The Griner Boys

8/30/12

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.

8/29/12

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

8/28/12

Magic

Being held together by Mom for the first time.

8/27/12

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.