Don't know what happened to my previous post.
The boys are doing great -- both are now over 3 pounds. Griffith has started a campaign of terror where he pees at you as soon as you get his diaper off. Still, that's better than his brother who does the same with poop. Griffith got a matchbox car from his nurse Cheryl because he has been so good. He has graduated from the incubator to a warming tray. When he gets a little bigger they will try to ex-tubate him, but not this weekend.
Allan is also over 3 pounds and has stolen Griffith's girlfriend (Alissa) away from him. I hope this doesn't signal a pattern. Griffith does have his roommate (Mackenze) to turn to for solace, though. Cheryl also got Allan a car that says "buzz off" on the side. Just to keep things even.
The boys have actually managed to outgrow some clothes so it is a good thing that Aunt Kathy came through with some more vests -- these have lady bugs on them. She has also completed her tape for them so the rest of you better get busy. You don't want her to get ahead of you.
Have a good weekend and I'll update again on Tuesday.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Ready for the weekend
Sorry for the slow posting. I ended up being out yesterday afternoon and this a.m. No cause for alarm, but we had to meet with the boys' doctors on a few things. All is well.
We now have two three pound babies! Allan was just a hair over three pounds last night. He has nearly caught up with his brother. He has already stolen Griffith's girlfriend, Alissa. She is now Allan's nurse on the days that she is there. Of course, Griffith has his live-in (Mackenze) who is very cute and sweet -- and more his size. Allan's not afraid of a little challenge, though.
Allan has five more days of the 28 day treatment for yeast and he is done. Griffith is through with all of his stuff and they are taking out his IV. Griffith graduated from his incubator to a warming tray and seems quite happy with the transition. We like it because it makes is so much easier for us to reach him and touch him. They have both stopped (for the time-being anyway) with the guerilla poopingg. Griffith has now switched to waiting until his diaper is off to start peeing. He has pretty good aim, too. Especially for someone who can only detect light and shadows. Right now we are just waiting on them to grow so that they can get off the vents and get ready to go home. Apparently when you are very small your trachea is "floppy" (per Dr. Rao) and so even though you might be ready lung-wise to get off the vent, you can't keep your windpipe open until it stiffens up.
Griffith's nurse Cheryl had promised him a matchbox car if he was very good while she was off (she works 3 12 hour shifts per week) and she was as good as her word. Today he had a little car -- a griffin. Close enough for government work. Allan got one that says "buzz off" on the side. They've started both of them on new inhalers which seem to be working pretty well at clearing out lung congestion.
Aunt Kathy made a couple of new little outfits for them which is good because they have managed to outgrow some of their clothes already. I can hardly imagine that. She also has made tapes for each of them with her reading stories and singing so the rest of you had better get busy -- you don't want her to get ahead of you.
Have a really safe and fun weekend. I likely won't update until Tuesday so don't get worried if there isn't any thing new.
We now have two three pound babies! Allan was just a hair over three pounds last night. He has nearly caught up with his brother. He has already stolen Griffith's girlfriend, Alissa. She is now Allan's nurse on the days that she is there. Of course, Griffith has his live-in (Mackenze) who is very cute and sweet -- and more his size. Allan's not afraid of a little challenge, though.
Allan has five more days of the 28 day treatment for yeast and he is done. Griffith is through with all of his stuff and they are taking out his IV. Griffith graduated from his incubator to a warming tray and seems quite happy with the transition. We like it because it makes is so much easier for us to reach him and touch him. They have both stopped (for the time-being anyway) with the guerilla poopingg. Griffith has now switched to waiting until his diaper is off to start peeing. He has pretty good aim, too. Especially for someone who can only detect light and shadows. Right now we are just waiting on them to grow so that they can get off the vents and get ready to go home. Apparently when you are very small your trachea is "floppy" (per Dr. Rao) and so even though you might be ready lung-wise to get off the vent, you can't keep your windpipe open until it stiffens up.
Griffith's nurse Cheryl had promised him a matchbox car if he was very good while she was off (she works 3 12 hour shifts per week) and she was as good as her word. Today he had a little car -- a griffin. Close enough for government work. Allan got one that says "buzz off" on the side. They've started both of them on new inhalers which seem to be working pretty well at clearing out lung congestion.
Aunt Kathy made a couple of new little outfits for them which is good because they have managed to outgrow some of their clothes already. I can hardly imagine that. She also has made tapes for each of them with her reading stories and singing so the rest of you had better get busy -- you don't want her to get ahead of you.
Have a really safe and fun weekend. I likely won't update until Tuesday so don't get worried if there isn't any thing new.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Thursday morning
The boys had a good afternoon yesterday and a restful night. They had both put on a little weight.
Allan is within striking distance of 3 pounds -- he was 2 pounds 15 ounces last night. He has 5 more days of treatment to insure that the yeast infection is well and truly gone. It will be nice to be able to have one less IV to deal with. The docs are trying to put more weight on him and he is now taking 28 CC's of milk at every feeding.
Griffith is so big that he has actually managed to outgrow an outfit, if you can imagine that! He had put on a little weight but hasn't quite made it to the next cut-off -- he's 3 pounds 2 oz still. He is still bound and determined to pull his vent tube out and works on that every chance he gets. All the nurses pass along the warning about him, though, and so he spends a fair amount of time swaddled. Our very own baby burrito. He has lost most of the darker hair on the top of his head, but has kept it around the sides. He looks like he has a receding hairline which is fair enough considering his namesake. Or his Uncle Mark.
Kim and Jennifer sent cute little circus-themed nightshirts for them. As soon as I get a chance to wash them up, we'll put them on and take some pictures. I doubt I can find a clown nose that will fit them, but a maraschino cherry might work....
Allan is within striking distance of 3 pounds -- he was 2 pounds 15 ounces last night. He has 5 more days of treatment to insure that the yeast infection is well and truly gone. It will be nice to be able to have one less IV to deal with. The docs are trying to put more weight on him and he is now taking 28 CC's of milk at every feeding.
Griffith is so big that he has actually managed to outgrow an outfit, if you can imagine that! He had put on a little weight but hasn't quite made it to the next cut-off -- he's 3 pounds 2 oz still. He is still bound and determined to pull his vent tube out and works on that every chance he gets. All the nurses pass along the warning about him, though, and so he spends a fair amount of time swaddled. Our very own baby burrito. He has lost most of the darker hair on the top of his head, but has kept it around the sides. He looks like he has a receding hairline which is fair enough considering his namesake. Or his Uncle Mark.
Kim and Jennifer sent cute little circus-themed nightshirts for them. As soon as I get a chance to wash them up, we'll put them on and take some pictures. I doubt I can find a clown nose that will fit them, but a maraschino cherry might work....
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Wednesday May 24th
The boys had a good day yesterday and they both got to come out and play for a while last night. Jay got Griffith who behaved like a little angel. I got Allan (who usually does better of the two) and he acted rotten so he got grounded after about 30 minutes. Dad graciously let me hold Griffith -- who then promptly began misbehaving just like his brother. Little ingrates. I brought them in to this world......
Griffith weighed in at 3 pounds 2 ounces (about 1400 grams.) Once he gets to 1500 grams, they'll see about taking him off of the vent again.
Allan weighed in at 2 pounds 14 ounces last night so he really isn't that far behind his brother.
The game plan seems to be hanging out and waiting for them to grow.
Griffith weighed in at 3 pounds 2 ounces (about 1400 grams.) Once he gets to 1500 grams, they'll see about taking him off of the vent again.
Allan weighed in at 2 pounds 14 ounces last night so he really isn't that far behind his brother.
The game plan seems to be hanging out and waiting for them to grow.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
no worries
I had a meeting at lunch so I didn't make it to see the boys as usual. I'm going over for the 3 o'clock care instead and won't be back at the computer until tomorrow. Just didn't want to cause any one any worries.
Tuesday morning - May 23
The boys recovered pretty well from their eye exams yesterday. Allan gained a little weight -- nearly 2 pounds, 13 oz now - and he got all snuggly in his new baby-blue flannel robe. He was pretty worn out but in a good mood -- he kept smiling in his sleep.
Griffith, as usual, was a little more of a handful. He didn't gain any weight yesterday, but, considering that he lost his entire lunch because he was sick from the medicine that dialates your eyes, that's pretty good. He wasn't very happy about having his diaper changed or being weighed, but once he got settled in we had a good visit. We held hands for about an hour (actually he held my pinky) and he smiled a couple of times, too, which is far more unusual for him than for Allan.
Their nurses report a very good nice for Griffith and a pretty good night for Allan.
Griffith, as usual, was a little more of a handful. He didn't gain any weight yesterday, but, considering that he lost his entire lunch because he was sick from the medicine that dialates your eyes, that's pretty good. He wasn't very happy about having his diaper changed or being weighed, but once he got settled in we had a good visit. We held hands for about an hour (actually he held my pinky) and he smiled a couple of times, too, which is far more unusual for him than for Allan.
Their nurses report a very good nice for Griffith and a pretty good night for Allan.
Monday, May 22, 2006
monday afternoon postscript
Griffith's nurse (Cheryl) called to let me know that the boys had their exams and tolerated them much better than any of us expected. The opthamologist opined that they have "immature eyes" and will need to be re-examined in two weeks. According to Cheryl, this is exactly the diagnosis one would expect at this point.
Which begs the question: if it is too early to tell any thing about their eyes, why put all of us through this?
Oh, well, the silver lining is we didn't get BAD news, so we've got that going for us. Which is nice.
Which begs the question: if it is too early to tell any thing about their eyes, why put all of us through this?
Oh, well, the silver lining is we didn't get BAD news, so we've got that going for us. Which is nice.
Monday afternoon
The babes had a pretty good morning, but the afternoon ain't lookin' so good. They are going to have their first eye exams which meant that they had to have drops put in their eyes. Allan went first. Drops in eyes, crash and burn -- immediate desating, refusal to breath. Griffith, same deal, 10 minutes later. It is all very necessary, but neither one of them is interested in that kind of explanation. I cleared out after the boys were stable again, but before the actual exam. I don't want them to hold me reponsible.
The weekend in review
We now have a three pound baby! Griffith tipped the scales at a little over three pounds on Saturday night. Last night he weighed in at three pounds, two ounces. Allan is doing what he can to catch up with his brother and he weighed in at two pounds, twelve ounces. We may have two three pounders before long.
Unable to keep himself on the straight and narrow, though, Griffith decided to bronchospasm on Sunday morning and throw every one in to a panic. As with a lot of this stuff, the doctors say this is just something that preemies do. Still, it isn't any fun. Essentially, they get so stressed/irritatated/angry that they "clamp down" and refuse to breath. Not an inconsiderable feat seeing that they are on a ventilator or are beging bagged and are forced to take in air. Apparently you can force them to take the air in, but you can't make them profuse it (distribute it in the blood). This is, as you might imagine, concerning to the medical staff (not to mention the parents). There really isn't any tried and true medical remedy for this -- they just have to keep fiddling around with them until they relax and let the air flow. They took out Griffith's tube and replaced it and that was enough to end this little episode. He's fine now, but was worn out all day yesterday and apparently slept like a rock last night. I'm going to report him to his day nurse (Cheryl) and see if she can't have a word with him about cutting one's nose off to spite one's face. I don't seem to be having any luck getting through to him. The easiest thing would be to tell every one to quite p*ssing him off, but I hate to concede control this soon.
The boys are amassing quite a wardrobe these days. Aunt Kathy made each of them two little sleeping robes out of soft, soft flannel. We'll get some pictures up soon. And Uncle Dick, Aunt Stephanie and Bailey Marie have added to the haute couture as well: sweet little gowns and, best of all, teeny-tiny preemie camo onesies! (Maybe Aunt Kathy can make a hunter-safety orange vest to go with them.) The onesies are a little one big side still, but it is something for them to grow in to.
I'll post the afternoon update after lunch.
Unable to keep himself on the straight and narrow, though, Griffith decided to bronchospasm on Sunday morning and throw every one in to a panic. As with a lot of this stuff, the doctors say this is just something that preemies do. Still, it isn't any fun. Essentially, they get so stressed/irritatated/angry that they "clamp down" and refuse to breath. Not an inconsiderable feat seeing that they are on a ventilator or are beging bagged and are forced to take in air. Apparently you can force them to take the air in, but you can't make them profuse it (distribute it in the blood). This is, as you might imagine, concerning to the medical staff (not to mention the parents). There really isn't any tried and true medical remedy for this -- they just have to keep fiddling around with them until they relax and let the air flow. They took out Griffith's tube and replaced it and that was enough to end this little episode. He's fine now, but was worn out all day yesterday and apparently slept like a rock last night. I'm going to report him to his day nurse (Cheryl) and see if she can't have a word with him about cutting one's nose off to spite one's face. I don't seem to be having any luck getting through to him. The easiest thing would be to tell every one to quite p*ssing him off, but I hate to concede control this soon.
The boys are amassing quite a wardrobe these days. Aunt Kathy made each of them two little sleeping robes out of soft, soft flannel. We'll get some pictures up soon. And Uncle Dick, Aunt Stephanie and Bailey Marie have added to the haute couture as well: sweet little gowns and, best of all, teeny-tiny preemie camo onesies! (Maybe Aunt Kathy can make a hunter-safety orange vest to go with them.) The onesies are a little one big side still, but it is something for them to grow in to.
I'll post the afternoon update after lunch.
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