thetadpoles.com

There are things I didn’t get a chance to post on last week and this week has been crazy so today’s post will be a grab bag of info.

Lets talk ventilators! Saturday they tried Derby on a nasal cannula. My poor boy did not like it and had to be reintubated after 15 minutes. They said he got pissy and cried. I didn’t get a chance to hear him because he never really stabilized and had the tube put back in before I could see him. He has been doing really well on the vent since then so they will try and get him off in the next few days. Loen was put on CPAP on Sunday around noon. She had a couple of moments where she forgot to breathe (apnea) which causes her heart rate to drop (bradycardia). They call that A & B’s in NICU slang. So Sunday night she had a couple of A & B’s but managed to get herself back on track with little or no help. The night nurse called her “The Little Engine That Could”. When I called this morning they said she was still going strong but when I got to the NICU at 11 am I saw the ventilator. They said she was working so hard to breathe and was starting to tucker out. My poor little girl, but the good news is she made it for 22 hours this time. It usually takes a few tries to get them off the vent. This afternoon I was able to kangaroo her for an hour (skin to skin contact). She was content and deserved a little snuggle time after all of her hard work.

A week and a half ago my dad was finally able to meet his new grandkids. Loen’s middle name is Rose which is after his mother. Loen is also my dad’s first grand daughter. My parents were only able to stay for a couple of days but hopefully they can come out in January for longer.

Tadd and I went to Dee and Andy’s Christmas party this weekend. It is always one of the highlights of Christmas time. We had lots (maybe TOO much) fun. I told Tadd we should have worn little signs that said: “The babies are good. Derby is 4.4 lbs and Loen is 3 lbs. They should come home in February”. It became our little mantra as many people came up to ask how the twins were doing. We also heard lots of encouraging stories from others who had preemies or knew of people with micro-preemies.

Miss Loen got her first binker. I think she liked it.

Their stockings from Mima T finally came in the mail. They are hit in the NICU, everyone comments on them. One mom asked if all the babies were going to get them. Ummmmm no.

We were able to get both of the kiddos out at once yesterday, that was a first. Tadd held Derby and I had Loen. Tadd & Derby immediately fell asleep.

Grandpa telling Loen one of his famous “dad jokes”. The one that lasts forever and then you groan when you hear the punch line. Get used to it Loen he knows a lot of them.

Derby obviously didn’t like the joke.

Loen making her “yucky” face.

They retaped Derby’s breathing tube so we were able to see all of his face for the first time. Look at those chipmunk cheeks! (He hated having his head held in place)

My nephew Iain being silly

Kangarooing Derby

Derby looking annoyed picture taking is interrupting his snuggle time

Kangarooing Loen (she loves to look around)