Sorry for not posting in a while. I've got lots of info to share, but not much time right now to share it. The boys have made great progress and are probably only a few weeks from coming home. But Sunday night, we got word from the NICU that Joey seems to have the same infection/absess that Sam had a couple weeks ago. It has presented in the same way: apnea and bradicardia (heart rate drop) episodes, requiring increased oxygen, etc. until they spotted the swelling on his neck. So, they've put Joe on a ventillator and on a warmer (his temp had dropped with the infection). They started him on antibiotics right away and took blood for cultures to make sure we know exactly what we're dealing with (though the doc is 99% sure it's the same infection Sam had). We should have those culture results today or tomorrow. The kicker is that they had moved the boys into a smaller room last week and that room can't support (nor does it have room for) a ventillator and a warmer. So Joe is in a separate room by himself. This has made things fairly complicated with all the precautionary procedures (gowns, gloves, etc.). Even though I understand all the policies the NICU staff has to follow, I certainly feel like we're all outcasts and not welcome there. The staff has been great and I'm not saying it's anything they're doing personally. It's just the procedures they have to follow.
Needless to say, it's been a pretty intense couple days. I stayed at Ronald McDonald House last night and will probably stay here again tonight. Joe is stable, but still seems pretty uncomfortable with the swelling on his face and neck - just like his brother Sam. The other boys are all doing well. We'll keep you posted as soon as I can find time to post more info. And once things settle down a bit, I'll catch you up on everything else the boys are up to. In the meantime, your positive thoughts and prayers are much appreciated!
Love,
Kristin, Tim & the boys
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A Few More Photos
These were just too cute not to post...
Tommy
Sammy
Joey's first burp with a bottle
Joey
Henry
Tommy
Sammy
Joey's first burp with a bottle
Joey
Henry
Bottles, Cribs and 1-month Birthday!
Happy One Month Birthday, Boys! Gretchen and Jugenia (I hope I spelled that right) helped me stage this shot on the boys' one-month birthday. The hats came from a sweet girl that works at the salon where I got regular prenatal massages thru the winter. Aren't they adorable? And the boys wear them so well. :)
Things have been going pretty smoothly since our last post (knock on wood!). Henry, Sam and Joe have each been doing well on their bottles - and have each taken a turn at actually finishing an entire feeding by bottle (though they're not very consistent yet). They've done so well, in fact, that on Sunday I was able to start nursing each of them once a day. Henry and Sam have been the most successful at that, but Joey certainly does his best. They just need to grow a bit more and get some more practice. They'll all be pros at this suck-swallow-breathe coordination thing soon enough!
Henry's first bottle
Sam's first bottle (his IV was in his head and he has gauze under his chin from the absess drainage after it was lanced - and even with all that going on, he still ate like a champ!)
Joe's first bottle
Hopefully we'll be able to start bottles and nursing with Tom very soon. His feedings started on Sunday and he's ramping back up; he should be on full feedings later today.
As I think I mentioned in one of my last posts, Sam and Henry have moved into a crib together and have really seemed to be enjoying hanging out together. Check out their new digs:
Yesterday, Tom moved out of his isolette and is now sharing a crib with Joey. I left last night without taking a picture of their new digs, so I'll snap a shot today and include it with our next post.
We found out over the weekend that the cause of Tom's issues late last week can be attributed to a urinary tract infection. I guess this is fairly common with preemie boys. So he'll finish up antibiotics later this week to make sure the infection is gone. He's definitely back to being himself and seems much more comfortable.
Joe and Henry got another head ultrasound (just a routine check) yesterday and everything looked great. Sam and Tom will get theirs today (they still had IVs in their heads yesterday). Dr. Vitale has stopped Sam's caffeine and will stop it with the other boys over the next week or so. The caffeine is used to help avoid apnea. Since they're all coming down on their oxygen support, the caffeine won't be needed much longer. This is yet another sign that they're getting closer to coming home. In fact, the doc is targeting another 3-4 weeks for discharge. Pressure's on! We need to get our poop in a group and make sure we're as ready as we can be for these boys to come home. (...lord help us...)
I had another follow-up appointment with Dr. Donald on Monday. My blood pressure was back to normal (118/72) so I no longer have to take the medication. I'll go back in 4 weeks for my final follow-up.
Here are their current weights as of last night (unless otherwise noted). They're getting so big!
Sam: 3 lbs 11 2/3 oz (as of Monday night)
Tom: 3 lbs 6 2/3 oz
Henry: 3 lbs 12 oz
Joe: 3 lbs 10 oz
I think that covers it for now. We'll post again soon!
Lots of love,
Tim, Kristin and the boys
Saturday, April 18, 2009
A Long Week
Well, we've made progress - and hit a few stumbling blocks this week. In summary:
On Tuesday morning, Henry had a bad episode of drop in heart rate and oxygen level in his blood. He's totally fine otherwise and has been great since. I guess he just didn't want Sam to get all the attention. :) We discovered later in the week that his hemoglobin had dropped down to 6.4 (normal is around 12 - I think). So he received some of Dad's blood on Thursday and some more on Friday to get his hemoglobin back up into the normal range. We tried a bottle feeding with Henry on Tuesday and he drank a whopping 5 cc's before falling sound asleep. Not too shabby for his first time out. We're working with the nurses to attempt bottles at pretty much every feeding and he's doing pretty well.
Sam had a big day on Wednesday: the infection on his chin and cheek finally absessed and formed 2 "heads" - one on his left cheek and one under his chin. The swelling was very pronounced in those 2 areas, but much of the swelling and redness over the rest of his face and neck had decreased substantially. So at 1:30pm on Wednesday, an ENT came to lance the absesses. Come to find out, it was actually all one big absess - with a channel deep under the skin connecting the 2 "heads". Crazy. The ENT actually commented several times about the "impressive amount of fluid" that came out of the little guy. Almost immediately, he seemed to feel so much better. And even thru the worst of his swelling, he really took to his pacifier. (If you're familiar with The Simpsons cartoon, imagine Maggie Simpson sucking on her pacifier.) So we tried a bottle with Sam on Thursday and he did really well. Like Henry, we're trying bottles with almost every feeding. One of the nurses even got him to finish an entire 30cc feeding by bottle the other night. Go Sam! What a trooper - especially after the week he's had.
We both stayed at home Wednesday night. Since Sam was doing so much better, I felt more comfortable leaving the hospital and sleeping in our own space. Foolishly, I came into the NICU Thursday morning expecting and "easy" day since Sam was on the upswing after his infection. Then I saw 2 nurses working with Tom and knew this couldn't be good news. Wednesday morning, Tom had a bad heart rate and oxygen drop episode (like Henry's earlier this week). That wasn't a very big deal - until he did it again (a couple times) Thursday morning. So the doctor ordered antibiotics for Tom and several blood tests and cultures to figure out what was causing the problems. Tom's abdomen was distended, so the doc feared he might have NEC (I don't remember what the acronym stands for, but its something to do with the digestive system and can get very bad very quickly). So they're holding Tom's feedings until Monday at the earliest. In the meantime, he's getting nutrition via IV. They gave Tom some of Dad's blood, as his hemoglobin was low and that seemed to help perk him up. His blood tests indicated a possible infection, so we're watching him closely. He had a pretty good day Friday and I was able to get some good one-on-one time with him in the afternoon. His abdomen came down substantially in size, so we're hoping that's a good sign. We stayed at the hospital Thursday night, but since Tom was stable on Friday, we stayed at home last night.
Joey has had a few episodes of low heart rate and apnea, but nothing as serious as Tom or Hank. He's really holding his own very well. We also started bottle feedings with Joe. Tim gave him his first bottle and he did very well. When the nurse fed him by bottle over night, he finished an entire 30cc feeding! Quite impressive for our little peanut!
Sam's absess tested positive for MRSA, so they swabbed the other boys' noses and skin to test them. We know Henry and Joe have also come back positive. I haven't heard yet about Tom, but expect that he'll have it too. Much of the general population has MRSA on their skin. It's not a serious threat to most people - but can be very serious to those that have compromised or weak immune systems - like premature babies. So, we will remain in isolation in the NICU until the boys are discharged. This is a preventative measure to reduce risk of infection to any other babies in the unit. Our nurses put on clean gowns over their scrubs and clean gloves when they come into our area to care for the boys - and they change into clean gowns and gloves if they move from one baby to another. Tim and I are not required to wear gowns, but we do if we've held one baby and want to hold another - as the MRSA bacteria can be transferred on clothes. For any visitors, we'd like you to wear gowns as well when you visit. And if you touch anything (the cribs or isolettes, their blankets, etc.), you need to wash your hands thoroughly. There is no serious threat to you - this is merely a precautionary measure to keep from spreading the bacteria.
On a lighter note, we have made progress this week (in addition to the bottle feedings). Three of the boys have been moved out of their isolettes and into cribs. Sam and Henry are actually sharing a large crib together. And Joey is in a small crib next to Tom. Because Tom is still not quite himself, we're keeping him in his isolette until sometime next week. Once he's ready, he and Joe will share a crib like their brothers. It's strange to see them "out in the open", but it shows how much they're growing and getting stronger.
By the way - we're all convinced that Tom & Joe are NOT the twins. It appears that Joe & Henry are. The nurses - and even Tim - agree. Time will tell - and perhaps a pathology report on the placentas that my Dr. Donald should have... We'll keep you posted on any developments on that... :)
I really wanted to include some photos, as I've taken quite a few this week. But I'm on my laptop and don't have the photos downloaded to this computer. And it's getting late...I want to get back to my boys at the hospital! We'll post pics soon - hopefully yet this weekend.
Tim is on his way to the dealership now to buy a mini van. He brought it home last night so I could see it and so we could test it out with all of our baby gear. It's a 2008 silver Chrysler Town & Country. Not too shabby. Tim thinks it'll look a lot better once we add the flames on the sides... We'll turn in Tim's truck and keep my Vibe for Tim to drive. I still can't believe I'll be driving a minivan...
Current weights are listed below. Please note that they are ALL OVER 3 POUNDS!
Sam: 3 lbs 7 2/3 oz
Joe: 3 lbs 4 1/3 oz
Tom: 3 lbs 4 oz
Henry: 3 lbs 8 1/3 oz
Well, I'm off to the hospital. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers - and for your posts. We love to hear from you. By the way - Stacey: The picture in the newspaper doesn't show all the baby weight I'm still carrying. Very clever of me to use that pillow on my lap to rest the babies on, eh? :) Oh, and Brooksie, I'm so glad you enjoyed the head measurements. I should have known you'd get a kick out of that!
Lots of love,
Tim, Kristin, Tom, Joe, Sam & Henry
On Tuesday morning, Henry had a bad episode of drop in heart rate and oxygen level in his blood. He's totally fine otherwise and has been great since. I guess he just didn't want Sam to get all the attention. :) We discovered later in the week that his hemoglobin had dropped down to 6.4 (normal is around 12 - I think). So he received some of Dad's blood on Thursday and some more on Friday to get his hemoglobin back up into the normal range. We tried a bottle feeding with Henry on Tuesday and he drank a whopping 5 cc's before falling sound asleep. Not too shabby for his first time out. We're working with the nurses to attempt bottles at pretty much every feeding and he's doing pretty well.
Sam had a big day on Wednesday: the infection on his chin and cheek finally absessed and formed 2 "heads" - one on his left cheek and one under his chin. The swelling was very pronounced in those 2 areas, but much of the swelling and redness over the rest of his face and neck had decreased substantially. So at 1:30pm on Wednesday, an ENT came to lance the absesses. Come to find out, it was actually all one big absess - with a channel deep under the skin connecting the 2 "heads". Crazy. The ENT actually commented several times about the "impressive amount of fluid" that came out of the little guy. Almost immediately, he seemed to feel so much better. And even thru the worst of his swelling, he really took to his pacifier. (If you're familiar with The Simpsons cartoon, imagine Maggie Simpson sucking on her pacifier.) So we tried a bottle with Sam on Thursday and he did really well. Like Henry, we're trying bottles with almost every feeding. One of the nurses even got him to finish an entire 30cc feeding by bottle the other night. Go Sam! What a trooper - especially after the week he's had.
We both stayed at home Wednesday night. Since Sam was doing so much better, I felt more comfortable leaving the hospital and sleeping in our own space. Foolishly, I came into the NICU Thursday morning expecting and "easy" day since Sam was on the upswing after his infection. Then I saw 2 nurses working with Tom and knew this couldn't be good news. Wednesday morning, Tom had a bad heart rate and oxygen drop episode (like Henry's earlier this week). That wasn't a very big deal - until he did it again (a couple times) Thursday morning. So the doctor ordered antibiotics for Tom and several blood tests and cultures to figure out what was causing the problems. Tom's abdomen was distended, so the doc feared he might have NEC (I don't remember what the acronym stands for, but its something to do with the digestive system and can get very bad very quickly). So they're holding Tom's feedings until Monday at the earliest. In the meantime, he's getting nutrition via IV. They gave Tom some of Dad's blood, as his hemoglobin was low and that seemed to help perk him up. His blood tests indicated a possible infection, so we're watching him closely. He had a pretty good day Friday and I was able to get some good one-on-one time with him in the afternoon. His abdomen came down substantially in size, so we're hoping that's a good sign. We stayed at the hospital Thursday night, but since Tom was stable on Friday, we stayed at home last night.
Joey has had a few episodes of low heart rate and apnea, but nothing as serious as Tom or Hank. He's really holding his own very well. We also started bottle feedings with Joe. Tim gave him his first bottle and he did very well. When the nurse fed him by bottle over night, he finished an entire 30cc feeding! Quite impressive for our little peanut!
Sam's absess tested positive for MRSA, so they swabbed the other boys' noses and skin to test them. We know Henry and Joe have also come back positive. I haven't heard yet about Tom, but expect that he'll have it too. Much of the general population has MRSA on their skin. It's not a serious threat to most people - but can be very serious to those that have compromised or weak immune systems - like premature babies. So, we will remain in isolation in the NICU until the boys are discharged. This is a preventative measure to reduce risk of infection to any other babies in the unit. Our nurses put on clean gowns over their scrubs and clean gloves when they come into our area to care for the boys - and they change into clean gowns and gloves if they move from one baby to another. Tim and I are not required to wear gowns, but we do if we've held one baby and want to hold another - as the MRSA bacteria can be transferred on clothes. For any visitors, we'd like you to wear gowns as well when you visit. And if you touch anything (the cribs or isolettes, their blankets, etc.), you need to wash your hands thoroughly. There is no serious threat to you - this is merely a precautionary measure to keep from spreading the bacteria.
On a lighter note, we have made progress this week (in addition to the bottle feedings). Three of the boys have been moved out of their isolettes and into cribs. Sam and Henry are actually sharing a large crib together. And Joey is in a small crib next to Tom. Because Tom is still not quite himself, we're keeping him in his isolette until sometime next week. Once he's ready, he and Joe will share a crib like their brothers. It's strange to see them "out in the open", but it shows how much they're growing and getting stronger.
By the way - we're all convinced that Tom & Joe are NOT the twins. It appears that Joe & Henry are. The nurses - and even Tim - agree. Time will tell - and perhaps a pathology report on the placentas that my Dr. Donald should have... We'll keep you posted on any developments on that... :)
I really wanted to include some photos, as I've taken quite a few this week. But I'm on my laptop and don't have the photos downloaded to this computer. And it's getting late...I want to get back to my boys at the hospital! We'll post pics soon - hopefully yet this weekend.
Tim is on his way to the dealership now to buy a mini van. He brought it home last night so I could see it and so we could test it out with all of our baby gear. It's a 2008 silver Chrysler Town & Country. Not too shabby. Tim thinks it'll look a lot better once we add the flames on the sides... We'll turn in Tim's truck and keep my Vibe for Tim to drive. I still can't believe I'll be driving a minivan...
Current weights are listed below. Please note that they are ALL OVER 3 POUNDS!
Sam: 3 lbs 7 2/3 oz
Joe: 3 lbs 4 1/3 oz
Tom: 3 lbs 4 oz
Henry: 3 lbs 8 1/3 oz
Well, I'm off to the hospital. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers - and for your posts. We love to hear from you. By the way - Stacey: The picture in the newspaper doesn't show all the baby weight I'm still carrying. Very clever of me to use that pillow on my lap to rest the babies on, eh? :) Oh, and Brooksie, I'm so glad you enjoyed the head measurements. I should have known you'd get a kick out of that!
Lots of love,
Tim, Kristin, Tom, Joe, Sam & Henry
Monday, April 13, 2009
What a weekend...
Well, Friday's doctor visit had mixed results. My incision has healed very well - but my blood pressure is still very high. So I'm now on medication to get that back under control. I'll follow up again with Dr. Donald on the 20th.
Sam came off the high flow air on Friday - and went back to regular flow. For a few hours all 4 boys were on regular flow...but after a few apnea/heart rate drop episodes that day, Henry went back on high flow. They did a CBC to check for infection and it came back negative, so that's good.
Also on Friday, Tim double-kangaroo'd Sam and Joe and I held Henry & Tom. Sam & Tom loved their exercises - but Joey didn't do too well. He's always been more comfortable on his tummy than on his back, so his oxygen kept dropping when we had him on his back to do the exercises. We'll try them next time on his side and see how he does. I loved watching Tim do the exercises with the boys. He adds sound effects and talks to him just like a personal trainer encouraging his trainee through a tough workout.
Overnight they put all 4 boys on air temp control in their isolettes vs. skin temp control. This means they're all getting closer to managing their own body temperature. Another step in the right direction!
On Saturday, I kangaroo'd Sam & Joe together and also Tom & Henry. Our McKay cousins Mike, Mandy, John & Julie came by Saturday afternoon to meet the boys. It was a very nice visit and the boys were on their best behavior. :)
Throughout the day, there was a lot of talk about Sam's new double chin. Since he's one of the biggest of the 4 boys, we all assumed (the nurse too) that he was simply gaining weight and showing it in his chin. Then, after a great day with the boys, we got a phone call at home from the doctor in the NICU around 8-9PM. Sam's double chin was actually the beginning of an infection. The nurses on the night shift picked up on some redness and puffiness on his cheek, chin and neck and they acted very quickly to get antibiotics running. Because this type of infection is usually some sort of staph infection and can be contagious, they moved all 4 boys into 2 small rooms at the back of the unit to isolate them from the other babies and reduce the risk of spreading the infection. As an additional precaution, the nurses put on clean gloves and gowns every time they come into our rooms to care for the boys - and a new gown and gloves when they move from one baby to another.
Later that night, they put Sam on a ventilator. This was partly a precautionary measure - if the swelling spread and increased, they feared his airway would be blocked. Sam was also becoming very lethargic and lazy with his breathing. The vent would make breathing easier for him, so his energy could go toward fighting the infection instead. They've also started holding his feedings and giving him nutrition via IV so he doesn't have to use his energy to digest food.
The infection probably feels like a bad toothache for Sam. So the nurses have given him pain medication - in addition to his antibiotics - to make sure he's as comfortable as possible. They gave him some blood today (unfortunately we don't have an approved O negative donor yet on our directed donor list, so we used blood from the general blood bank). The doctors feel that he's through the worst of the infection and we just need to give the antibiotics time to fight it. They did a spinal tap to confirm the infection has not spread to his brain - and it came back negative (whew!). His blood cultures also came back negative, so the infection is localized and has not spread so far. This is very good news. Even knowing that, it's still so hard to see him like this. He's just not himself. Hopefully in the next couple days, we'll be able to tell everyone that he's feeling better and definitely on the upward swing. In the meantime, please continue to send your positive vibes, thoughts and prayers Sam's way.
One other new development for Joey: It seems that he's developed an allergy or sensitivity to the tape they use to hold his feeding tube in his mouth. The nurse last night took off the tape he had so she could re-position the tube and discovered some tiny blisters on his skin under the tape. They seem to be healing pretty well and they're using as little tape as possible on his skin.
Tom's lungs are showing improvement, but his hemoglobin (and Henry's) is borderline - meaning they'll both probably need blood in the next few days. Luckily, Tim's blood has been approved on our direct donor list, so they can both receive his blood. (The other A positive friends and family that have donated were not approved.)
Here are the current weights and measurements. I've included the length and head size for those that might be interested (particularly the McKay fat heads). :)
Tom: 3 lbs 3 oz; 15 1/4" long; head 11"
Henry: 3 lbs 5 1/3 oz; 16" long; head 11 1/2"
Sam: 3 lbs 7 oz; 16" long; head 11 1/2"
Joe: 2 lbs 15 oz; 15 1/2" long; head 11"
Well, that's it for now. Tim and I stayed at the hospital last night and I'm here again tonight. I'm just more comfortable being right here with Sam and the other boys. We'll post another update soon.
Love,
Kristin & Tim
Sam came off the high flow air on Friday - and went back to regular flow. For a few hours all 4 boys were on regular flow...but after a few apnea/heart rate drop episodes that day, Henry went back on high flow. They did a CBC to check for infection and it came back negative, so that's good.
Also on Friday, Tim double-kangaroo'd Sam and Joe and I held Henry & Tom. Sam & Tom loved their exercises - but Joey didn't do too well. He's always been more comfortable on his tummy than on his back, so his oxygen kept dropping when we had him on his back to do the exercises. We'll try them next time on his side and see how he does. I loved watching Tim do the exercises with the boys. He adds sound effects and talks to him just like a personal trainer encouraging his trainee through a tough workout.
Overnight they put all 4 boys on air temp control in their isolettes vs. skin temp control. This means they're all getting closer to managing their own body temperature. Another step in the right direction!
On Saturday, I kangaroo'd Sam & Joe together and also Tom & Henry. Our McKay cousins Mike, Mandy, John & Julie came by Saturday afternoon to meet the boys. It was a very nice visit and the boys were on their best behavior. :)
Throughout the day, there was a lot of talk about Sam's new double chin. Since he's one of the biggest of the 4 boys, we all assumed (the nurse too) that he was simply gaining weight and showing it in his chin. Then, after a great day with the boys, we got a phone call at home from the doctor in the NICU around 8-9PM. Sam's double chin was actually the beginning of an infection. The nurses on the night shift picked up on some redness and puffiness on his cheek, chin and neck and they acted very quickly to get antibiotics running. Because this type of infection is usually some sort of staph infection and can be contagious, they moved all 4 boys into 2 small rooms at the back of the unit to isolate them from the other babies and reduce the risk of spreading the infection. As an additional precaution, the nurses put on clean gloves and gowns every time they come into our rooms to care for the boys - and a new gown and gloves when they move from one baby to another.
Later that night, they put Sam on a ventilator. This was partly a precautionary measure - if the swelling spread and increased, they feared his airway would be blocked. Sam was also becoming very lethargic and lazy with his breathing. The vent would make breathing easier for him, so his energy could go toward fighting the infection instead. They've also started holding his feedings and giving him nutrition via IV so he doesn't have to use his energy to digest food.
The infection probably feels like a bad toothache for Sam. So the nurses have given him pain medication - in addition to his antibiotics - to make sure he's as comfortable as possible. They gave him some blood today (unfortunately we don't have an approved O negative donor yet on our directed donor list, so we used blood from the general blood bank). The doctors feel that he's through the worst of the infection and we just need to give the antibiotics time to fight it. They did a spinal tap to confirm the infection has not spread to his brain - and it came back negative (whew!). His blood cultures also came back negative, so the infection is localized and has not spread so far. This is very good news. Even knowing that, it's still so hard to see him like this. He's just not himself. Hopefully in the next couple days, we'll be able to tell everyone that he's feeling better and definitely on the upward swing. In the meantime, please continue to send your positive vibes, thoughts and prayers Sam's way.
One other new development for Joey: It seems that he's developed an allergy or sensitivity to the tape they use to hold his feeding tube in his mouth. The nurse last night took off the tape he had so she could re-position the tube and discovered some tiny blisters on his skin under the tape. They seem to be healing pretty well and they're using as little tape as possible on his skin.
Tom's lungs are showing improvement, but his hemoglobin (and Henry's) is borderline - meaning they'll both probably need blood in the next few days. Luckily, Tim's blood has been approved on our direct donor list, so they can both receive his blood. (The other A positive friends and family that have donated were not approved.)
Here are the current weights and measurements. I've included the length and head size for those that might be interested (particularly the McKay fat heads). :)
Tom: 3 lbs 3 oz; 15 1/4" long; head 11"
Henry: 3 lbs 5 1/3 oz; 16" long; head 11 1/2"
Sam: 3 lbs 7 oz; 16" long; head 11 1/2"
Joe: 2 lbs 15 oz; 15 1/2" long; head 11"
Well, that's it for now. Tim and I stayed at the hospital last night and I'm here again tonight. I'm just more comfortable being right here with Sam and the other boys. We'll post another update soon.
Love,
Kristin & Tim
Friday, April 10, 2009
Three-Week Update
Just a quick update this morning. I need to get over to the hospital for one more check-up with Dr. Donald before visiting with the boys.
The boys are all doing great. In rounds yesterday, the doctor said they're "awesome". They're all on only 1 liter of air flow with minimal oxygen support. They're tolerating their feedings well and are increasing the amount of milk per feeding. They're also gaining weight. The numbers below may not be 100% accurate as of last night, but they're close:
Sam: 3 lbs 4 oz; feedings are up to 29cc's
Joe: 2 lbs 13 oz; 25cc's
Henry: 3 lbs even; 28cc's
Tom: 2 lbs 13 oz; 26cc's
We're starting to work with the nurses to do a physical activity program with all of the boys. We'll use flexion, extension and compression on each of their shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle joints to help mineralize their bones. They would normally have gotten to do this on their own by pushing and kicking against their placentas and my uterus walls in the womb, so we'll make up for what they're missing. Studies have also shown that this activity is most beneficial when the parents do it with the babies. So we'll be their personal trainers for a while!
We've got another busy weekend with lots of visitors expected. The McKays will be in town for Easter and many of them would like to come by to meet the boys. We're always happy to show them off! We'll also have Easter dinner at Terry and Kay's Sunday afternoon. It'll be nice to see everyone.
We'll update again soon - and will let you know how the boys' daily exercises are going. :)
Lots of love,
Tim, Kristin, Sam, Henry, Tom & Joe
The boys are all doing great. In rounds yesterday, the doctor said they're "awesome". They're all on only 1 liter of air flow with minimal oxygen support. They're tolerating their feedings well and are increasing the amount of milk per feeding. They're also gaining weight. The numbers below may not be 100% accurate as of last night, but they're close:
Sam: 3 lbs 4 oz; feedings are up to 29cc's
Joe: 2 lbs 13 oz; 25cc's
Henry: 3 lbs even; 28cc's
Tom: 2 lbs 13 oz; 26cc's
We're starting to work with the nurses to do a physical activity program with all of the boys. We'll use flexion, extension and compression on each of their shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle joints to help mineralize their bones. They would normally have gotten to do this on their own by pushing and kicking against their placentas and my uterus walls in the womb, so we'll make up for what they're missing. Studies have also shown that this activity is most beneficial when the parents do it with the babies. So we'll be their personal trainers for a while!
We've got another busy weekend with lots of visitors expected. The McKays will be in town for Easter and many of them would like to come by to meet the boys. We're always happy to show them off! We'll also have Easter dinner at Terry and Kay's Sunday afternoon. It'll be nice to see everyone.
We'll update again soon - and will let you know how the boys' daily exercises are going. :)
Lots of love,
Tim, Kristin, Sam, Henry, Tom & Joe
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
South Bend Tribune interview
As I mentioned in my last post, yesterday was going to be a busy day - and it proved a little busier than expected! Not only were Aunt Honey and Aunt Dorothy in town, but Aunt Molly and Uncle Craig also stopped by on their way home from Wisconsin. They were all able to stay for our interview with the South Bend Tribune too. Then, Tim took them over to the lab so Honey and Molly could have their blood drawn and tested for a match with the boys. Thank you!! We found out that Tim is a match so far - and he can give to 3 of the boys. It's good to have a few names on stand-by for when the boys need blood, so we'll keep looking for more volunteers. Unfortunately, blood donations need to be made locally and collected by the blood bank here in our area. But thank you to all of you that have offered to donate in other states. We really appreciate your generosity!
The interview went really well. Our boys' nurses figured out a plan to move all 4 babies together so we could hold them for photo ops. :) Tim held Sam and Henry; I held Tom and Joe. (I'm not entirely sure that Tom and Joe are really the identical twins...they look very different to me and having them so close together for the first time didn't convince me...)
The story will be printed in Wednesday's paper. You can also access it online at www.southbendtribune.com. The writer's name is Alicia Gallegos - just in case you need that to search for the story. Alicia asked if they could do follow-up stories on us when the boys come home, when they come back to the NICU for the annual "reunion", etc. We think it's a great idea and are happy to share our story.
After the interview and all the aunts and uncles went home, our friends Mark and Julie came by to see the boys. We love to have visitors and to show off the progress the boys have made.
The boys have all gained a little weight since yesterday's post:
Joe: 2 lbs 9 1/3 oz
Henry: 2 lbs 13 2/3 oz
Tom: 2 lbs 9 1/3 oz
Sam: a whopping 3 lbs 1/3 oz!!! We've got a 3-pounder!
I'm heading over to the hospital a bit later today and plan to stay into the evening to help with the boys' baths and the rest of their evening routine. We'll do that a few times a week so we can get involved with as much of their care as possible.
Every time I log in and read the comments posted by our blog followers, I'm touched - and sometimes overwhelmed - at the response. And to see a post from a fellow quad parent is awesome. No doubt we'll be reaching out to that family for all sorts of help and advice! Thank you for posting a comment, Brad! I'll be in touch soon!
Thanks everyone for your continued love and support. We couldn't do it without you.
Lots of love,
Tim, Kristin, Sam, Henry, Tom & Joe
The interview went really well. Our boys' nurses figured out a plan to move all 4 babies together so we could hold them for photo ops. :) Tim held Sam and Henry; I held Tom and Joe. (I'm not entirely sure that Tom and Joe are really the identical twins...they look very different to me and having them so close together for the first time didn't convince me...)
The story will be printed in Wednesday's paper. You can also access it online at www.southbendtribune.com. The writer's name is Alicia Gallegos - just in case you need that to search for the story. Alicia asked if they could do follow-up stories on us when the boys come home, when they come back to the NICU for the annual "reunion", etc. We think it's a great idea and are happy to share our story.
After the interview and all the aunts and uncles went home, our friends Mark and Julie came by to see the boys. We love to have visitors and to show off the progress the boys have made.
The boys have all gained a little weight since yesterday's post:
Joe: 2 lbs 9 1/3 oz
Henry: 2 lbs 13 2/3 oz
Tom: 2 lbs 9 1/3 oz
Sam: a whopping 3 lbs 1/3 oz!!! We've got a 3-pounder!
I'm heading over to the hospital a bit later today and plan to stay into the evening to help with the boys' baths and the rest of their evening routine. We'll do that a few times a week so we can get involved with as much of their care as possible.
Every time I log in and read the comments posted by our blog followers, I'm touched - and sometimes overwhelmed - at the response. And to see a post from a fellow quad parent is awesome. No doubt we'll be reaching out to that family for all sorts of help and advice! Thank you for posting a comment, Brad! I'll be in touch soon!
Thanks everyone for your continued love and support. We couldn't do it without you.
Lots of love,
Tim, Kristin, Sam, Henry, Tom & Joe
Monday, April 6, 2009
Can you believe it's been over 2 weeks already?
Wow, time flies.
I met with our neonatologist and the NICU social worker on Friday to discuss the boys' status and our long-term plans for child care, etc. The boys are all in the category of what they call "growers and feeders" now. As of this weekend, Joey's nutritional IV came off - so now all 4 are getting all they need from breastmilk. Gestationally, they are just over 30 weeks old, so we've got a few weeks yet before they will instinctually learn to swallow (that usually happens around 32-34 weeks). At that time, we'll start trying to introduce bottle feedings. Until then, the doctor said we shouldn't anticipate any major changes in their conditions or their care. This is all good news.
Of course, having said all that, we're not completely out of the woods. They'll still be watching the boys very closely for any digestive or breathing issues that are out of the ordinary. So far, everything is going very well (as Henry's monsterously poopy diaper last nigh would prove). Tom & Sam's lungs are still showing improvement and will most likely "fix" themselves over time. Two of the boys are on regular flow cannulas and two are on high flow with varying levels of oxygen support - all within the normal or expected range. The boys' feedings are all gradually increasing and Joey is slowly catching up with the others. (The pressure is on Mommy to produce lots and lots for them to eat!) Here are their current weights:
Tom: 2 lbs 8 1/3 oz
Henry: 2 lbs 11 2/3 oz
Sam: 2 lbs 14 oz
Joe: 2 lbs 7 1/3 oz
Later this week, we'll start working with the nurses to put the boys thru a physical activity program. It's all about massage and movement to help them with their physical development. I'm looking forward to getting a little more "hands on" time with them.
On Thursday night, a leak developed in the skylight in our room in the NICU. So on Friday afternoon, they moved all the babies from that room to other spots in the unit so the drywall and paint repairs could be made. We're now in a smaller room without much space to maneuver. But on Saturday, our nurses found a way to make the most of our tight quarters. The boys' isolettes are paired up across the aisle from each other. And each pair shares a common pole for their oxygen support. That means each pair can be taken out of their isolettes for DOUBLE KANGAROO (skin-on-skin) holding between their isolettes. We loved being able to re-introduce them to their brothers (though they all pretty much slept thru it) - and really enjoyed being able to hold 2 at the same time. Here are a few pictures of some serious kangaroo action over the weekend:
Sam with his arm around Joey in my arms. (Their nurse Valisa had the clever idea for the arm bit. Too cute!)
Sam with Daddy. Both Sam and Joey sneezed when they first encountered Dad's hair chest. :)
Henry and Tom hanging out with Mommy.
Joey hiding in Daddy's shirt.
Henry and Tom with Daddy.
We've got a busy week ahead of us. Today Great Aunts Honey and Dorothy are coming to meet the boys and this afternoon Mom and Dad have an interview with the South Bend Tribune. Daddy will be busy with telecommuting and spending some time at the office and Mommy will be busy with catching up with phone calls, making some appointments and having lunch with family and friends throughout the week. But most importantly, much of our time will be with our boys in the NICU. That's definitely where we want to be!
Oh - how could I forget? A big warm thank you goes out to Mike & Kate for their help this week. While Tim was out of town for work, Mike & Kate (with the help of the kids) were my "babysitters". Thanks for carting me around town and for helping out around the house. Thanks, too, to Pat and Don for their help this weekend. And thanks to "uncle" Ed Donnellon for stopping by to meet the boys over the weekend. And thank you to all of you for your continued support and prayers.
Lots of love,
Kristin & Tim
I met with our neonatologist and the NICU social worker on Friday to discuss the boys' status and our long-term plans for child care, etc. The boys are all in the category of what they call "growers and feeders" now. As of this weekend, Joey's nutritional IV came off - so now all 4 are getting all they need from breastmilk. Gestationally, they are just over 30 weeks old, so we've got a few weeks yet before they will instinctually learn to swallow (that usually happens around 32-34 weeks). At that time, we'll start trying to introduce bottle feedings. Until then, the doctor said we shouldn't anticipate any major changes in their conditions or their care. This is all good news.
Of course, having said all that, we're not completely out of the woods. They'll still be watching the boys very closely for any digestive or breathing issues that are out of the ordinary. So far, everything is going very well (as Henry's monsterously poopy diaper last nigh would prove). Tom & Sam's lungs are still showing improvement and will most likely "fix" themselves over time. Two of the boys are on regular flow cannulas and two are on high flow with varying levels of oxygen support - all within the normal or expected range. The boys' feedings are all gradually increasing and Joey is slowly catching up with the others. (The pressure is on Mommy to produce lots and lots for them to eat!) Here are their current weights:
Tom: 2 lbs 8 1/3 oz
Henry: 2 lbs 11 2/3 oz
Sam: 2 lbs 14 oz
Joe: 2 lbs 7 1/3 oz
Later this week, we'll start working with the nurses to put the boys thru a physical activity program. It's all about massage and movement to help them with their physical development. I'm looking forward to getting a little more "hands on" time with them.
On Thursday night, a leak developed in the skylight in our room in the NICU. So on Friday afternoon, they moved all the babies from that room to other spots in the unit so the drywall and paint repairs could be made. We're now in a smaller room without much space to maneuver. But on Saturday, our nurses found a way to make the most of our tight quarters. The boys' isolettes are paired up across the aisle from each other. And each pair shares a common pole for their oxygen support. That means each pair can be taken out of their isolettes for DOUBLE KANGAROO (skin-on-skin) holding between their isolettes. We loved being able to re-introduce them to their brothers (though they all pretty much slept thru it) - and really enjoyed being able to hold 2 at the same time. Here are a few pictures of some serious kangaroo action over the weekend:
Sam with his arm around Joey in my arms. (Their nurse Valisa had the clever idea for the arm bit. Too cute!)
Sam with Daddy. Both Sam and Joey sneezed when they first encountered Dad's hair chest. :)
Henry and Tom hanging out with Mommy.
Joey hiding in Daddy's shirt.
Henry and Tom with Daddy.
We've got a busy week ahead of us. Today Great Aunts Honey and Dorothy are coming to meet the boys and this afternoon Mom and Dad have an interview with the South Bend Tribune. Daddy will be busy with telecommuting and spending some time at the office and Mommy will be busy with catching up with phone calls, making some appointments and having lunch with family and friends throughout the week. But most importantly, much of our time will be with our boys in the NICU. That's definitely where we want to be!
Oh - how could I forget? A big warm thank you goes out to Mike & Kate for their help this week. While Tim was out of town for work, Mike & Kate (with the help of the kids) were my "babysitters". Thanks for carting me around town and for helping out around the house. Thanks, too, to Pat and Don for their help this weekend. And thanks to "uncle" Ed Donnellon for stopping by to meet the boys over the weekend. And thank you to all of you for your continued support and prayers.
Lots of love,
Kristin & Tim
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Quick update - with photos!
Here are a few shots that Kate took when she came to the hospital with me yesterday (some of you may have already seen these). Please note that we can now see all 4 boys' faces! Thomas came off CPap yesterday and has been doing very well on the cannula.
NICU - our home away from home. Please note the blankets crocheted by Nana on top of their isolettes.
Henry
Joey
Sammy
Tommy
I had grand plans to post a very cool picture that one of the NICU nurses printed for us yesterday. She used the digital camera there in the NICU and put a photo of each boy on a single page. I tried to scan it this morning, but my scanner is not working and I don't have the time (okay, the patience) to troubleshoot it this morning. Maybe I'll be able to figure it out tonight when I get home from the hospital. Hopefully these will be enough to hold you over until I can get all of our photos on a snapfish site.
We'll be in touch again soon!
Love,
Kristin & Tim
NICU - our home away from home. Please note the blankets crocheted by Nana on top of their isolettes.
Henry
Joey
Sammy
Tommy
I had grand plans to post a very cool picture that one of the NICU nurses printed for us yesterday. She used the digital camera there in the NICU and put a photo of each boy on a single page. I tried to scan it this morning, but my scanner is not working and I don't have the time (okay, the patience) to troubleshoot it this morning. Maybe I'll be able to figure it out tonight when I get home from the hospital. Hopefully these will be enough to hold you over until I can get all of our photos on a snapfish site.
We'll be in touch again soon!
Love,
Kristin & Tim
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mid-Week Update
Hi everyone! It's been a pretty good week so far - here are the highlights:
All four boys had head ultrasounds Monday morning. This is a routine test for preemies. As you may recall, Sam had a small "grade 1" bleed on each side of his head a while back. He's down to just one grade 1 bleed now and doing very well. This is very common and the doctor is not concerned. The other 3 boys' ultrasounds came back clear. Great news!
Tom continues to show improvement - though still has a long way to go for his lungs. But the doctor felt he was ready to come off the ventillator yesterday! He's back on CPap - which is a step in the right direction. They're giving him extra oxygen, but that is expected coming off the jet vent. We'll miss seeing his face for a while (hidden under all that CPap headgear), but are very happy to have him off the ventillator. He's up to 2 lbs 5 1/3 oz. I've been able to get some good quality time with Tom (and all the boys) over the last couple days too. They say it helps in their recovery and growth, so I try to spend time with each boy every day.
Sam has joined Henry with losing his IVs for supplemental nutrition. He's taking in enough breastmilk to provide all the nutrition he needs. That's 2 boys that can now wear shirts since their IVs are gone! I've brought in a couple shirts for them to hang out in. Sam is weighing in at a whopping 2 lbs 9 oz!
On Monday, Joey was taken off the ventillator too! He's on the cannula like Sam and Henry. He's still been struggling with bouts of low heart rate, sometimes coupled with apnea. They're watching him closely. They've begun feedings again and is at 4 cc's (he hasn't had any breastmilk since Thursday). He's not consistent with digesting everything yet, but hopefully in time he'll get the hang of it again. The doc is watching Joe's hemoglobin levels (and the other boys' too). He's up to 2 lbs 5 oz.
As they draw blood for lab tests, etc., each baby's blood volume goes down a bit. They can only replace so much blood in a given time, so at some point all 4 will probably need blood. The local blood bank has a directed donor program - meaning, if you'd like to direct your blood to a particular recipient (i.e. our boys), we can submit your name and you can donate locally. Sam is O negative and the other 3 boys are A positive. If you're interested in donating, let us know. And just so you know - blood type and Rh factor are not the only factors used to determine if you're a match. They test for a variety of things - as there are certain viruses, etc. that can't be present in order for the blood to work for the babies.
Henry, as mentioned above, is off his IVs and can wear shirts. His feedings are up to 17cc's and he's doing very well. He's up to 2 lbs 7 oz.
We swapped out the blankets on top of each of their isolettes. The ones they'd been using needed to be washed, so I brought in the ones that Nana made - which coordinate with the little hats & ID bracelets she made. We also added some Easter decor to each isolette by taping the bunnies their Uncle Kevin gave us. Finally - we're adding some personality to their space.
Tim is out of town through Friday afternoon. So Mike, Kate and the kids are staying here with me for a few days. While Kate is here, I'm hoping to get her help with posting our pictures. Thanks for your patience!
Have a great day, everyone. Thank you for your continued support!
Love,
Kristin & Tim
All four boys had head ultrasounds Monday morning. This is a routine test for preemies. As you may recall, Sam had a small "grade 1" bleed on each side of his head a while back. He's down to just one grade 1 bleed now and doing very well. This is very common and the doctor is not concerned. The other 3 boys' ultrasounds came back clear. Great news!
Tom continues to show improvement - though still has a long way to go for his lungs. But the doctor felt he was ready to come off the ventillator yesterday! He's back on CPap - which is a step in the right direction. They're giving him extra oxygen, but that is expected coming off the jet vent. We'll miss seeing his face for a while (hidden under all that CPap headgear), but are very happy to have him off the ventillator. He's up to 2 lbs 5 1/3 oz. I've been able to get some good quality time with Tom (and all the boys) over the last couple days too. They say it helps in their recovery and growth, so I try to spend time with each boy every day.
Sam has joined Henry with losing his IVs for supplemental nutrition. He's taking in enough breastmilk to provide all the nutrition he needs. That's 2 boys that can now wear shirts since their IVs are gone! I've brought in a couple shirts for them to hang out in. Sam is weighing in at a whopping 2 lbs 9 oz!
On Monday, Joey was taken off the ventillator too! He's on the cannula like Sam and Henry. He's still been struggling with bouts of low heart rate, sometimes coupled with apnea. They're watching him closely. They've begun feedings again and is at 4 cc's (he hasn't had any breastmilk since Thursday). He's not consistent with digesting everything yet, but hopefully in time he'll get the hang of it again. The doc is watching Joe's hemoglobin levels (and the other boys' too). He's up to 2 lbs 5 oz.
As they draw blood for lab tests, etc., each baby's blood volume goes down a bit. They can only replace so much blood in a given time, so at some point all 4 will probably need blood. The local blood bank has a directed donor program - meaning, if you'd like to direct your blood to a particular recipient (i.e. our boys), we can submit your name and you can donate locally. Sam is O negative and the other 3 boys are A positive. If you're interested in donating, let us know. And just so you know - blood type and Rh factor are not the only factors used to determine if you're a match. They test for a variety of things - as there are certain viruses, etc. that can't be present in order for the blood to work for the babies.
Henry, as mentioned above, is off his IVs and can wear shirts. His feedings are up to 17cc's and he's doing very well. He's up to 2 lbs 7 oz.
We swapped out the blankets on top of each of their isolettes. The ones they'd been using needed to be washed, so I brought in the ones that Nana made - which coordinate with the little hats & ID bracelets she made. We also added some Easter decor to each isolette by taping the bunnies their Uncle Kevin gave us. Finally - we're adding some personality to their space.
Tim is out of town through Friday afternoon. So Mike, Kate and the kids are staying here with me for a few days. While Kate is here, I'm hoping to get her help with posting our pictures. Thanks for your patience!
Have a great day, everyone. Thank you for your continued support!
Love,
Kristin & Tim
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