Thursday March 13, 2008

The kids continue to improve thus far. As of last night Ayden is down 5 oz. from his original birth weight. He still appears to be quite the chunk, relatively speaking, as his cheeks look like a chipmunks before winter. He is getting to be more expressive in his face and has shown us his toothless smile. He has already shown his distaste with the camera. Evidently he does not like it as I he has bees very illusive as I try to capture one of his smiles. One of these times I will get one though! Ayden is still on the nasal canula aat 1 L of oxygen flow. There has not been any more talk just yet about taking him off of the oxygen.

Breagan is currently eating 9 mil. every three hours and may be even ready for more. Breagan is down about 3 oz. since birth. He has started nuzzling against Melissa and has shown an interest in feeding directly from her. His interest in Melissa will continue to grow as time progresses. The bonding time for Breagan and Melissa has proven to be priceless. Breagan is still breathing great on room air only and his O2 saturation stays at 100%.

Carmen is currently eating 5 mil. every 3 hours with it going up a mil. every 9 hours. Carmen is actually up 2 oz. from birth. She is tolerating the milk very well and shows little sign of slowing down. Carmen and I went skin to skin yesterday for the first time. This helps to regulate her body temp. through out the course of about an hour with out her using too much of her own resources. Right now she needs every calorie to grow instead of regulating her temp. outside of her Isolet. Carmen even started showing some emotion in her face as I held her. She was very much awake for the first half hour which, of course, melted daddies heart. It's amazing to look at her and see how small she is but you really don't realize the full impact until you hold her. This was the first time for me to hold her for an extended amount of time.

All three babies had their ultra sounds yesterday looking for any bleeding in/around their brains. As of 11 last night the results were not in. We have held off seeing them thus far today so that we could hopefully hear the results and not have to wait any more. We have also had to follow up with different paperwork to make sure all is documented and taken care of.

We have been blessed greatly. Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, and words of kindness. We continue to run into people we know, have similar connections, or family of someone back home. We have not meet a single person that did not appear genuinely concerned and not willing to help. An experience like this will renew anyone's faith in people and the kindness that may be shown to all. I feel as though I have been truly taught a valuable lesson about people and helping each other out. As my closest friends at PMT have always said, "It is better to be owed than to owe!"

Ayden as Melissa is holding him. Bright eyes have been tough to get a picture of. His hair almost appears to be lightening up.











Breagan just hanging out. He has become more and more expressive with his facial movements. He looks so good minus the nasal canula.











Carmen during our skin to skin experience. Bright eyes with her have proven to be far and few in between. However, when she is awake she is ready to play. Wouldn't that look on her face just melt your heart also?