Tuesday, October 4-Thursday, October 6, 2011

Tuesday, October 4

Moving Day!  Gavin had the day off today so both of us got to visit the boys!  After getting up extra early to sign papers for our new house we set off for a day of lounging around with the boys.  We got there in time for their 11am feeding.  In anticipation of the OT coming in, I nursed Jacob so that the OT could bottle feed him at the 2pm feeding.  Jacob did a great job at the breast and Aidan did great with his bottle.  Daddy got to take a "feeding break" today....lucky!  Their nurse Sheila was concerened about all of my travel back and forth and suggested we move into a "room-in" room.  These are the rooms reserved for parents and babies right before discharge.  That meant we were close enough to the boys' going home to be able to occupy a room!  I thought this was a great idea...I could spend the night with the boys and on the times I just come here for the day I could nap without having to leave them and go to the Guest House.  Sheila said if we wanted to we could be all moved in by their next feeding!  After the boys were done we cuddled with them a bit and then headed off to a romantic lunch at Cafe Yumm here in the hospital before the room-moving frenzy.  We stopped in at the gift shop on our way back to the boys to get some much-needed sugar to stay awake for our afternoon visit.  It's amazing how sleepy we get with cuddly little boys on our laps!  When we walked in the nurses took charge and we began to make the move down the hall.  Our new room is bigger and has a bathroom and shower.  It also has the best view in the entire NICU!  VIP much!!??  It looks out onto the mountains and the Willamette River.  Beautiful!  We were a little sad to leave our previous room since it has been their home for the past 5 weeks but excited about the prespect of taking them home soon!  After all of the moving fun the OT nurse came in to take a look at Jacob.  I was able to nurse Aidan and while the OT was bottle feeding Jacob, Gavin and I got some great tips and insight on how to make him more successful.  He, of course, did a great job with the feeding and gulped down his entire feed.  Yay Jacob!  She did notice a few things during the feed but all were related to him just maturing a bit more.  She was confident he'd get it and be a nursing pro soon!  We then relaxed a bit more with the boys and headed back to Newport. 

Wednesday, October 5-Thursday, October 6

I slept in today for some much needed rest from yesterday's travels.  After Gavin came home for lunch and left for work again I packed up and headed to the boys for a slumber party!  I was a bit nervous for what the night would hold but exctied at the same time.  As I got to the hospital I settled in for their first feeding.  Both boys did a great job and had done great the previous day and night with their bottle feeds.  The nurse began to go over the list of things we needed to complete for discharge.  The only things left are their hearing test, Hep B shot, CPR training and car seat test!  And the most important thing...taking all their feeds by bottle or breast.  After a short break for dinner I headed back up to the boys' room to get ready for the night.  Wednesday night is when they do weights and measurements as well.  Aidan is now 5lbs 1oz and Jacob is 5lbs!  Yay!  The boys' doctor, while making his rounds on Thursday morning, reminded me that these guys are still supposed to be in my tummy...that's 10lbs of kid!  Phew!  Now I am kinda glad they came when they did...

The night actually proved to be easier than expected.  I know that this "honeymoon phase" will probably not last but I'll take it when I can!  I got up every 2 hours and nursed while a NICU nurse gave the other boy a bottle.  I then pumped and slept for a while before the next feeding.  They are on such a rigid schedule here that there isn't much room for deviation...which they need at this stage.  I can't wait to get them home where the schedule will be a bit more flexible.  I am not going to lie, I am tired, but not as bad as I thought.  We'll see as the day progresses....The boys continue to do well on their feedings and after their 2pm feeding, I cuddled with them a bit and headed for home.  Gavin has the day off tomorrow so we'll both get to be here for what we hope will be our last weekend here.  We'll see!