Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Life on a Schedule
So all those years of scheduling our crazy training for different races and adapting to the elements come what may have started to pay off now. The girls were placed on an 8, 11, 2, 5 schedule while at the hospital. 11pm to 2am was a hard on for us seeing as how pre-babies we were in bed around 10pm and up at 5-5am. Now that they have been home for 2 weeks we have been able to successfully move the late night feedings to better match our own sleeping patterns. We have bumped the 11pm to 10pm and and the 5am to 6am. This gets us an extra hour in the overnight sessions.
The girls are adapting well to the schedule change. To them it is just about being fed the right amount to keep them asleep long enough. Many have asked us if we are waking them to feed them on the schedule. The answer to that is Yes. Reason being is that they still need to gain weight and missing a feeding just means calories lost to sleep. We are hoping that we will be able to start doing having them sleep closer to 5-6hours by Thanksgiving... the peditrician will probably have some say-so in that one once we go back on Nov 5th for the 2month checkup.
Speaking of the pediatrician, we really have lucked out with Dr Arkin. He has been willing to go to bat for us with the insurance company to get the girls the Synagis shot. Synagis is a medication that helps babies born prematurely have less severe RSV (aka: common baby colds) if they were to contract a viral strain of some kind. The reason premmies need something like this is because a common cold to them can become extremely severe brochialitis that could put them at greater risk for having to go to the hospital for treatment. Seeing as how we have had a trip to AZ on the books since last November the shot is high up on the priority list IF the insurance company will foot the bill for it.
Outside of the baby-bubble things are going well. Kevin and I are alternating days of tiredness. Kevin's training for Ironman is going accordingly with some minor tweeking to accommodate feeding schedules. I just started running with Titan on a leash and cycling indoors on my trainer this week. The only issue with that is that I do not remember by bike saddle being THAT small before... or maybe its just me being bigger than I remember. HAHA!
The girls are adapting well to the schedule change. To them it is just about being fed the right amount to keep them asleep long enough. Many have asked us if we are waking them to feed them on the schedule. The answer to that is Yes. Reason being is that they still need to gain weight and missing a feeding just means calories lost to sleep. We are hoping that we will be able to start doing having them sleep closer to 5-6hours by Thanksgiving... the peditrician will probably have some say-so in that one once we go back on Nov 5th for the 2month checkup.
Speaking of the pediatrician, we really have lucked out with Dr Arkin. He has been willing to go to bat for us with the insurance company to get the girls the Synagis shot. Synagis is a medication that helps babies born prematurely have less severe RSV (aka: common baby colds) if they were to contract a viral strain of some kind. The reason premmies need something like this is because a common cold to them can become extremely severe brochialitis that could put them at greater risk for having to go to the hospital for treatment. Seeing as how we have had a trip to AZ on the books since last November the shot is high up on the priority list IF the insurance company will foot the bill for it.
Outside of the baby-bubble things are going well. Kevin and I are alternating days of tiredness. Kevin's training for Ironman is going accordingly with some minor tweeking to accommodate feeding schedules. I just started running with Titan on a leash and cycling indoors on my trainer this week. The only issue with that is that I do not remember by bike saddle being THAT small before... or maybe its just me being bigger than I remember. HAHA!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Eating...Growing...Sleeping...
Both girls are increasing the amount that they are eating at each feeding. Annellice has hit a new high of 80 ml, which is just short of 3 oz; Alexandra has taken 54 ml or approx 2.75 oz.
At the doctor's office on Wednesday Alexandra measured 5.0 lbs; Annellice 6.5 lbs
Beginning Wednesday night we tried to see if we could extend the period between feedings during the night from 3 hours to 3.5-4 hours. It has worked for 2 of the 3 nightime feedings each of the last two nights. We'll try to get the cocktail correct so that they can make it through all three feedings. It has made a world of difference in our sleep patterns, energy, etc.
At the doctor's office on Wednesday Alexandra measured 5.0 lbs; Annellice 6.5 lbs
Beginning Wednesday night we tried to see if we could extend the period between feedings during the night from 3 hours to 3.5-4 hours. It has worked for 2 of the 3 nightime feedings each of the last two nights. We'll try to get the cocktail correct so that they can make it through all three feedings. It has made a world of difference in our sleep patterns, energy, etc.
Rookie Freak Out
Wednesday we experienced our first panic over the health of Alexandra. We were getting ready to feed her and Gwynne suggested that she looked awefully pale. After comparing her present status to some pictures from earlier in the week, I agreed. I took her temperature and it was approximately 1 degree below normal. She was also acting a bit lethargic for her "normal" state of being awake. Both of us worried we called the doctor to get her in for an emergency sick visit. By the time we got to the office Alexandra's color had returned and the doctor could find nothing wrong. Turns out...she was cold.
Despite being well dressed, she just needed a little more. Gwynne and I joked that when we arrived there would be nothing wrong and that we would have suffered from a new parent over-reaction. Turns out, thankfully, we were right. It is silly what lack of sleep and nerves will do to your common sense. Being outdoor people, we know what it looks like to be chilly and how to fix it. Perhaps if we had been outside, we would have been a touch more rational. Then again, maybe not.
Despite being well dressed, she just needed a little more. Gwynne and I joked that when we arrived there would be nothing wrong and that we would have suffered from a new parent over-reaction. Turns out, thankfully, we were right. It is silly what lack of sleep and nerves will do to your common sense. Being outdoor people, we know what it looks like to be chilly and how to fix it. Perhaps if we had been outside, we would have been a touch more rational. Then again, maybe not.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
YAHOO!!!
Both babies are home now!! Alexandra was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. She had a smooth transition home and appears to feeding and sleeping well so far.
We will update more either tomorrow or this weekend when we have a little more time to download pictures.
Thank you everyone for you continued love and support as we navigate the world of premmies.
We will update more either tomorrow or this weekend when we have a little more time to download pictures.
Thank you everyone for you continued love and support as we navigate the world of premmies.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Deja vu....
Have you ever had the sense that you have been somewhere and done that before? Right now it feels like we are reliving the events of last week again only this time Alexandra is the prize that is staying just ever so sightly out of reach.
We have been hearing that the Alexandra would be ready for Wednesday discharge since Saturday/Sunday. Tonight was bath night and as typical we sported the daily weighing in festivities. Turns out that Alexandra has lost a bit of weight. If the doctors follow the "not losing weight the night before discharge" that they enforced with Annellice it looks like we are looking at yet another week of dashed hopes and likely that she will come home later rather than sooner. We are trying to stay positive despite the outcome fo the weigh-in but knoinw all to well how it affected us last week it is much like reopening a wound not yet healed.
Outside of the weigh-ins the girls are doing well over all. Annellice had her first well-baby visit with the pediatrician on Monday and she sported all the of a healthy baby. We will go back in 2 weeks to have blood work done to be sure that her iron levels are remaining in the desired ranges. Her feedings have already started to increase as well from max of 55mL to a max of 70mL if the mood strikes her. Alexandra had her feeding tube removed last week and has been on 100% bottle feeding. The theory behind this one is that its like teaching some kids how to swim you just have to throw them in the deep end to see how they respond... lucky for us she is responding well and has been maintaining her feedings well. The reflux for her is still an issue that we will likely have to monitor for some time until she grows out of it. On Monday Alexandra also has her Echocardiogram done to see if the small murmer detected at birth is still present. At this times the they estimate that the hole is now 2 different holes approximatley 2-3mm in size. One of the neonatologist docs feels that the reason for it being 2 small holes now is that the process of closing up entirely created a septum and that the murmur is likely going to go away as she gets bigger. Whenever she gets discharged we will be set up to meet with the cardio group approx 6weeks-3months out to measure the progress again.
We are almost there now, finish line in site... now if only it would quit moving on us things would be great!
We have been hearing that the Alexandra would be ready for Wednesday discharge since Saturday/Sunday. Tonight was bath night and as typical we sported the daily weighing in festivities. Turns out that Alexandra has lost a bit of weight. If the doctors follow the "not losing weight the night before discharge" that they enforced with Annellice it looks like we are looking at yet another week of dashed hopes and likely that she will come home later rather than sooner. We are trying to stay positive despite the outcome fo the weigh-in but knoinw all to well how it affected us last week it is much like reopening a wound not yet healed.
Outside of the weigh-ins the girls are doing well over all. Annellice had her first well-baby visit with the pediatrician on Monday and she sported all the of a healthy baby. We will go back in 2 weeks to have blood work done to be sure that her iron levels are remaining in the desired ranges. Her feedings have already started to increase as well from max of 55mL to a max of 70mL if the mood strikes her. Alexandra had her feeding tube removed last week and has been on 100% bottle feeding. The theory behind this one is that its like teaching some kids how to swim you just have to throw them in the deep end to see how they respond... lucky for us she is responding well and has been maintaining her feedings well. The reflux for her is still an issue that we will likely have to monitor for some time until she grows out of it. On Monday Alexandra also has her Echocardiogram done to see if the small murmer detected at birth is still present. At this times the they estimate that the hole is now 2 different holes approximatley 2-3mm in size. One of the neonatologist docs feels that the reason for it being 2 small holes now is that the process of closing up entirely created a septum and that the murmur is likely going to go away as she gets bigger. Whenever she gets discharged we will be set up to meet with the cardio group approx 6weeks-3months out to measure the progress again.
We are almost there now, finish line in site... now if only it would quit moving on us things would be great!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Annellice Comes Home
When we went for our daily visit at 8a Friday morning, the nurses and doctors were sure that Annellice would be released that day. We didn't want them getting our hopes up again just to be let down for a third day in a row. Besides, I was heading to Lake Anna for a couple of races and Gwynne was off to Fairfax to look after her parents; her dad just had thyroid surgery.
Around mid-day the call came in that Annellice was ready to go...plans changed for Gwynne. She packed a few bags and headed off to the hospital to pick up Annellice. Knowing how excited I would be to see the baby outside of the hospital she headed up to Lake Anna to stay with me. That's right, one month old and one minute released from the hospital and Annellice is off to her first vacation/race/job site. It was great!
While at the hospital on Friday the doctor, only partially kidding we think, asked Gwynne how she would like to take two babies home? While we weren't prepared for both to be released, it was a nice way of him saying "I think she is close to being released...get ready for the double bubble..." The doctor did indicate that it would likely be early this week when Alexandra is released because she has been progressing steadily and will likely flourish once at home.
Through all of the excitement of not having to see the hospital again for a while, hopefully, we've heard the "she will be released" rumor before. We'll see what happens here over the next couple of days.
Around mid-day the call came in that Annellice was ready to go...plans changed for Gwynne. She packed a few bags and headed off to the hospital to pick up Annellice. Knowing how excited I would be to see the baby outside of the hospital she headed up to Lake Anna to stay with me. That's right, one month old and one minute released from the hospital and Annellice is off to her first vacation/race/job site. It was great!
While at the hospital on Friday the doctor, only partially kidding we think, asked Gwynne how she would like to take two babies home? While we weren't prepared for both to be released, it was a nice way of him saying "I think she is close to being released...get ready for the double bubble..." The doctor did indicate that it would likely be early this week when Alexandra is released because she has been progressing steadily and will likely flourish once at home.
Through all of the excitement of not having to see the hospital again for a while, hopefully, we've heard the "she will be released" rumor before. We'll see what happens here over the next couple of days.
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