Category Archives: Search

July 13, 2010

Doctors Little Helpers

I have completely lost track of the days. I could not tell you what day of the week it is today nor whether it’s been three days or 30 since the last update. Six and a half weeks into this adventure, the boys are 34 weeks corrected gestational age.

The routine remains exactly the same day in and day out. The routine remains exactly the same day in and day out. The routine remains exactly the same day in and day out.

We park the car in the second or third row of the parking lot. I take off my sunglasses to put on my eyeglasses when we hit the crosswalk leading past the complementary valet and into the Lawrence Hospital Entrance. We walk through the first set of automatic doors and head straight for the second set to our right – you don’t need to slow down, they’ll open right as you think you’re about to smash into them. I immediately prep for the blast of cold air conditioning that cools the hallway. We enter in front of Ambulatory Surgery, pass a set of restrooms and cross one of the hospital’s lobbies. Next to the gift shop are three elevators; we take whichever one arrives first up to the third floor. We then head toward the NICU’s lavender awning located to the right of the elevator bank.

We greet the receptionist with a smile and “hello.” She unlocks the door and we enter, stopping to wash our hands at the sink right on the left. After scrubbing with soap to the length of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star we wind our way past the first door with it’s sign reminding us to be quiet because there are “Babies Developing. Shhhh.” In front of a kiddie table, we pick up the phone and dial Pod B. When one of the nurses answers, we say, “Hi, it’s Jon and Tricia Stream. We’re here to see our boys. Can we come in?”

The door opens and we squirt a shot of antimicrobial gel onto our hands. We greet the nurses as we rub in the gel while heading to the second and third beds (now one pedi-crib) on the left of the pod. I put my purse under their crib and ask, “How are my little guys today?” The nurse tells us they’re doing well. Jon and I set about taking the boys temperature. Destroy screams bloody murder; Search makes grumpy faces. Then it’s time to change diapers. Wipes are located above the pod sink, where we dampen them with lukewarm water. Diapers are stored in each kids respective corner. As we pick up the muppets to feed them their bottle, I ask the nurse what their weight is.

Harumph

We’re all ready to come home. The nurses warned us when Search and Destroy first arrived that time would likely mess with our emotions in this precise manner – although time passed by so quickly at first, it will start slowing down interminably as we approach our homecoming date. We are currently looking at 2-3 weeks more – but at this point, it’s all up to the boys.

Search and Destroy seem equally ready to come home. In fact, they have overheard us speaking about the three big criteria and decided to let the nurses know they’re ready. Destroy has made it his personal mission to permanently remove his nasal cannula. My poor little guy currently has a large red welt on his cheek because of his vigorous removal methods. I assumed that ripping the tape off his face would make him cry. It did not – he just gave us all a sly grin. Every time we swaddle him, we’ll see his little hands sneak out of his wrap and covertly grip at his wires.

“Well you said we couldn’t come home until we were off our oxygen tubes.” Destroy was just speeding that process along.

Search knows he needs to be taking all his meals from a bottle. So when I told him how proud of him I was because he was such a good eater, he took it upon himself to take out his feeding tube. “Look Mom, all done!”

They’re just trying to help out the doctors. And slowly, but surely, they are making great strides. It just seems like forever right now. Today, Nurse Jennifer let us know that we’ll likely see a huge difference between week 34 and 35. And Nurse June think they’ll likely graduate in about two weeks. (And Nurse June doesn’t take any backtalk from the boys. They WILL progress under her care. Period.)

Each day our routine remains the same. I just need to remember to take a step back and remind myself that we weren’t even supposed to have met the munchkins yet. They’re still tiny babies – even if they are rapidly approaching merely “small” as opposed to tiny.

Search

Destroy

7 Comments

July 11, 2010

NICU Sucks

My heart always skips a beat when I see the hospital’s number on the caller ID. So I held my breath a bit last night when the phone rang a couple hours after my afternoon visit with the muppets.

It was Nurse June. “I just had to let you know – Destroy finished another whole bottle!”

Regulating their own temperature. Check. Breathing without assistance? We’re working on it. Taking all feedings from a bottle? Major steps forward. As I mentioned before, Search’s been doing great; he eats all of his meals from his bottle. And now, something has finally clicked with Destroy. Previously, despite his sucking enthusiasm, Destroy had not quite grasped the concept of swallowing. He’d get confused at what to do next with his mouthful of milk and stop breathing while he tried to figure things out.

Nurse June put a note in the boys chart stating, “ALWAYS use the light blue nipple when feeding. Do not change nipples until specifically directed by their primary RN!” (Shockingly, June is their primary nurse.) We’d been having a lot of success with the light blue nipple. And the night before, Destroy had taken half a bottle using it.

Three days after moving in together, Destroy and Search are feeding like champs. There’s no scientific proof that the cobedding spurred the improvement, but I’m pretty sure the two had a conversation about the fastest ways to get the heck out of dodge.

There’s also the competition angle. They’ve been naturally competitive since birth (see Musical Maladies), but their morning nurses have begun adding fuel to the fire of sibling rivalry. Margaret is Search’s nurse; Ann is Destroy’s. Their nurses taunt each other over the twins development.

“Gee, my baby takes all his bottles.”
“My baby finishes his bottles without desatting.”
“I hope your baby doesn’t get too lonely when my baby goes home first.”

I’ve tried explaining that we do not need to be playing favorites, but I don’t discourage them too much since their tough love bickering seems to be spurring along the boys development.

Despite the blatant favoritism, Search and Destroy seem to have a great relationship with their nurses. (Of course, they’re so cute I naturally assume everyone falls madly in love with them.)

"Handsome Like Daddy" - The shirt says it all.

It must be an interesting dynamic – the longer they care for a baby, the more attached they become – the more they care, the more they want to get rid of the child. Nurse Margaret is going on vacation this week. When she said goodbye, she let me know with a bit of a guilty tone that she hopes her Search is still around when she gets back.

We’ll come back and visit, I promise. But don’t get too attached. We can’t wait to be rid of you either. Besides, thanks to the boys nurses, the NICU sucks. My self-regulated toasty little muppets are both downing more than an ounce every three hours.

And this time, when I say the NICU sucks – it’s a very very good thing.

Hi Search!

Hello Destroy!

5 Comments

July 8, 2010

Roommates

Search and Destroy moved out of their individual little plastic boxes and together into a pedi-crib bachelor pad today.

When we walked into the NICU this morning, the two 3.5 pound brothers were squirming around in their new digs. Even though the move doesn’t indicate any major change, it makes the muppets seem so much bigger to me.

And they’ve already clearly demonstrated their capability as mischief makers. I should have named them Fred and George (thank you Harry Potter fans who got that). Destroy greeted us with a major diaper blowout. Search bid us a fond farewell with the same. In between, Search demonstrated all the new faces he’d learned to refuse his bottle and Destroy shot milk out of his nose. The 10 a.m. feeding involves nasty smelling vitamins – I can only imagine how they taste. So Search refused to participate in any event that involved tasting the foul liquid. Brother Destroy, who isn’t quite taking a bottle, solved the issue by simply removing his own feeding tube.

The twins are learning to share their space much sooner than I ever had to share. I didn’t have to share my room until I moved away to college. My mom and Aunt J spent the summer before I left trying to convince me that I shouldn’t expect to be best friends with my roommate – I just needed to tolerate the situation for a year. My roommate’s mom thought she was nuts for noting that she had an interest in theatre on her living arrangement form – she was going get a nut to live with.

Once I got my roommate’s information, the two of us spent the summer emailing back and forth as we prepped for the big move. I think we were both scared of what it would be like when we were finally stuck together, but at least we had some idea of what to expect thanks to our exchanges. I still vividly remember standing in the hallway of the 11th floor of our dorm building. Face to face for the first time, I asked, “Are you Rebecca?” “Yes,” she replied hesitantly. “Are you Patricia?” As our parents drove away I stared after them wondering what I’d just gotten myself into.

Four years ago, I stood up for Becca at her wedding; three years ago, she stood up at mine. Last year her little girl was born and I traveled to meet my niece. This May, Becca traveled to visit me – spending a day in the hospital with me, where I was on bedrest with her nephews. (So, as you can extrapolate from this memory interlude, the roommate situation was just fine.)

When Jon and I said goodbye to our boys after today’s morning visit, our two little angels looked positively peaceful and content. I assume they were cavorting together in dreamland, conjuring new shenanigans to amuse themselves with.

Since they were ripped away from Mom and each other so early, I am confident that being together will help them to thrive. Although there is not currently any concrete research I have found on cobedding, the majority of studies find that it is a very positive experience for siblings. It is even standard preemie care practice in Europe (the U.S. is just now starting to catch on with regards to routine care). Rooming together can improve their rate of growth and development, stabilize heart and breathing rates and decrease their length of hospital stay.

3 Comments

July 6, 2010

Reading Rainbow

Now that the boys are spending more time awake and alert, I have been assisting with the stimulation of their imaginations by reading to them. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of the times my mother would read to me right before bed.

So with a snuggly swaddle and tummies filled with warm milk, our little family enjoys story time. So far we have read “Love You

Forever,” “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day,” “Are You My Mother?,” “Panda Bear Panda Bear What Do You See?,” “The Hungry Caterpillar” and “Goodnight Moon.”

Remember Reading Rainbow with Levar Burton? The long-running award-winning series explored themes from children’s literature books. This is the same approach I am taking during the muppets stay in the NICU. The boys have instantly taken to this; but you don’t have to take my word for it.

I read the first two books mentioned several weeks ago. I needed Search and Destroy to know how immediately and intensely in love with them I was. “Love You Forever” shared that sentiment perfectly. No matter what happens, no matter how old – they’ll always be my babies. During their blood transfusions, Alexander’s story was the best metaphor to let the poor little guys know that there are always sucky days, no matter where you are (even in the NICU). I read the stories through portholes in a closed isolette. The boys were asleep.

Yesterday, Destroy was wide awake with his inquisitive little eyes looking at me as I sat with him. So I pulled out “Are You My Mother” and asked him if he wanted to read a story. He smiled. As we followed the little bird’s journey, Destroy looked intently at the pages. He cooed as I performed the voices of various animals who were not the little birds mother. He squirmed and waved his arms when the little bird encountered the large Snort. And when we finished, he looked up at me, still smiling, as if to say, “I know YOU are my Mommy.”

Today was bath night. So after we tucked in a fresh and clean (and royally peeved) Search back into bed, I thought “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” would be comforting and calming. He looked at the brightly colored pages with great interest. Notably, his favorite part of the story were the depictions of food the little caterpillar ate his way through. I tickled his tummy when we came to the page stating that the little caterpillar was now a big fat caterpillar! This book is our theme song/NICU mission statement.

Shockingly, after tonight’s bath, dinner and cuddle time, Destroy was still awake. He lay in my arms, not fussing, just looking around at me and Dad. He seemed quite content. So Dad pulled out “Goodnight Moon” to further soothe our little man. Dad didn’t remember this gem from his childhood so he was just as interested in the story as Destroy.

When Dad read the final line, “Good night noises, everywhere,” Destroy finally closed his eyes and drifted off into dreamland. If there ever was a book synonymous with bedtime – this is it.

After a bit more cuddling I tucked him in and checked on his brother. With a throwback to my afternoons with Reading Rainbow on the TV, I whispered, “I’ll see you next time.”

Some of the other classics we can’t wait to experience are:

  • Berenstain Bears
  • Clifford the Big Red Dog
  • Company’s Coming
  • Curious George
  • Dr. Seuss (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop)
  • The Giving Tree
  • Harold and the Purple Crayon
  • The Jolly Postman
  • The Magic Schoolbus Series
  • Make Way for Ducklings
  • Pat the Bunny
  • The Polar Express
  • Rainbow Goblins
  • Strega Nona
  • The Story of Ferdinand
  • Velveteen Rabbit
  • When You Give a Mouse a Cookie
  • Where the Sidewalk Ends
  • Where the Wild Things Are
  • Where’s Spot

What were your favorite children’s books? And what are the new classics our boys will want to read to their children about?

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
“Blackbirds” stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be-
I had a Mother who read to me.

– by Strickland Gillilan

4 Comments

July 2, 2010

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails
And puppy-dogs’ tails,
That’s what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And all that’s nice,
That’s what little girls are made of.

Brothers - Destroy and Search

Since becoming a mommy to two handsome little dudes, I have chosen to interpret this poem as the simple stereotype that boys will be out and about getting down and dirty as they get older.

What our boys are really made of includes blood. According to our doctors and nurses, it is extremely common for babies to have dropping hematocrit levels. (And, we’re back to the “he’s tiny” diagnosis.) After the color and energy burst from their transfusion, we’re back to lowering levels.

So in order to test for anemia, more blood was taken from Search (oh, the irony…). No need for another blood doping just yet, but docs wanted to verify his “retic” count. Reticulocytes (retic for short) are immature red blood cells made by the bone marrow. Once they spring forth into the bloodstream they will develop into grownup blood cells after a couple days; only about one percent of red blood cells are retic. Search’s blood test measured the rate that the retics are being made – creating more oxygen bearing transports through his body. Results were lower than the standard range, but the doctor believes this is due to the recent transfusion. Transfusions often confuse their little bodies into thinking “no need to produce more reticulocytes – we’re good!”

In the meantime, the NICU continues to fatten up our boys in true fairytale style by upping their caloric content. Although mommy’s milk is about 20 calories per serving, the hospital adds human milk fortifier – a supplement intended for low-birth-weight infants – to each beverage. Both boys are up to 28 calories! At first glance 224 calories per day may not seem like much. But compare those 75 calories per pound/day with only 10 calories per pound/day with a 200 pound person eating a recommended 2,000 calories a day. Our boys are going to end up as the next Michael Phelps! (He allegedly needs 12,000 calories per day.)

But here’s the catch. While the fortifier works like a charm in developing chipmunk cheeks, it’s a lot harder on their digestive systems. So they spend a significant portion of their days trying to poop. I’ve noticed they’re quite a bit more fussy but I get pretty cranky when my tummy hurts too.

Search

Search is still doing well with his bottle. Although I’ve noticed he’s much more amenable to the idea of putting effort into his meal during the evening. Yesterday morning I tried to give him breakfast via bottle. He peered up at me with half-open eyes and steadfastly refused to open his mouth. “I’m all about food Mom, but seriously – it’s naptime.” This afternoon was just the opposite. He was wide awake and as the nurse moved around his isolette preparing dinner he followed the movement with his eyes, opening his mouth and sticking his tongue out at us, “I’m ready people! Feed me!”

Destroy

Destroy thinks he’s ready – and he’s really really interested – but still hasn’t quite caught on. Responding to his cues (big wide eyes, sucking motions and his general obsession with his pacifier), Nurse Anne decided to give him another chance. Destroy took one or two normal sucks on the bottle and realized that this nipple had more than just a taste of milk on it; it just kept coming out. With extreme over-exuberance, he gripped the bottle with both hands and started sucking fast and greedily. Suddenly, mouth full, my little muppet realized he had no idea what to do with the milk now that it was his – all his. It dribbled out the sides of his mouth as his stats dropped since he hadn’t remembered to breathe during the excitement. So we’re going to wait a bit more with him.

My theory (using the expertise garnered from multiple viewings of ER, Gray’s Anatomy and Private Practice) is that lowered levels of oxygen in their blood combined with the added stress of gas plays a large role in the swings of their saturation levels.

Throughout all this medical drama the boys continue to get cuter every day. This is a bit dangerous as they’re also started to get a lot more flirtatious. So what are my big holiday weekend plans? I’ve got a hot date in the NICU with two little chubby guys who have already stolen my heart – even if they are made from snips and snails and puppy dog tails.

6 Comments

June 30, 2010

Raise the Roof

Well, now that it’s been more than a month, the muppets have apparently decided it’s time to pick up the pace. Both kiddos are over three pounds. Their isolettes are open. And we’re checking out the fun-filled concept of a bottle.

Search

I continue to be utterly amazed at their transformations. From the very beginning when they looked so fragile (and more than a bit purple) to today as they let us know how much they love their swaddling, Search and Destroy are gaining weight and cuteness. And their personalities are shining through.

One of the big milestones faced by a 32-weeker is “nippling.” Based on the cues provided by the boys, it is up to the nurse’s discretion to see if the baby is ready to move from gavage feedings to the nipple. Translated from medical jargon to English, this means it’s time to suck down a bottle – actually being able to taste their food – instead of experiencing a suddenly full tummy via a tube.

Destroy

Both boys have been showing strong indications of their readiness to start bottle -feeding. Brothers-in-arms, the two have adopted an attitude of, “these nurses are awfully stingy with the food around here.” Meals are served every three hours in the NICU. Search and Destroy will mouth/suck on their feeding tube to let staff know they’re waiting. Destroy, very concerned someone may pass him by, has taken to screaming about a half-hour prior to mealtime as a gentle reminder that he is HUNGRY.

For several weeks now, we try to see if the boys are interested in their pacifier during feedings. The idea is to associate sucking with a full tummy. The other day, I offered Destroy his pluggie (this is what my Mom always called pacifiers) and he took it excitedly. After several minutes, it no longer appeared that he was sucking on it so I gently went to remove it. Destroy opened his eyes – stared in my direction and opened his mouth wide. Point taken. I gave the pluggie back. When I tried to remove it a second time, Destroy clutched the pacifier with his death grip. He kept the pluggie with him – in the general vicinity of his mouth anyway.

Yesterday was the big day to try out the bottle. Search’s nurse, June, got Jon set up – he settled in with one baby bottle and one burrito baby. We were prepared for maybe a few drags on the bottle or a desaturation in his oxygen levels. Not my child! Search’s eyes lit up. “Finally! Someone is feeding me!” He latched onto his bottle like he may never see another one and sucked down his milk (an entire ounce) in 10 minutes flat. After, he snuggled with Jon with a very pleased smirk on his face.

I tried giving Search his bottle this morning. But after a few half-hearted sucks, he settled into my arms sharing that he was very content in his swaddle so he was going to nap instead. We shall try again this afternoon. But his nurses have shared he always takes a bit of his bottle. My son is obviously talented and gifted.

Destroy isn’t quite ready for his bottle yet. He is certainly eager and willing to try. But while he is a natural at sucking, he hasn’t quite mastered the multitasking process of succeeding said suck with a swallow. So we’ll try again in time. Destroy is currently to busy focused on gaining weight to deal with the work of eating. Today, he officially hit three-pounds. Both boys have now increased their birth weight by 50 percent.

Search

Destroy

And because of such progress, Search and Destroy are now living in open isolettes. This is the little plastic box, called a “Giraffe,” that they have been living in since their Earthly arrival. Once a baby can regulate his own temperature, they get to enjoy the open (NICU) air. With their roofs raised, they also get to enjoy being swaddled. Wearing giant oversize shirts (size Newborn) and wrapped in hospital issue blankets, the boys appear more comfortable than I have ever seen them.

There is a chance the two will become roomies in an open crib this weekend. We’ll see if such contentment lasts once they begin bunking together.

Raise the Roof

7 Comments

June 28, 2010

30 Days and 30 Nights

It’s already been a month since the twins arrived. The time has passed by in the blink of an eye and taken forever at the same time. Have I said that already?

One month old and 32 weeks gestation today. It’s a big day. The boys are doing well – and here’s to their continued positively upward trajectory. Ideally, this is four weeks down with only four more to go. I’d love for the next month to go just as fast.

They get exponentially cuter every day, without fail. I love visiting with them while their eyes are wide open, looking around and taking everything in.

Even I can see how much they’re changing. And I see them twice a day. So, for your viewing pleasure, may I present a month-long progression of my baby boys.

See Search grow! Grow Destroy grow!

2 Comments

June 24, 2010

Chubby Babies

During those last few days in the hospital before the babes arrived, all I could think about was having healthy babies. One of the key factors was birth weight.

“Think chubby babies!” I kept telling everyone. We were pretty successful given how young they were – both muppets weighing in over two pounds. (I’ve already discussed how one’s perspective changes to the point were two pounds can be “chubby.”)

And I’m sure you’ve noticed, many of the recent posts talk an awful lot about food – both going in and come out. Well, weight is still a big deal. Before the boys can come home, they must meet three criteria:

1)    Regulate their own temperature. Both Search and Destroy are off the temperature probe and may even start rooming together next week.

2)    Remember to breathe all by themselves. We’re still experiencing some A’s and B’s (apnea and bradycardia) but vastly improved.

3)    Eating via bottle or breast. We’re going to start seeing how they feel about bottles next week.

All three significantly involve size. And so far, this seems to be their biggest strength. We have finally reached the point where both boys are soaring upward. After four weeks as residents of the Hotel NICU we are rapidly approaching three pounds.

Each morning, Jon and I get an update. The medical staff use grams. I’ve had several people ask me to translate to pounds. But telling you how much they’ve gained in grams is so much more impressive! So I propose a compromise. I will continue to update everyone in grams since I like being able to say, “Search gain 50 grams today!” (Also, that’s what I’m told their weight in each morning.) And you can use the nifty preemie grams to pounds conversion chart I have conveniently posted below. (Click chart to enlarge.)

What I find amazing is that even though I see them twice a day, even I can see that they’re really growing. They’re starting to fill out and develop those classic chubby cheeks. They seem less fragile. (Although I’m not sure if that’s just because we’re getting used to them.) Can you even imagine how big they’ll seem when we bring them home at five humungo pounds?

Each week the NICU developmental therapist observes the kids and provides a report on their strengths and “sensitivities.” It appears that even at their tender age no one can escape performance reviews… Destroy’s report notes that he makes sucking gestures when he’s hungry and startles at loud or sudden noises. (I’m going to disregard the latter in this post since I’m almost 30 and startle at loud or sudden noises – so smart kid.)

This morning Destroy began making his mouthing and sucking motions about 20 minutes before breakfast. His nurse dipped his pacifier in milk and decided to see how he’d react. Destroy went bonkers over it; he sucked on it for 2-3 minutes! (In the world of a preemie, 2-3 minutes is a big deal.) Here’s hoping this means he’ll do well when we trying to move from a feeding tube to a bottle. I know he’ll prefer the bottle in the long run; he hates the feeding tube but loves the feedings. So we’ll just take baby steps toward sucking, swallowing and breathing – all at the SAME TIME.

Destroy’s nurse reiterated that the muppets were doing really well. “Fingers crossed – you’ll have them home in three and a half weeks. That’s the goal.”

Suddenly that doesn’t seem so far off. Of course a lot can happen in three weeks. But at the very least it means they’re star preemies right now.

So we’ll keep getting excited about weight gain and resulting developments. Before we know it, Search and Destroy will be home and we’ll be introducing all our friends and family to our giant babies.

Chubby 4-week-old Search

Chubby 4-week-old Destroy

3 Comments

June 22, 2010

Musical Maladies

It was bound to happen. Search and Destroy are currently healthy, rosy, little cherubs. So guess who got sick. You guessed it – Mom.

I was at lunch yesterday, after my morning visit with the muppets, when the restaurant suddenly became as warm as the arctic circle during a cold spell. By the time I shivered my way home I had a fever of 101. Teeth chattering, I called the NICU to let them know I wouldn’t be in for the boys evening bath. (Destroy – this does not mean you’re off the hook for your soggy bottom photo.)

The nurses told me the boys were doing great and that I should get some rest and take care of myself to get all better. So I crawled/fell into bed – highly amused at the latest speed bump on this motherhood ride (which may have been slightly influenced by the fever).

But like the nurses told me, the boys were both doing great. The boys have been competitive with one another since birth. With both developments and setbacks, they tend to follow each other closely. During our care conference (meeting with the NICU doctor, nurses and social worker), the doctor began by reminding us that twins mature at different rates and not to expect them to follow the same timeline. With that, our nurses shared that Search and Destroy both weighed exactly 1,200 grams today. (Yay for chubby cheeked kids!)

Search - 25 Days

During my pregnancy, Destroy was labeled Baby A because he was expected to arrive first. At the last minute (literally), Search debuted before his brother. The two were even born during the same minute; they’re 30 seconds apart in age. Both received the same Apgar score of 5/8. (The Apgar test occurs right after a baby’s birth at 1 and 5 minutes. It’s meant to evaluate their initial condition.)

As their first few days passed, the two traded off between who needed oxygen or assistance breathing. At first, Search got extra aid because he was working to hard to breathe. Three days later, Destroy started having recurring apnea episodes. Not to be outdone, Search followed suit that weekend with both apnea and bradycardia episodes.

Destroy - 25 Days

Search figured out how to rip his nasal cannula out several weeks ago. And when he’s not doing that, he’s got a death grip on his feeding tube. Destroy apparently watched his brother; he has now learned the same skill. As Search practiced his army crawl tactics in his effort to inchworm out of the NICU, Destroy discovered how to turn his head. Yesterday, when I went to visit with Destroy, I discovered his nasal cannula firmly ensconced in his mouth. Nice try dude. Today, Jon asked the nurse why Search no longer had his feeding tube in. “Ask him. He’s the one who took it out,” replied the nurse. Both of them now smile when a nurse has to get up to turn off a false monitor alarm.

As I shared in the Momma Bear post, Search needed a blood transfusion because his hematocrit levels tanked. Quick reminder – a drop in such levels isn’t abnormal for premature babes. In fact, we were expecting the possibility of a transfusion since both boys were slowly dropping. Search just wanted to be a showoff. Search got his blood last Wednesday. Demanding the same VIP treatment as his brother, Destroy received his transfusion on Sunday. Although his levels didn’t drop as quickly, Destroy planned ahead and received Dad’s blood. (You know, with all this talk about blood, perhaps I was subconsciously foreshadowing their needs with my Little Shop of Horrors reference.)

Both love their food. Search reached his full-feed levels before Destroy. But Destroy started taking an extra mL than his brother shortly thereafter. (Full-feed for their current size is 20mL and 24 calories per serving.) For added measure, Destroy also upped his caloric intake to 26 calories. Search matched his brother at 26 calories, but he hasn’t needed that extra mL yet.

All the eating is key to growing big and strong. One of the first questions we ask every morning is “How is their weight today?” Both have reached the upward trend we’ve been waiting for. Yet, there have still been a couple drops – usually of around 10-15 grams. Interestingly enough, the gains and losses seem to continuously equal each other out. Current score: 1,200 g all.

I bought them “The Hungry Caterpillar” today. Besides the fact that is precisely what Search looks like when he’s on the move, I feel it’s an appropriate theme for our muppets. The caterpillar eats and eats and eats and sleeps and emerges as a beautiful butterfly. Our boys will eat and eat and eat and sleep and emerge from the NICU. From their start as our little men to their lives as our big boys. Thank goodness Costco (and corresponding diapers, snack food, etc.) is on my way home from work.

And let’s play a new game. Who can be the healthiest? Winner gets to not be sick.

4 Comments

June 20, 2010

Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day. Normally, I’m not a big fan of Hallmark holidays, but this is Jon’s first Fathers Day. And what a ride it’s been. So, HAPPY FATHERS DAY JON!!!

I’ve always known Jon would make a phenomenal father. Ne’er an animal or child have I met that hasn’t instantly been taken with Jon. It’s pretty amazing to think how crazy the journey to fatherhood has been – and we’ve only had the muppets in our world for three weeks.

At the very start of this muppet caper Jon brought home an adorable little black dress for me. It was my first piece of maternity wear. “You can wear it to your shower,” he stated proudly. I’ve gotten to wear it once.

Jon sat next to me at the doctor’s office, mouth agape, when we first heard the babies heart beats. He sat stoically as we realized they were plural – a pair of babies.

During the first trimester, he tried to cook non-arf inducing foods. He never complained as he took away a dish on Friday that I’d loved on Tuesday. He stayed in on his 30th birthday because even the thought of a restaurant made me arf a little bit.

Jon was with me at 16 weeks when we learned we were having two boys. He took that afternoon and discovered the names for our boys.

He made it to the hospital in five minutes flat at 22 weeks when I was admitted to Labor & Delivery. He sat with me as the doctor refused to give us good news. He shuttled back and forth from home to the hospital during the next six weeks – spending mornings and afternoons with me and taking care of our home during the evenings.

Jon sat awake all night on May 27 in an uncomfortable chair. He apologized to the nurses when I had a mild tantrum over the accessibility of water. He was by my side while I informed him that I did not like the contractions at all. He was the first to post on Facebook that we were about to meet the muppets when the doctors started prepping the OR.

He was the first to meet them after the whirlwind surgery circus. And he wheeled me over to meet them the next day.

I’ve seen him smile with a little man in his arms. And I couldn’t agree more with Jon’s assessment that “they’re pretty much the neatest things I’ve ever seen.”

To all those first time Fathers Day fathers – may your kiddos bring you all the joy in the world (and a decreasing level of stress as they grow).

  • The Catalano’s and little Jackson
  • The Cooperman’s and little Molly and Wyatt (Twins Rule!)
  • The Dersom’s and little Emmarie
  • The Francesconi’s and little Leila
  • The Schulman’s and little Luke
  • The Wright’s and little Jason
  • All our fellow NICU parents – whoever you are we’re with you in hoping your babes grow up big and strong.

And these are just the little ones I know about.

To Grandpa Gary – for giving me the father of my children.

To Grandpa Gustavo – for decorating the house in pink streamers and blasting “Thank Heavens for Little Girls” when I was born, for putting up with me during my teenage years, for lasting no more than 15 seconds before bursting into tears when I call to tell you about your grandsons.

To Jon – here’s to our family. You were born to play this game.

7 Comments