NICU Day 7

We came into the NICU and found you both out into open cribs. We were so happy! Then we learned that your IV's will be discontinued tomorrow because you are almost up to full feeds. Progress! Progress! Progress!

NICU Day 5

You both are doing so well today. Camden needs no help breathing and is out from under the lights for jaundice. Grey was weaned off CPAP yesterday but is still jaundiced.

My Little 3yr Old

Rylie, I look at you and don't even see your little baby face so much anymore. I love your big toothy smile. I am constantly surprised at the things you say. One day I was yelling at you to get out of my room, because you get into my things if I'm not there to keep watch, and I could hear you in the hall say, "You so grumpy." Yesterday, you said "Mommy I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" Today in your swimsuit you asked, "How do I look?" My favorite of your sayings that I hear most often, "Can you help me. I so little and you're so big." I could go on and on you funny girl. You know the alphabet. You play hide-and-seek and can count perfectly to 10. Although you don't like to count as much as you like to hide. You are just now fully potty trained and I have to say you more than make up for the ease of training your older sisters. You are a very picky eater, but you are willing to eat if dessert is on the menu. Especially if it's chocolate. No chocolate is safe in this house. You are even willing to climb to great heights to get it. You love your brothers. You are gentle with them and my alert if one is crying. You love your big sisters. You and Cailin will sleep in the same bed and you even want Ariel to sleep in your room too.  Your favorite website to play games is Sesame Street. You also like PBS too. You can sit quietly for hours playing games. I love that you laugh at the same things over and over. You always share it with everyone knowing they will laugh at it too.  You are a little naughty. Dad doesn't like you watching Bratz on the Kindle. You sneak to watch it and turn it off if he comes to your room. You sneak snacks from the kitchen if you are hungry and didn't eat your dinner. Dinner, by the way is probably the worst meal for you because I fix lots of vegetables and you are not a fan of them. You found that thumb when you were days old and I'm pretty sure you suck it 22 of the 24 hours in a day. That thumb is so soggy all the time that the nail doesn't grow and there's a bump on the knuckle. You are precocious, conscientious, and funny. We love you sweet Rylie.

NICU Day 3

Camden was taken off CPAP. You didn't need help breathing any longer.

 Then you both were jaundiced. So, under the bili lights you go!

NICU Day 2~ Kangaroo Time

Just Camden and I. We lay skin to skin. And I love it!

Grey had a little trouble breathing, so I had to hold off on holding you. But we still held hands.

P.S. Daddy didn't want to hold you both just yet, because you were so small and hooked up to lots of different monitors.

The Day We Met Our Sons

I took notes to remember the time that you spent in the NICU. I wanted to remember all your milestones you conquered as you continued to grow outside of me.

 

The day was Thursday, June 27th. I was 31 4/7 weeks. My doctor was on call and the night shift nurse called to tell him that I was having more painful and frequent contractions. Dr. Garner came to check me and it was discovered that I was 4-5cm dilated and almost 100% effaced. He agreed to watch me for another hour. I was so upset, because I had a feeling that I was definitely having babies tonight. I was having contractions every 2-5 minutes. So now I was faced with the choice of how I would deliver. I chose a c-section because you were still little guys. I chose the section even though I had an ultrasound early in the day that verified that you were both head down. And it was a good thing I did, because during a contraction once Camden was out, Grey flipped and was pulled out breech (feet first).  Grey had spent the whole pregnancy transverse (just laying across my belly). The ultrasound tech said that this way gave you more room. Camden had been head down for about a week.
So, we waited on Daddy to get to the hospital from work, before they took me to the operating room. Poor Daddy didn't even get to eat, because of speeding in for the delivery.

The Spinal Epidural was so freaky, because I was numb from the breast down. I couldn't even move my legs and while I was laying flat, I felt like I couldn't breathe. That was instantly cured the moment you both were pulled out. I knew you would be okay because you both had nice strong cries. They brought Camden to me to see and you didn't even have Oxygen on your face. The toughest part was waiting the hour in the Recovery Room before I was allowed to meet you both.

They wheeled me in on a stretcher to see you both.

Baby Boy A is Camden. Exactly two minutes older than your brother. You were both born right before 11pm.

You were smaller, but more fiesty than your brother. You didn't require any additional Oxygen. Just Room Air through the cannula to keep your lungs inflated.

Baby Boy B was Grey. You were almost a full pound bigger than Camden. You had a bit more trouble with your breathing. You required a dose of Survanta to help your breathing.

Grey~1month

You weigh 5lb 14oz. Even though, you only weigh 1/2 pound more, you look bigger than Camden. You are a temperamental baby. You don't mind crying to let us know when we are doing something wrong. You hate to be burped (at least you don't like it when I put you over my shoulder). But you are ok with me doing it on my lap with you leaning over my arm. You wake to eat twice for the one time your brother eats. You definitely prefer to be held over laying by yourself. You are waking more and more everyday. You like to sit and listen while we talk to you. We love you our sweet Grey. You round out our family.

Camden~ 1month

You are one month old. You have been home 3 days. It feels like you have been here forever. I'm pleasantly surprised how easy it's been to add you and your brother to our family. You weigh 5lb 4oz. You are a very laid back baby; not at all fussy. You are awake a little more than your brother. You spend that time just looking around and listening to everyone talk. You are a deep sleeper. Sometimes I have to wake you to eat, but once you're awake, you are a mighty eater. We love you fiercely. You round out our family.

Camden and Grey are Home

When I found out I was pregnant, I was so sick and I thought I would lose you. Then I had to have surgery and I thought you would never survive this. But instead you continued to thrive and grow. At 20 weeks, I noticed contractions. The doctors said this was a late term miscarriage and there was nothing they could do. And I knew surely I would lose you. That night your Dad and I cried and prayed. The next day you were still with me- just flipping and kicking. Slowly we met and exceeded my goals- 24 weeks (yay we're viable); 26 weeks; 28 weeks (we jumped a major hurdle). 31 5/7 weeks and now you're here! We made it through sickness and surgery. We made it through 11 weeks of bedrest. We made it through 5 Labor and Delivery admissions. We made it through 28 NICU days. And today we are going home

It's been a long time!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. But in all fairness we have had an eventful time. I've been sick and pregnant. We can further combine that with bedrest. We have been in survival mode for so long, it's hard to imagine that it's all over....