Griffin and Carter are doing well.  As well as can be expected for two boys born 15 weeks early. 

I probably won’t go into details with my updates, because the constant status changes are overwhelming for me, and I am here to witness them.  But here is where we are right now…

Both boys: being so little and young there are some issues that they each have that goes for any baby this size.  Our biggest worry is brain bleeds.  Since their little heads are so fragile they are in danger of brian injury.  Today they each had a head ultrasound to check for bleeding and came out looking good.  Phew!  They will repeat the test in a week to check again.  If they come out on top for that test the chances of brain bleeding decreases.  They are both have tubs coming out of their umbilical cords.  These are for medicines, transfusions and such.  They receive antibiotics to ward off any infections they may have.  They are given a medicine to help with lung and heart development.  They are both on ventilators to help their tiny lungs.  They are on feeding tubes which will be the case for months as babies don’t develop the ability to suck and swallow until around 32 weeks (Thanksgiving time).  Their skin is really fragile so they are resting in about an 80% humidity incubators, to protect them.  This percentage will hopefully decrease by 5% everyday until they can handle natural air.  They are under blue lights to help with liver function, and this requires protective eye patches.  All of these things seem to be treated as though they were expected by the experts from babies at 25 weeks.

Griffin:  He had a rough day 2.  He was moved up to an oscilator, which is a ventilator that gives tiny fast shakes to the baby’s lungs to help open them up.  It was  a tough transition for Griffin and he was not happy with it – but he has since relaxed and adjusted to his new movements.  He has had a few other issues here and there and is being tended to by his own nurse (usually each nurse has two babies).  She watches him and adjusts as needed.  Last night his nurse referred to him as a “one night stand” saying that he definitely knew what he wanted and let it be known.  I think she was trying to say he was high maintenance!  Surprise, surprise – the one that looks like Tim is already having girl trouble 🙂

Carter: He has had an easier few days than his big brother.  He has to be put on sedation every once in a while because he is a mover and a shaker.  Every time you look at him he is stretching, adjusting, flexing.  While this is a good sign that he has a lot of fight and energy in him it is not the best way to be for a baby with wires everywhere!  Tonight Carter was put on the oscillator like Griffin.  He too needed the extra support for his lungs.  This is all in the realm of norm we are told but it is not easy to watch these little guys shake so fast, it can’t be comfortable.

I touched them each once.  But refrain from doing so in general.  Whenever they are touched they jump a little and the last thing I want to be is the cause for an IV to come out.  The nurses and doctors try not to touch them often either and practice what they call “cluster care”.  They try to do things that may disturb the boys in clusters as to get it all over with at once, this way they can rest for long periods of time.  The nurses treat them like their own babies and I am always content when I leave knowing that they are in great hands.