1 Month Old Today

Baby Update:
It's unbelievable to think the twins are 1 month old today. They have been through so much together, and have experienced almost identical successes so far.

Robinson Matty:
Weight is 1 lb 15 oz. We hear weight gain gets easier after 2 lbs.
Eating breast milk every 3 hours and is at full feeds (the max for his weight).
Due to eating only breast milk, picc line taken out (IV bag not needed).
Hair is growing in thicker and darker................... He's adorable!
3 head scans show his brain bleed has not increased..... good news!
4 blood transfusions, same donor. (Very common for preemies and not as scary as it sounds; it's common to be given extra blood, about 2 Tablespoons).
PDA Ligated (heart surgery success).
1 diaper rash
Breathing tube still in. After he pulled it out 5/9, nurses tried to let him breath on his own (with some oxygen through the nostrils), but it only lasted about 6 hours until he was showing signs that he needed it back in. He gave it his best shot, and we were able to hear his voice (since he didn't have the tube in his throat) and see his whole face (since he didn't have the tape holding the tube in place). We enjoyed the 6 hours, but it was also stressful watching and wondering if he could do it on his own.

------Nurses still call him feisty, and "don't trust him." When it looks like he may pull out his breathing tube, he just might (and has). He is constantly moving, loves attention, loves to be held, squirms all around when he needs a diaper change, and seems to calm down the most when he is center of attention. Nurse Claire says, "He is sooooo strong." He helps change his diapers by raising his legs, raises his head when he's resting on our chest, and when he's on his tummy, he stretches out his back and legs by arching upward on his knees. This kid is strong.

Harper Karly:
Harper now weighs 1 lb 14 oz
She is taking in breast milk every 3 hours and is at full feeds for her weight.
She no longer has a picc line because she does not need an IV bag anymore.
Has had 3 blood transfusions.
Her hair is coming in thick and she has a little bit of a hairdo now.
PDA Ligated (heart surgery success).
1 diaper rash (one day before Robbie)
Breathing tube still in

-------Harper would do anything for her brother and has proven that by giving up the womb to help him get the blood he was losing during the pregnancy. She is fabulously strong and proves her strength everyday. She is very graceful in her movements, hardly cries at all, and is calm, cool and collected. She has been doing well in the past 4 weeks and doesn't do scary things like pulling out her breathing tube. She will likely be the protector of the two, he will be the rebellious one. Just looking at her you can sense her strength and contentment. I worry less.

Parent Update:
Pete and I have left the Ronald McDonald House and are living back at our home in Gilbert. We are both working and seeing the kids before and/or after work. It's hard for me to leave the hospital and work everyday but the nicu nurses told me to save my maternity leave for when the babies come home, and also to help stop the obsessive worrying and watching baby monitors 12 hours a day. The babies are safe at St. Joes and the nurses are incredible. It is probably true that working every day is a good distraction and allows time to pass faster, which is the strange desire I have discovered exists when you have a baby in the a nicu. We are staying strong and positive. We love every minute we are with the babies. Pete might be looking a little sad without his baseball and teammates, but he hasn't mentioned it other than to say it's hard to have something missing that was such an important part of his life before 4/12.