September 12, 2008

This has been the boys' home for the last two weeks, but tonight is the LAST NIGHT!! Many machines and tubes and wires have come and gone, but this is basically what it has looked like for the last week or so. Every morning and every evening, Charlie and I have gone to visit and feed the boys. The nurses will bring in a chair for me (that's usually a really cushy recliner, but they were all taken today) and they help us get the boys ready to eat. The curtains around their stations connect and create a "private suite" for us - at least that's how we refer to it... it makes it feel more posh ; ) [Sorry for the action shot of nursing - it's about all I do when I'm there, so it's tough to take a picture without it!]

September 11, 2008

The nurses dressed the boys in matching outfits today and I have to say that it's just so darn cute that I might have to do the same every once in a while (especially since we can tell them apart!). The flash still bothers them; Eli was sleeping soundly until we took the picture when he all of a sudden looked like a jazz musician who was really getting into the tunes. Put baby sized earphones on him and it completes the look : )

September 10, 2008

Like mother like son! When I was a baby (ok ok, until I was in kindergarten!) I sucked the exact same two fingers that Eli is gnawing on here. I used to hide under my blanket and suck my fingers when my parents were trying to get me to break the habit. I thought it was so cute to walk into the NICU and see him laying there, wide awake, fully content with his fingers just like I was.

September 9, 2008

Owen, minutes before his vaccination. He cried for about 15 seconds, then continued sleeping.
Eli, minutes after his vaccination. Same story!

September 8, 2008

Getting ready for the carseat test. All babies born before 37 weeks have to be tested to make sure that they can sit in a carseat without their heartrate dropping and that they can maintain a steady breathing pattern. They'll sit in the seat for an hour fully monitored to make sure everything is ok (if they can't then we would have to get them a little bed that they would lay in while in the car instead of a seat!)

Owen snuggling up after another successful feeding session. Charlie got to feed Eli with a bottle tonight because we aren't relying on the feeding tube anymore (plus I needed a little break!)

September 7, 2008

Daddy's little all-star takes a nap after the big game. Well, that's a bit of a stretch! Actually, what you're seeing is Eli "passed out" in the middle of dinnertime. Pretty typical for the little guys at this stage.

They're not the only ones tired right now.. we visited the NICU 7 times this weekend!

September 6, 2008

Owen & Eli napping together on Charlie's lap after a meal. Not once did either of them even open their eyes to take a peak at the other over the course of the 30 minutes they were side by side.

September 5, 2008

This is hopefully the last night that Owen has to spend under the bili lights. When we came in today to visit he was laying there wide awake just looking around. They had him swaddled because they knew we were coming and got him ready for us to hold him, but usually he has to be naked except for his diaper so the lights can get to as much skin as possible. Because of that, he startles himself awake sometimes and scares himself into a crying fit. It's heartbreaking because he has such a hard time calming down. I can't wait until he can be swaddled and cozy more often - he's so much more content like that.

Tiny Eli - swimming in his premie pajamas. This is pretty typical - he's ready to eat and then lays down and falls asleep. Maybe once he gains some weight he'll be more alert more often.

September 4, 2008

Owen, nice and cozy on Charlie's lap.

This was a BIG day for the boys! This picture is significant because Owen was able to get rid of his IV for the first time. He's now fluid free!

This one shows the personality of the nursing staff - Ray Ban sunglasses while he's under the bili lights for jaundice ("so he feels more like he's on the beach")

The other reason this was such a big day was because Eli was able to graduate to a "big boy bed" - he's not in the incubator anymore! He's having a little more trouble keeping his temperature up, but he's getting better with the layers that he's wearing.

September 3, 2008

The first shot of my dad with Eli. Eli was so alert, but as soon as I try to get him to eat he falls fast asleep. He has such a cute little face!

Owen, holding onto his daddy for support. He's under the bilirubin lights for jaundice. He started on them last night and his levels are already looking much better. There's a chance that he'll be under them for about 5 days. Between his jaundice and Eli's likelihood to forget breathing (like he did again last night), it looks like at least another full week before either comes home.

September 1, 2008

Charlie's parents holding Owen - such proud grandparents!

My mom "feeding her grandson" - Owen again. Funny (though not haha funny) that feeding him right now involves holding a syringe as it drains straight into his belly. My dad isn't crazy about seeing babies with tubes attached to them, so he hasn't held the boys yet, but that day will come once they're home.

August 31, 2008

This was the first time that I could get out of bed after the Magnesium blood pressure medicine I was on. It was so great to finally get to see the boys even though it was more than 24 hours after they were born.

August 30, 2008

Eli, seconds after his birth. Such a skinny little man!

Owen, with his CPAP cap on. He had to wear it for about 24 hours and is doing great now. I think they should have put little bear ears on the hat, because he looks like a teddy bear wearing it.

Charlie and I are wondering if Eli will keep the waves in his hair or not. Owen has straight silky hair, but Eli's is a sea of waves.

The maternity ward has a button that you press after you give birth. It plays a lullaby throughout the entire hospital so everyone knows that a new baby was born.