Big girls

The girls will be 35 weeks gestational tomorrow.  The girls received their two month immunizations today.  Brynlee appeared to be a little grumpy when we got there tonight.  I tried to help sooth her by holding her hands in close to her face and chest, holding her head in my hand and giving her a pacifier.  It seemed to work.  Ty held her while I held Josie.  Brynlee got pretty cranky towards the end and calmed down by holding onto his finger.  She sounds like a cat in a fight when she gets to crying.  Her foot also was vibrating to the vibration of her cry.  She probably doesn't think its funny that I think its cute.  Josie seemed to be pretty content in my arms.  She did fuss a little, but she tends to be a quieter of the two now.

Josie is 2 oz away from 5 lbs.  She is receiving Lasix for 3 days, so we may have a decrease in weight or slower weight gain the next couple days.  The girls' vapotherm was turned back up to 1.5 liters as they didn't tolerate the 1 liter very well (couldn't keep their oxygen up and would stop breathing a little more frequently).  They are now on 37 and 39 mL of food over 45 minutes and 30 minutes (down from 1 hour and 45 minutes).  Both girls are now receiving the same fortifier as of today.  This will be nice for when they go home, so we don't have 2 different formulas to add to their milk.  Brynlee also has ROP (retinopothy of prematurity), so both girls will continue to get their weekly eye exams.  The both also have chronic lung disease, which they have had for a while.  I have been trying to do some research to make sure we protect them from getting RSV and other illnesses due to their low immune system and under developed lungs. Nursing is going okay.  At this point, they aren't really getting much and its more skin to skin time they get next to me in the evenings.  I try to hold them against my chest the majority of the feeding, so they associate a fully tummy with me.

This is my second week back to work.  I still visit over lunch and head there after work until 7:30-8pm or so.  It's quite a juggle trying to do everything and right now everything seems to only get a small percentage of time and effort of what it really needs.

Link to see what premature babies lungs look like compared to full term.
RSV prevention letter

Brynlee

Josie

Josie

Brynlee

Josie