by the staff, maybe the staff is eager to reassure us that the girls are making progress, but I think the "one more day" line really means that the staff's expectations are that the girls should be progressing a bit faster.
All that being said I can see progress being made as outside intervention ends or is lessened. The girls are no longer on a ventilator and no longer under bili lights. The amount of IV fluid they are taking on is decreasing as they are fed more and more breast milk through a gavage (feeding tube). The girls are now deemed fit enough to be held by an outsider (i.e. a parent) once a day. And while Kristina and I would really like to see the end of the use of those CPAPs to help them breathe, we can see that the girls are requiring less of a concentration of oxygen and less pressure as well.
Ok, that's all for now. Thanks for everyone's continued well wishes and congrats and gifts. They are much appreciated!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Pink Is The New Blue
So I keep thinking, "oh it's only been a few days since my last post, I guess I should go post soon." And I see it has been 10 days...yikes! As you can tell from Kristina's blog a couple of those days have been very action packed.
Kristina's Mom is in town and staying at our house. She has been a huge help. She also brought with her a couple preemie outfits for the girls that are, of course, pink. It actually struck me as very odd because, for the past three years, I've gotten quite used to dressing my son in very much not pink clothes. I have no problems with dressing the girls in pink, this was just the first concrete realization that I will be dealing with girls and pink for years to come. There was also a realization that even though Kristina and I have been focusing our energy on having those girls "stay in," I haven't thought a ton about what happens when the "come out." Do I have to learn to play with Barbie dolls? Anyway, the outfits are adorable and I can't wait for the day when I teach the girls how fast Barbie can go in her pink Corvette.
Otherwise all is relatively well and it sure sounds like those girls are coming no later than December 17th.
Thanks again for everyone's support!!!
Kristina's Mom is in town and staying at our house. She has been a huge help. She also brought with her a couple preemie outfits for the girls that are, of course, pink. It actually struck me as very odd because, for the past three years, I've gotten quite used to dressing my son in very much not pink clothes. I have no problems with dressing the girls in pink, this was just the first concrete realization that I will be dealing with girls and pink for years to come. There was also a realization that even though Kristina and I have been focusing our energy on having those girls "stay in," I haven't thought a ton about what happens when the "come out." Do I have to learn to play with Barbie dolls? Anyway, the outfits are adorable and I can't wait for the day when I teach the girls how fast Barbie can go in her pink Corvette.
Otherwise all is relatively well and it sure sounds like those girls are coming no later than December 17th.
Thanks again for everyone's support!!!
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