2 weeks old/30 wks gestation

My babies turned 2 weeks old on Saturday... they turned 30 weeks gestation today.

Brianna and I spent almost 6 hours at the hospital yesterday. I finally got to Kanga Addison!!!!! She did so good! They both love the Kanga.  Brianna also got to hold her for awhile (at least a half hour). She was holding her swaddled. Brianna loved it.

David and I went to see them today. We both got to Kanga both Jackson and Addison. He held Jackson while I held Addison again. I really didn't expect to be able to hold her two days in a row. I was so happy!

As of today, Jackson weighs 1361 grams (3 pounds!!!!!!) and Addison weighs 1275 grams (1 gram shy of 2 lbs 13 oz!!)  Grow babies grow!!!!

Here are some pictures

Addison

brianna & addison

Brianna & Jackson

mom, dad & babies

Jackson

12 days old

I talked to the NP (nurse practitioner today). She said that Jackson's PDA is just moderate. Addison's is larger. They are almost sure that Jackson's will close on it's own. They weren't quite so sure about Addison's. They said they are going to wait and see and hope it closes on it's own... If she develops any more symptoms then they will do an ultrasound again to check the current status. At that point they would decide again whether to wait, give meds or do surgery. I'm praying hard that both PDAs close on their own!!

David got to Kanga care Addison today.

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I got to hold Addison last night for about 2 hours. It was absolutely wonderful!!! It wasn't kanga care, but she was swaddled and I got to cuddle her in my arms. She didn't have a single Brady episode the whole time! I was so proud of my little girl.
As of last night they were both back at Birthweight!


When we got there today they were doing cardiac ultrasounds on both babies. I called tonight for the results and it ends up they both have PDAs. Granted I hear they are very common in preemie's.... it still really freaks me out though. I am hoping I get to talk to the Dr while we are there tomorrow to find out what the plan is to help get them to close up.

I wish I could do something more to help my babies.

Sunday and Monday

3/20/11 – I got to hold Jackson for the first time today! We did kanga care for an hour! He was such a good little boy. No episodes whatsoever!!! He was still on Bili lights but his numbers were coming down. Addison was a good little girl today too. She was nice and swaddled so very sleepy. I was talking to her and she had the cutest little smile on her face. Probably involuntary I know but it was still cute and just made my heart swell. I spent a little over 5 hours with my babies today.

J – 1250  grams (2lb 12oz)

A – 1210 grams (2 lbs 10oz)

 

3/21/11 – I was sick to my stomach today so I didn’t get to go see my babies. I have been so sad all day long. David went to take my milk in and visited them for a few minutes and told them I missed them very much and how much I love them.

Both really snotty again today

J – 1290 grams (2 lbs 13 oz) 15ml today, will add human milk fortifier (calories) after she is on 18ml for a day.

A – 1240 grams (2 lbs 11 oz) at 15ml today, will add human milk fortifier after she is on 18ml for a day. Bili levels at 8 (were 5 yesterday), may have to go back on bili lights.  She is back at birth weight!!!!!!!!!    She had 1 brady episode late in evening, but she had pulled the canula out and was really snotty so the nurse didn’t really count it.

1 Week old!

We are a week old today!! Momma is so excited! Both Jackson & Addison were switched to Nasal Canula today! Happy 1 week birthday babies. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they get to continue to stay on the canula vs going back to the cpap. They both have gotten a lot of mucus from being on the cpap and of course they can't really control their swallowing right now so they have to have it sucked out. Addison had 2 small episodes while we were there. Luckily she was able to self correct. So I'm just hoping she gets stronger through the night and doesn't need to go back on cpap.

Today Jackson weighed 1220 grams and Addison was up to 1200 grams! Grow babies grow.

They did have their 1 week cranial ultrasounds last night. Jacksons came back normal. Addison's came back "suspicious" for a grade 2 hemmorage (brain bleed). They said a lot of preemie's have it and it heals. I am praying really hard right now that Addison's does too. The Dr showed us the ultrasounds and he sounded really positive and that he really didn't see much of anything but can see why they said "suspicious". So they will continue the weekly cranial measurements and then repeat the ultrasound when she is a month old. I hope that ultrasound comes back normal.  I'm so scared but I know there is nothing I can do. This is all in God's hands right now.

Addison


Jackson

03.18.11

Babies will be a week old tomorrow.....
We have been going to the hospital daily in order to see them. I miss them so much when I am not with them. I've had some breakdowns over the course of the last week. Times where I just can't stop crying cause I want to be with them.

3/16/11 – Bili lights turned off. Both babies kept opening their eyes to look at us.

J – 1260 grams (gained 20). 2 lb 12oz

A – 1140 grams 2 lb 8oz

3/17/11 – Changed 2^nd poopy diaper of Addison’s. Missed Jackson’s care by 45 min. Both had feedings increased to 3ml at each feeding. Brianna went with us to visit the babies. She is just in awe and loves them so much already. Addison was holding her finger and didn't want to let go.

J – 1210 grams (lost weight)

A – 1140 grams

 

3/18/11 – Feedings have increased to 6cc(ml) and are every 3 hours. Both my babies have also graduated to a different room in the NICU. The room they were in was for new NICU babies that were born real early and/or sickly.

Jackson had 2 small episodes while we were there but he corrected himself.  (Nurse says it is par for the course with preemies and that they will grow out of them. They are still nerve racking in the meantime). He also threw a temper tantrum… ends up he had a poopy diaper. Nurse said he had some major boogies yesterday.

Addison is back on bili lights. Levels went back up to 6.2. She was a sleepy girl today. Nurse pulled out boogies…

J – 1230 grams (gained)

A – 1120 grams (ugh after 2 days of maintaining weight, she loses! come on girl!)

Guess I should stop asking and worrying about the weight. I should just track it weekly instead of daily. 

As for me, I'm still really sore. It helps too hold my belly when I get up and walk around. I have a follow up appt on the 25th.

3.15.11 3 days old

3/15/11 – Jackson had 2 episodes of forgetting to breathe today. Of course this totally freaked me out. I guess it happens a lot at this age though so our kids are doing good by not having done it before now.  I got to pick him up though so we could change his blankets (of course I absolutely loved this!!). They did really good.

Ok I am really really missing them on my first night home. Had to call in.

10pm – both still on CPAP room air, Jackson no more episodes

J – 2lb 12 oz, 38cm when born (only 15” not 15 & 1/2 as we were told) so no change in length.

A – 2lb 8oz, length 38cm (metric) = 15" no change in length

(nicu does length measurements every Tuesday)