Twins Update: 10 days old :)

Babies are 10 days old already!! Gestation wise they would have been 33w1d. They are doing so good.  Both are off of IV's and receiving strictly breastmilk through a tube in either their nose or mouth. Still breathing room air. Mason yesterday had an episode where his heartrate dropped causing his oxygen to go down so they put his little tube back on and was just giving him pressure. These things happen in the NICU and luckily they have great monitors to alert the nurses when that happens. Since early this morning he is doing good without it again. They are just so cute. Mommy is doing good. I am exclusively pumping which is a huge job in itself. I pump every 2-3 hours and need to learn that it is not going to increase every pumping. I am up to 2-3 oz total every 2-3 hours at 15-20 min intervals. If you have any secrets to increasing milk supply please  share!! I am doing really good, but that would be for one baby. I am just making it with two babies. We are running milk up there every day and night sometimes just so they have breast milk and not have to be given formula. Def feeling the pressure! lol. 

Now that they are 33 weekers we have continued kangaroo care, but we are also letting them explore the breast to see what they are capable of doing. Mason new what to do! lets just put it that way! We gave him the breast and he latched on two or three times and then got lazy. We are not expecting them at this age to breast feed. They usually will not even begin doing that until 34 weeks and at that point you have to let them learn it. However, i will say, he knows what they are for, just not really ready to do it yet.  Maddox opens his mouth and checks it out, but has not latched. We were shocked that either of them showed much interest. I hope they are breastfeeding champs because pumping is annoying...lol. I hate having to get all the parts, clean them, dry them, sterilize them. It will be so much easier when i can just attach them and that is that and hopefully, they will bring on more milk! 

They are still so tiny!! The nurses are starting to just hand them to me and let me tell you IT IS TERRIFYING! They can't hold their heads up and I feel like I am goign to snap one in half when i have to hold them and bring them into my body.  The doctor said she has sent premies home as early as 34, 35 weeks and I can't imagine these two little guys at home with me...ALONE!...WITH NO MONITORS...ALONE! LOL.  I know we will be fine and the doctors will not send a baby home unless they are absolutely positive they are ready, but holy heck it is scary! 

Other than that, my hormones are raging. I cry at commercials, I cry if Mike looks at me wrong, I cry when someone gives me a card, gift or asks about the babiese, I cried while pumping at the nicu bc i had no control over the tv and the SPCA commercial was playing and i had to LISTEN TO THE WHOLE COMMERCIAL because I couldnt change the channel!! I cried last night in bed bc i was so afraid i was going to get sick and not know i was sick and would pass it on to the boys and they would get really sick!!! ugh....this is all normal! it is... i looked it up :) lol.  

Anyways, that is the update!!!  Talk to you soon!

Shannon

Quick update!!

Both boys are now breathing room air and they have increased their feedings :) Also, both boys are sucking on paci's :)  just wanted to give a quick update!! They are doing so well <3 now we just need to fatten them up a bit!!

talk to you soon!

shannon walker

December 22, 2012 and today...

At 3:30am on December 22, 2012 I woke up in horrible back pain followed by the fear I was losing my twin boys. Less than six hours later my first two boys were born and within minutes they were gone.  I never in my dreams thought I would survive that day. This year has been nothing but trying to get the family we lost back. After a five months of treatments we were blessed again not only with twins but our twin boys again. We never intended on replacing Chase and Cayden, but the thought that we were given a second chance to do everything we had to do to bring them into this world alive and healthy was our mission.

After finding our new team of doctors and fighting weeks and weeks to get into the hospital we needed we were on our way. A lot of bumps along the way this past 8 months with modified rest, to strict hospital rest for 4 weeks and being told we want to get to 32 weeks in order to get passed the preemie hump and we did it!!  They need help, but they are doing soo good!!! 

Last night Mike and I decided to deliver some milk to the NICU at 11pm and why not spend midnight with our boys telling them about their brothers who not only changed our lives, but gave us them :)

Last night was another amazing night! Not only did I get to hold Maddox when he was breathing in room air, but the nurse told me to let him explore breast feeding.  Preemies don't start breast feeding until around 34 weeks, bc they don't develop the sucking motion, but they are encouraged to explore and taste what they can at this point. So, we tried it out and my little guy did his best and was interested, just unsure what to do with the breast...lol. It was the most amazing feeling to know I can be their for him and his brother in a way no one else can and to give them the best possible nutrients!  In good time, he will learn what those bumps are for, but for now he just wanted them as pillows...lol!

Mason, had time with Daddy yesterday and had the chance to do skin to skin without the machine and Mike let me know he was also ready to "explore," however, daddy let him know he will be having no luck in that dept and to wait for me! Lol  

Can't wait to see what is in store for us today. 

shannon and mike!