Flying Free

Our babies are starting to look like little boys!  We had our NICU follow up appointment on Wednesday and we got the okay to take them off the oxygen!  They are so handsome without all the tubing on their faces - and I am certain their cheeks feel better getting the stickers that held the tubing off for the first time in their lives!  The  boys will remain on the apnea monitors for at least another month due to the frequency of "events" that the monitors recorded in our first month home.  At the appointment we also discuss their weight.  Of course we knew they were our little "chunky monkeys" but we got the go ahead to discontinue the majority of the fortifier that we were adding to my breast milk.  At the appointment the Neonatologist also ordered an ultrasound of Elliott's inguinal canals.  The ultrasound showed that he has bilateral hernias that will require surgery.  It is back to the NICU mid february for the surgery.  It seems like we just got home and are headed back, but we know we will be in great hands.  Ethan had an ultrasound too - and thankfully he is in the clear!  He will be close by providing love and support for his brother soon after surgery.

The day to day schedule with the boys has been fantastic and relatively low stress :)  The boys are starting to stay awake more during the days and are enjoying looking closely at the books they have been given (BIG THANKS) from friends and family and touring their home now that they are free of the oxygen tubing.  It is great to see them so alert!  Although they are awake more during the day, the hopes of them sleeping longer through the night has not become a reality yet.  They are still waking every 3 or 4 hours.  We are looking forward to a full nights rest at some point - but are still cherishing this stage when they are small.  We are assured by many that they will, indeed, sleep through the night at some point.  :)

We alsowent to the pediatric ophthomologist last Friday to have their eyes re-examined and assess the progress of their developing retinas.  Dr. Warren said their retina's are fully developed and we are in the clear as far as retinopathy of prematurity is concerned!  He recommended that the boys have their eyes checked at six months of age as it is more common for premies to need vision correction early on.  It will be interesting to see how they check the eyesight of babies.  I don't think the eye chart will be possible :)

Here are a few pics of them without the oxygen tubing!

WOW!  Cheeks!  (Ethan)

Elliott

We will keep you posted on the events of Elli-mans surgery.  Thanks for the continued love and support!  We can't wait for the world to meet them once the weather makes a change.  

Love,

Sleepy Mama Bear and Papa Bear, and of course, Alert Ethan and Awake Elliott.