Milestones and Angels

Each day brings new milestones. Looking back on the last week there are almost too many firsts to remember (this is my attempt to document them before I forget):

-Aiden was the first born (by less than a minute)
-Will refused to breathe after birth but Aiden required supplemental oxygen in the NICU
-Aiden was first to stop receiving breathing assistance
-Will was the first to stabilize enough to be held (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was the first song I sang, because it is the only one I could remember to words to)
-Will was the first to have his IV removed
-Aiden was the first to have his feeding tube moved to his nose
-Will was the first take a bottle (a whopping 3 mLs)
-Aiden was the first to maintain his body temperature and get an open crib
-Aiden was the first to get dressed

Tonight we achieved another big first. Will finished an entire feeding from a bottle, all 40 mLs!!!
Both of them breastfed this morning and consumed enough to register on the scale, 4 mLs each. For those that aren't familiar (I wasn't until two days ago), the nurses weigh the baby before breast feeding and again after. By the change in weight the nurses can tell how much was consumed and will adjust the feeding tube amount accordingly.

The boys are both beginning to stay more alert when they are awake. It is fun to see them begin to look around at their new world. Both can pick their heads up for a brief second. We are told this is another huge milestone. We are encouraging and supporting them in their journey. We must remember to keep our expectations tempered. As a nurse pointed out, we are asking them to do things that they should not be capable of for another 5 weeks!

Speaking of nurses, over the past week I have become convinced that there exists a special place in heaven for NICU nurses. For Aiden, Will, and their NICU compatriots the nurses are their caregivers, coaches, cheerleaders, and support. We would not be where we are without them. While we will never be able to repay them for the care provided to our sons (and lessons taught to us) it is important to acknowledge them: Marcy and Tatiana (Will and Aiden's admitting nurses) beyond taking care of the boys they held my hand by explaining in layman's terms every procedure being performed and helped me feel at ease during those first tense hours after birth, Susan, Judy, Sonja, Banks, Scarlett, Nina, Kathy, Bridgette, and all of them to come. Thank you.

Daddy and Will pretend to be Kangaroos.

Turn off the lights and get me a longer blanket! - Will

Aiden taking half of his feeding from a bottle, a personal best!

Will, exhausted after finishing dinner, with his spoils.

Long nights and short days

Angela was discharged from the hospital Tuesday night. Driving away without our sons was one of the hardest things either of us have done. We made it through and were back with them this morning. Before leaving, the nurse offered for Angela to hold Aiden and Will at the same time. To say it was magic is an understatement. Almost immediately all of their vital signs improved. They were all three back together again.

Will and Aiden continue to progress. Tuesday both of them took 10 mL from a bottle. Today Aiden took 10 mL and Will took 18 mL. I fed both of them! They are allowed to breast feed once per day and bottle feed once per day for 30 minutes each time. The goal is for them to try but not spend more calories than they are consuming. Both of them have maxed out on their feeding advances. From now on the amount they receive will be based on their weight. From yesterday to today both of them started to gain weight. Hopefully their weight has bottomed out. Their bilirubin levels have also begun to fall. It looks like phototherapy won't be needed for jaundice.

We are all continuing to learn and grow attached. Angela and I are spending most of our time at the hospital. If we can't hold them we simply sit in the room. I believe they know when we are there. Here are some pictures we've accumulated over the past couple of days.

I can't hear you! - Aiden

Strike a pose - Aiden

Daddy and Aiden cuddling.

Will plotting his escape.

I wonder who was taking up more room inside mommy. Aiden in green.

Daddy giving Aiden a bottle for the first time.

Will and mommy cuddling.

Family picture (handling babies without wires is going to be simple!)

Will, daddy, and the monkey rattle (to give perspective the rattle is very small)

Not such a bad view - Will

Magic

Being held together by Mom for the first time.

Moving On Up

We just moved to the upstairs NICU! This means the boys are continuing to improve and no longer need to be in he critical care NICU. As you can see, they are sharing a room. This is the closest they have been since birth. They are only three feet apart and we can see them at the same time!

Another big milestone today, they both got dressed for the first time! We'll post more pics later. For now, here is a snapshot of our new digs. Will is on the left (he should get a crib tonight) and Aiden is on the right.

Whirlwind!!!

That most accurately describes the last 2 and a half days. Aiden Lewis Griner (Baby A) and William Hap Griner (Baby B) were born Friday, August 24 at 12:34 and 12:35 pm. Aiden weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces and was 18.25 inches long. Will weighed 4 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 inches long.

The boys went to the NICU immediately after birth. They have grown stronger each day. Both received some breathing assistance and Will received a small amount of oxygen Friday. By Saturday morning both were breathing with no assistance. Both have feeding tubes and are tolerating formula very well. We are hoping their IVs can be removed Monday. The feeding tubes will stay until they can gain weight eating from a bottle or breastfeeding. The nurses tell us this is where they will struggle most due to their age. The average NICU stay for 34 week preemies is 3 weeks. The boys' progress will determine when they come home.

We still don't know if they are identical or fraternal. At times they look very similar and other times we think they look different. We won't know definitively until after they have their first pediatrician visits and tests are run.

Angela is slowly recovering. She received 24 hours of Magnesium Sulfate after the C-section which made her very nauseas on top of the normal discomfort of surgery. The doctors were concerned about the possibility of seizures given her very high blood pressure. The hardest part for her was not seeing her sons for 15 hours. She was finally able visit the NICU with her nurse Saturday at 2:30 am (this is when they were named). She was able to go again Saturday night and three times today. Without any complications she will be released Tuesday night.

We are focusing on her healing and spending as much time with the boys as we can. When held skin to skin all of their vitals improve. We both spend several hours per day holding them against our bare chests. I never imagined I would make trips to the NICU simply to change diapers! It is comforting just to be with them.

Here are some pictures. We will keep everyone updated on their progress.

First Family Portrait

Who is Who?

Aiden enjoying some skin on skin time

Aiden's favorite sleeping position

Brothers in the OR

Will holding onto mommy

Will being very cute

Baby B Picture

Baby A Picture

Babies!

Baby A 12:34 pm 4 pounds 15 ounces
Baby B 12:35 pm 4 pounds 10 ounces

Everyone is well! We will name them after Angela gets to spend time with them.

C-section is at 12:00

Today is the day!

We've made it to 34 weeks! We just had an ultrasound and met with the perinatologist. Baby A's fluid is low. This is related to preeclampsia. They said the fluid will only get lower as the disease worsens (it won't improve until she delivers). The risks of prematurity are at this point outweighed by the risks to Angela and the babies.

Please keep Angela, our sons, the doctors, and nurses in your prayers today.

34 Weeks and Babies?

The doctor visited this morning with the most concrete "wishy washy" news so far. Tomorrow marks 34 weeks, a big milestone. Angela's blood pressure has not increased substantially over the past 48 hours. Her labs this morning were OK. However, the ultrasound from a few days ago revealed the amniotic fluid was lower than they would like.

The plan is for delivery tomorrow. The doctor has put in an order for no food or water after midnight. They will perform a maternal fetal ultrasound in the morning to check on everyone. Assuming no positive changes we will move forward and bring our boys into the world. On the other hand, if they see something positive she may remain pregnant longer (hence the very medical term used by the doctor...wishy washy).

Thank you all for the prayers, I truly believe this is the reason she stabilized and will make it to 34 weeks.

Another Day!

Angela's protein count fell overnight! This indicates her kidneys are not worsening. They sustain further damage every passing day, but the doctor is not concerned with her ability to recover. Her blood test has not come back yet. It will tell us if her platelets are remaining stable. Assuming no surprises, she will continue to incubate.

Each passing day brings us closer to Friday and the 34 week mark!

Update

We just met with the doctor and received our morning update. Angela's blood work came back OK this morning. The platelet count was down from yesterday but not to a concerning level. Her blood pressure has trended up over the past 36 hours, which they are not pleased with. As the doc said, "we are waiting for your body to cry uncle." Every day she can stay pregnant is good, but at some point her health will mandate delivery.

The doctor mentioned putting an order in that she not be fed or watered after midnight until test results come back in the morning. This would limit the length of time they need to wait before delivery. After seeing the look in her eyes he relented. She will be allowed to have breakfast and then will need to wait for the test results before eating or drinking anything else.

Barring any surprises (headaches, blurry vision, upper GI pain, spike in blood pressure) today the next hurdle will be urine test results tomorrow morning.

Flowers

From Angela's work and the Great Grandmother to be.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting our blog. With so many people needing and wanting updates on Angela and the boys, we figured the easiest method is to post everything in one place and let you view as you desire. Please feel free to share this as you wish.

Angela and I are expecting twin boys this fall. Their official due date is October 5 with their target due date and planned C-section on September 17. As the saying goes, "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."After a complication free pregnancy Angela was admitted to Northside Hospital with a blood pressure of 160/110 last Wednesday (August 15).

She was diagnosed with preeclampsia on Thursday and we have been here since. The prognosis is for bed rest in the hospital until 37 weeks or until she is sick enough to mandate early delivery. She is currently 33 weeks and 3 days. The doctor has given her steroid shots to speed up lung development in the boys.

We've heard many questions about preeclampsia. In simple terms its an inflammation of organs. Symptoms include high blood pressure, edema, impaired kidney function, and impaired liver function. There is no know cause and it occurs in 10% of pregnancies. Mothers of multiples are at higher risk. The only treatment is delivery. For more information check out this website http://www.preeclampsia.org.

It appears that she is going to get sick enough to mandate delivery and not make it to 37 weeks. This morning the doctor told us "don't plan on being pregnant this weekend." They will run another battery of tests Wednesday morning. It is very possible that we will have babies Wednesday night, though only time will tell.

Angela has done a marvelous job growing the boys. Last Thursday they were 4 pounds 8 ounces and 4 pounds 14 ounces. A doctor and nurse from the NICU came to explain the post delivery procedures. The average NICU stay is 3-4 weeks. Key concerns are their ability to maintain body temperature, breathe, eat, and gain weight.

I am confident that Angela and the boys are in good hands. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.