thetadpoles.com

There is a dentist office in Michigan that was probably in a tizzy that we didn’t post anything yesterday. We have some very dedicated readers you know!

Yesterday was kind of like the day before. Loen was looking stable, while Derby needed a little more help. Same issues of blood pressure, increased blood sugar and no pooping for the little man. Meemaw T spent 3 hours in the NICU yesterday morning and reported that Derby and Loen both were opening their eyes! I stayed at home to get stuff done and when I came in after lunch they were getting ready to put Derby’s eye mask back on. His bilirubin levels went back up so once again he is under the spot light. The nurses said he has kept them very busy. Turn up his oxygen, turn it down. Adjust his dopamine levels, watch his heart rate….etc. Do you think he just likes the attention?? He has had his share of young pretty nurses. Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of Derby opening his eyes. That will have to wait once they turn off the bili lights.

Quick updates

• They will give the twins the Synagis vaccine once a month till they are discharged. This will help protect them from a serious virus called RSV. It can be very hard on a preemies respiratory system if they were to get it. The doctor said they haven’t had an outbreak on their NICU but it is better to be safe than sorry, you never know if someone was exposed and then came to visit. Both of twins were put on an insulin drip to help stabilize their blood sugars. It works the same way as my pump except they have their insulin syringe hooked onto one of their IV lines vs subcutaneously like me. They are actually taking half of what I am on now. That just shows how little insulin I have been needing since giving birth and pumping. It is so weird. When I called the NICU this morning they said their blood sugars have been doing great which makes me happy.

• Loen: Changed from 1/2 strength breast milk to full strength. She has been tolerating her feeds and they might increase the amount. Her abdominal xray showed a lot more air in her bowel and she has positive bowel sounds (the noises your belly makes when it is hungry). She is still pooping! She needed a little more oxygen yesterday but not much. The doctor said she is where she expects her to be. She weighed in at 1 pound 12 ounces. We still don’t know how long they are as they have yet to measure them. The thinking is that measuring, bathing etc is not vital right now so why stress the babies out by doing it. The birth announcements are going to have approximate measurements I guess. (I can see it now, “Length: About the size of my forearm, I think”). We might be able to start kanagroo care in a couple of weeks. I am very excited about that.

• Derby: The doctor felt he was having some problems with adrenal insufficiency due to his prematurity. That can cause problems with blood sugar, oxygen, etc. Thy started him on steroids last night and it seems to be having a positive effect. When I called this morning the nurse said he was weaned down to 2 vs 10 mcgs of Dopamine and was on room air for a long time last night. Still no poop, and they haven’t been able to hear any bowel sounds. The doctor said his abdominal xray showed he has a little air in his intestine. Hopefully things will start moving down there soon. They are going to give him another enema. They said once he poops that usually will help deal with the bilirubin levels. He also weighed in at 1 pound 12 ounces. He has been less agitated and more comfortable this morning. I am so glad because it is hard for me to watch him with his jerky movements and furrowing his brow. I want him to stay relaxed. The nurse said we could have touched him when we said goodnight but I didn’t. I don’t want to add to his stress level.

That is about it for now. Hopefully I can get some good pictures today. Not to mention pictures of the teeny hats that Tamie has been knitting. As she said “I’m a hat makin fool”.