So when are the boys moving home?

It seems to be the question we get asked most frequently, "When are the boys going to get to go home?"  Excellent question.  We wonder that daily.   The doctors have told us many times, "Well, it is really up to the boys."  This is one of the truest statements we have received - none of us can make the process go any faster or slower - it is all up to them.  They decide when it is time to take the next step forward, or when it is time to move back.  They have to meet three main goals before getting to go home.  However trivial it sounds in the end, the goals are the basic needs to stay alive:  1.  Eat on their own.  Aka - no feeding tubes and no supplemental IV nutrition.  They are now up to full feeds, 39 mLs of breast milk every 3 hours!  (This number continues to rise as they gain more weight.)  The catch - they get all of that through their feeding tubes.  But BIG NEWS!  The boys are both attempting breastfeeding twice daily.  As it goes with premature babies, breastfeeding is quite a complex task that involves them negotiating the appropriate time to suck, swallow and breathe.  Needless to say - they aren't the greatest at figuring out a rhythm - but we are certain that with time they will improve.  They are only allowing two feedings per day since this task also drains them of energy that they need to breathe and digest appropriately.  2.  Maintain their own body temperature.  The boys are still residing in their incubators - but have transitioned from only a diaper in a heated incubator to wearing clothes in the incubator at room temperature.  This was a big step!  They boys are dressed daily in their little premie outfits and wrapped in blankets!  The temperatures in the incubators were slowly lowered to room temperature which they have been at for a few days.  They have been able to maintain their body temps all on their own.  Yahoo!  Soon they will be moved from their incubators to open air cribs.  Goal number two - almost met.  Although this is a step closer to home, I am not going to lie - it makes me a bit nervous to have them out in the open air and at a greater risk for infection.  But I guess I can't keep them in a bubble forever.  Plus - those incubators are a bit expensive to try to purchase for home use :)  (And the most expensive bed they will ever lay in - $75,000 per bed).  3.  Breathe on their own.  As you know from the previous posts - this seems to be a tricky one.  We have played the on again, off again oxygen game - but we are told that sure enough - these boys will be mature and outgrow the need for supplemental oxygen or the air flow that the nasal cannula provides.  On that note - once again, Elliott was taken off the nasal cannula yesterday - and we are hoping that he continues to maintain his oxygen saturations.  So far so good!  And if he decides he is not ready, we will give it back to him.  They both also continue to have several apneic episodes daily where their heart rate drops and they do not breathe.  Most of the time the boys are able to "pull themselves" out of these "spells" but occasionally need stimulation to remind them that they need to continue to breathe to stay alive - after all - they are not suppose to be breathing for another 6 weeks.  In order to go home, they have to be "apneic free" for five consecutive days.  The nurses have warned us - sometimes these premies can buy themselves a much longer stay for this reason.  The babies are known to make it four or five days with no episodes, but then have one on day five - and the count starts back at one again.  As each day goes by, the boys are having less and less of these "episodes" taking us one step closer to having our family together at home.  We are continually surprised at how far they have come in such a short amount of time.  As it seems things have gone with this pregnancy - we once again are waiting...but this time waiting to bring them home!  They will let us know when it is time - but for now, they are enjoying meeting lots of the NICU staff and doctors that continue to provide excellent care for them.

So - how about a few pictures!  They are growing up!  Today Ethan weighs 4 lbs 8 oz and Elliott weighs 4 lbs 7 oz.  I can't believe Elliott has gained an entire pound since birth!  Way to Go! Ethan is well on his way!

Ethan

Elliott

"The Giraffe"

aka the incubator

Patiently waiting,
Mama Bear, Patrick, and our Boys!