Day 1 (October 20, 2012)
- The boys have lost weight (normal, I know). Hayden is 4 lbs 13 oz and Connor is 4 lbs 9 oz.
- They were both taken off the CPAP (breathing apparatus used to treat preterm infants whose lungs have not fully developed) after 32 hrs.
- Both boys ate 10 ml of formula
- I was so out of it when they brought the boys to see me for a fews secs while in recovery that I don't really remember much. Today, I was able to go see them in the Level III NICU. I touched their sweet little hands and they both grabbed hold of my finger. It was so hard to see them all hooked up, but they are so incredibly beautiful I was able to get past it for the time being.
- Pictures make them look big but they are so tiny in person.
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| Hayden River |
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| Connor Jackson |
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| Welcome baby boys! |
- Both boys were moved to Level II NICU (yay) late tonight/early morning! They forgot to call and tell us so when Lou went down to III they weren't there. They felt terrible for forgetting to tell us so we were able to get away with a couple extra family members who were not on the visitation list for the day.
- Hayden weighs 4 lbs 10 oz and Connor weighs 4 lbs 6 oz.
- They both ate 20 ml of formula.
- Hayden is a slow eater and Connor is fast.
- Lou got to feed Hayden for the first time.
- We took down the first syringe of colostrum!
- I've been in a lot of pain since about 3 hours after my epidural was taken out - I asked for it back!
- We've had lots of visitors today; I only wish we could share our sweet boys with them but feel special that they still came to see me.
- My Momo got to see the babies; I feel so grateful for this as Momo is 1 of 2 living great grandparents to our boys and the only one on my side.
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| Daddy learning how to feed Hayden |
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| Momo and Hayden with Daddy |
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| Momo admiring Connor |
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| Auntie Fish and Hayden |
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| Auntie Fish and Connor |
- Connor was put under light for jaundice; He's sad because he cant see his girlfriend next door with his shades on.
- We each got to feed a baby (my first time)!!
- Connor took down 17 ml of colostrum.
- We snuck in my Aunt Theresa to meet the boys (we knew the boys' nurse); She used to be a NICU nurse.
- Connor was very alert and cooing today; He was amazed by his mommy it seemed (check out the video below). He likes to throw his hands up in the air like he's saying "Helllllloooooo." At the end of the video he practices his JJ Swatts.
- Hayden is a lazy eater and doesn't take much from his bottle so he has to get fed a lot through his tube
- The doc said Hayden has some lungs on him :)
- I'm super puffy today. I hope I don't scare anyone!
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| I wear my sunglasses at night |
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| My first time feeding Hayden |
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| My first time feeding Connor |
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| Hayden loves to stretch out! |
Day 4
- WOW! Our love for these boys is completely indescribable.
- Both boys had their IVs removed so no more TPN, lipids, etc.
- We've figured out their little quirks. Hayden loves to wrinkle his forehead and makes lots of grumpy old man faces. Connor works his lips and tongue like a baby giraffe. They are both so expressive and cute!
- Connor is off the light!
- We both got to change diapers today; it's funny how the little things excite us.
- Hayden ate good for his momma on one feeding and was very alert today.
- I got to work with Connor on nursing (it was too much for him though and he was too worn out to take his bottle).
- I've been swelling really bad and in a lot of pain. The only time I can take my mind off of it is when I'm with my babies.
- The boys both had the same nurse (Anna) today and we liked her. We've requested her on the days she works.
- I was discharged tonight and we were so sad to leave. It was the hardest thing either one of us has ever done. We had to stop off in the "Milk Express" room to gain our composure before walking out of the hospital.
- WOW! Our love for these boys is completely indescribable.
- Both boys had their IVs removed so no more TPN, lipids, etc.
- We've figured out their little quirks. Hayden loves to wrinkle his forehead and makes lots of grumpy old man faces. Connor works his lips and tongue like a baby giraffe. They are both so expressive and cute!
- Connor is off the light!
- We both got to change diapers today; it's funny how the little things excite us.
- Hayden ate good for his momma on one feeding and was very alert today.
- I got to work with Connor on nursing (it was too much for him though and he was too worn out to take his bottle).
- I've been swelling really bad and in a lot of pain. The only time I can take my mind off of it is when I'm with my babies.
- The boys both had the same nurse (Anna) today and we liked her. We've requested her on the days she works.
- I was discharged tonight and we were so sad to leave. It was the hardest thing either one of us has ever done. We had to stop off in the "Milk Express" room to gain our composure before walking out of the hospital.
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| Hayden admiring his momma. He loves to wrinkle his little forehead. He is a little guy but has a chubby face. |
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| Connor is always sticking his tongue out like a baby giraffe. He is so very petite! |
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| Our first family photo (tears and all!) |
Day 5
- The boys have both really slowed down and aren't doing so well with their feedings :(
- Connor worked on nursing again today but was so worn out again.
- Hayden was approved for non-nutritive breastfeeding but I haven't worked with him yet because he's not very good at even the bottle.
- Both boys had outfits on for the first time. They looked so cute!
- Lou went back to work today and got off early to spend time with us.
- Pumping every 2.5 hrs is exhausting but it's what's best for my boys so I have to remind myself of that
- Hayden is lazy but so cute you can't help but laugh. I just wish he wasn't lazy when it comes to feedings.
- Connor looks just like his daddy. Lou says Hayden looks like me.
- My friend's sister who works in the NICU fed Connor and because he finished so fast he got snuggle time with her. It made me feel good that someone we knew was there with them when we couldn't be.
- Go boobies! The boys are getting to eat more and more breast milk. I just wish they were taking it by bottle and not the tube.
- Chase and Christie brought us lasagna after we got home from the hospital. I was so excited to finally be able to eat tomato-based food! It had made me so sick during pregnancy.
Day 6
- The doc called this morning and decided to put the boys on cue based feedings since they have not been eating much out of their bottles. Basically, they'll only bottle feed if they show signs of wanting to eat (alertness, sucking, etc.). Otherwise they'll get fed through the tube. This keeps them in the NICU longer but hopefully they will gain stamina and not burn so many calories this way so they can put on weight.
- They were kind of dirty when we got there and it upset me; I was not impressed with their nurse. I cleaned them up myself and will ask the charge nurse not to put her with our boys again.
- They were extra sleepy today.
- Hayden woke up for daddy and they talked football.
- The boys took a tiny bit from their bottles but the rest through tubes for their 5 pm feeding (they eat every 3 hours).
- Hayden requires burping and spits up a lot. He can burp like a man.
- Connor has gas pains sometimes and it's so sad when he cries out. He never burps.
- Hayden peed on himself twice because the nurse didn't point his wiener down in his diaper. Stupid lady! And she wasn't going to change his outfit, so I spoke up.
- Connor peed on daddy during diaper change. Again.
- Today was a hard day emotionally for me. I think the nurse upset me and my hormones are all over the place, those mixed with having to leave the boys just did me in.
- We came home to a fridge full of yummy food from our friends. How special and loved we feel! Thanks y'all!
Day 7
- I can't believe it's been a week since our boys joined us! The past week has been a blur since we're sleep deprived and living off the adrenaline that getting to see our boys gives us.
- Anna was the boys' nurse today so they were all clean and dressed cute when we got there.
- Connor worked on breast feeding today but it wore him out pretty good for both his 2 pm and 5 pm feedings, so he got the tube.
- Hayden did good on his 2 pm feeding for his daddy but not so much for his 5 pm feeding with mommy.
- Have I mentioned how much I hate the sounds of the NICU? The monitors going off right and left is very nerve wracking.
- Hayden's umbilical cord fell out today!
- Happy 1 week sweet boys!
- The boys have both really slowed down and aren't doing so well with their feedings :(
- Connor worked on nursing again today but was so worn out again.
- Hayden was approved for non-nutritive breastfeeding but I haven't worked with him yet because he's not very good at even the bottle.
- Both boys had outfits on for the first time. They looked so cute!
- Lou went back to work today and got off early to spend time with us.
- Pumping every 2.5 hrs is exhausting but it's what's best for my boys so I have to remind myself of that
- Hayden is lazy but so cute you can't help but laugh. I just wish he wasn't lazy when it comes to feedings.
- Connor looks just like his daddy. Lou says Hayden looks like me.
- My friend's sister who works in the NICU fed Connor and because he finished so fast he got snuggle time with her. It made me feel good that someone we knew was there with them when we couldn't be.
- Go boobies! The boys are getting to eat more and more breast milk. I just wish they were taking it by bottle and not the tube.
- Chase and Christie brought us lasagna after we got home from the hospital. I was so excited to finally be able to eat tomato-based food! It had made me so sick during pregnancy.
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| First pic of the boys side-by-side. Hayden on left, Connor on right. They have similar features but look different, especially because of their size difference. |
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| My first real clothes to wear! |
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| Practicing my Heisman pose! |
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| Sweet Connor! |
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| Sweet Hayden with his milk bubbles! |
- The doc called this morning and decided to put the boys on cue based feedings since they have not been eating much out of their bottles. Basically, they'll only bottle feed if they show signs of wanting to eat (alertness, sucking, etc.). Otherwise they'll get fed through the tube. This keeps them in the NICU longer but hopefully they will gain stamina and not burn so many calories this way so they can put on weight.
- They were kind of dirty when we got there and it upset me; I was not impressed with their nurse. I cleaned them up myself and will ask the charge nurse not to put her with our boys again.
- They were extra sleepy today.
- Hayden woke up for daddy and they talked football.
- The boys took a tiny bit from their bottles but the rest through tubes for their 5 pm feeding (they eat every 3 hours).
- Hayden requires burping and spits up a lot. He can burp like a man.
- Connor has gas pains sometimes and it's so sad when he cries out. He never burps.
- Hayden peed on himself twice because the nurse didn't point his wiener down in his diaper. Stupid lady! And she wasn't going to change his outfit, so I spoke up.
- Connor peed on daddy during diaper change. Again.
- Today was a hard day emotionally for me. I think the nurse upset me and my hormones are all over the place, those mixed with having to leave the boys just did me in.
- We came home to a fridge full of yummy food from our friends. How special and loved we feel! Thanks y'all!
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| Love these little guys so much! |
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| Hayden always has his hands by his face or in his mouth! |
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| Connor sleeps with his mouth open like his mommy! |
- I can't believe it's been a week since our boys joined us! The past week has been a blur since we're sleep deprived and living off the adrenaline that getting to see our boys gives us.
- Anna was the boys' nurse today so they were all clean and dressed cute when we got there.
- Connor worked on breast feeding today but it wore him out pretty good for both his 2 pm and 5 pm feedings, so he got the tube.
- Hayden did good on his 2 pm feeding for his daddy but not so much for his 5 pm feeding with mommy.
- Have I mentioned how much I hate the sounds of the NICU? The monitors going off right and left is very nerve wracking.
- Hayden's umbilical cord fell out today!
- Happy 1 week sweet boys!
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| Hey mom! (H) |
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| Booby practice makes me so sleepy (C) |
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| Look at my new belly button! (H) |
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| I love to put my feet in the air! And I have gas. (C) |
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| All better. (C) |
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| Hands on my face like always. (H) |
Oh my goodness! They are simply precious! Love those boys. Love all the Lewis'!
ReplyDeleteSo cute Jessica~! Love catching up on whats going on. I don't get much from Bryan so I love all the details. See yall around Christmas!
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