We're Home! And We Have Been...

We did indeed go home the day after my last post.  As you can imagine, the speed of life picked up a bit then! We got the girls ready to come home.

 When we brought the girls home, Dave and I got our pictures outside with them.

We got the girls inside and the dogs got to meet them.

Grandma brought Elliot back home, and she was thrilled to meet her sisters! She held Charlie:

And then Addie:

Finally, our whole family was together at last!!!

Going Home Eve?

Addie - 5lbs, 10oz Charlie - 4lbs, 14.5oz Tomorrow is supposedly the day the girls will finally come home! Still waiting on rounds to be sure. Addie dropped 15 grams last night, and that could potentially keep us here. Charlie is up half an ounce today. I'm nervous about bringing the girls home when I've become so used to the monitors. I'm not nervous about whether or not Dave and I can handle being parents of twins. Of course we can! I actually find most people to be quite negative and unsupportive, especially because they are twins. Some things I've heard: *You'll never sleep now! *How will you ever handle two babies at once? *You won't be able to do it on your own. *When Dave returns to work, are you going to have someone with you every day? *Are you hiring help? *It's too bad you didn't have twins first so that this time seems easier. (I actually think it's better that I had the experience with Elle before the twins!) I read in a twin mom book that I was reading that the author kept being told, "Glad it's you and not me!" And her reply was, "Yes, me too." - Which I think is perfect! Waiting not so patiently for rounds now to hear what the plan is!

Almost There!

Addie - 5lbs, 10.5oz
Charlie - 4lbs, 14oz

 (Elliot was born at 5lbs, 11oz - Addie has almost caught up!)

 We're feeling quite hopeful over here now. The girls had big gains last night. Their NG's have been out for 24 hours now, and they've fed without them for 48 hours. The girls will have their car seat tests today or tomorrow. They have to sit in their car seats for an hour while their hearts, lungs, and temperatures are monitored. If after an hour all that is stable, we're yet another step closer to leaving.

I think Thursday (today is Tuesday) is going to be our day. The girls have switched of their super-fortified 27-calorie supplement and down to the 24-calorie supplement. (Typically, preemies are sent home on 22-calorie, but since our girls are crazy-good breastfeeders and much prefer breast to bottle, they will get 24-cal during three bottle feedings a day/night.) Now that they've switched to 24-cal, they are going to want to see their weight for two days before they send them home.

Addie - 5lbs, 8oz
Charlie - 4lbs, 11oz

 The girls dropped weight since yesterday, but nutritionist Sue isn't as upset this time because...

 *drumroll, please*

 We have done NINE FEEDS in a row with no NG!!!

 One of the charge nurses came around this morning (lovely woman, she stops by every day, but sadly, I don't know her name) and said, "I am putting a box around your girls' names." I said, "Awesome! What does that mean?" She said, "You're on my short list for going home. I might even highlight their names." I am hoping to hear carseats mentioned today :) I am a bit surprised the girls are doing so great this morning. They were very tired during their 8AM feed, and neither nursed for more than 15 minutes, but they've both been calm ever since, so apparently they got enough milk. I thought they'd wake up angry and hungry, but we're less than an hour to their 11AM feed, and they are snoozing gently. Keep up the good work, ladies!!!

Six Weeks Old!

Addie - 5lbs, 8.5oz
Charlie - 4lbs, 12.5oz

 PROGRESS!!! 8AM Feed: Full nursing session - no supplementation needed 11AM Feed: Both girls took their full bottles - no supplementation needed 2PM Feed: Both girls took their full bottles - no supplementation needed Did someone finally get through to these girls that when they eat and gain they get to come home? WAHOO! Wish us luck for 5PM feed!

42 Days

Addie - 5lbs, 7oz
Charlie - 4lbs, 11oz

37 Weeks

Addie - 5lbs, 6oz

Charlie - 4lbs, 9oz

Charlie dropped 10g today, so Sue the nutritionist was back on my case again.  This time she said, "I don't want you to stop nursing."  Apparently she realized part of my meltdown was due to her comments. Instead, the girls breastmilk in bottles or their NG will now not only be fortified by the liquid fortifier to make it 24 calories, but will further be fortified by powder fortifier to make it 27 calories.  (Plain breastmilk is 20 calories.)  (How do they know that?!)

Charlie dropped off the chart for weight today and Addie is only at the 10th percentile.  Charlie needs to pack it on now.

I gave the girls a bottle today at 11AM, because nurse Kelly said they are usually too tired to nurse a full session then, so we should do bottles.  After doing it, I realized I REALLY don't want to give bottles personally, because 1. I think it's confusing to the girls, and 2. It's really boring!  I'd rather cuddle them as they nurse!