Joys In My Life

It's been almost a month since Thomas and Liam were born, so I better get started on the story of how they came into this world. As I had mentioned in my blog the weekend before my water broke, the boys definitely dropped and I was feeling better about breathing and eating. I didn't really think this meant they would be coming soon, as I know when you get to that point it can still be several weeks before labor. But it was a sign of things to come.... On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, I was getting out of the shower and Leo and I were getting ready to get Phoebe on the bus. As I was drying off in the bathroom, a trickle when down my leg and onto the floor. I immediately knew what was going on. I didn't want to freak Phoebe out or make her worry all day, so I discreetly called Leo to the bathroom and asked him to get Phoebe on the bus and that my water broke and we needed to go to the hospital. I finished getting dressed and getting my act together, packing a bag and such ...

Tommy and Liam are now 1 week old and to celebrate, I've had tons of energy and downloaded the pics from the camera to the computer and can now share them all with you. Enjoy! Leaving for the Hospital After My Water Broke Pic of Liam Pic of Tommy Leo (aka Tommy the Second) and "The Boys" Phoebe holding Tommy

The boys continue to do really well in the NICU. We're getting more comfortable every day as we get to understand the schedule of their care and when the doctors come around on rotations. The nurses are fabulous and provide lots of information to make us feel more comfortable as well as helping us feel more comfortable about changing their diapers, taking their temperatures, and wrapping them up and letting us hold them during their gavage feedings. Here's a detailed update on both: Thomas (Tommy) never needed any respiratory help, but he's been in a temperature controlled incubator to help regulate him to be warm enough. He needed one day of the bili-lights, but it doesn't look like he will need it again. They keep an eye on both their bili levels every day. Tommy has been on gavage feedings with my breast milk for several days. Yesterday he was at 20 mL per feeding and they are increasing by mL every 12 hours. He's tolerating his feeds very well and every ...

I'm trying to post this from the hospital Internet access, but I will be able to do this announcement better justice from home, but it is a very odd, but short birth story. They came so fast and furious there was nothing anyone could do. But the boys are in the NICU and doing well. They were born at 31 weeks 5 days gestation on 5/29/2009. I will post their names and information (no comments on names unless you like them, LOL): Baby A: Thomas Michael III born at 2:09 AM Weight - 3 lbs, 15 1/2 oz Length - 18 inches Baby B: Liam Jonathan born at 2:20 AM Weight - 4 lbs, 1.4 oz Length - 17 1/4 inches long Just a word on their health, Thomas's breathing is doing well and he did not need any help in that area so far. I had two steroid shots from when I was admitted until before they were born, so I think that helped. Liam was intubated and given surfactant when he arrived in the NICU and is now on CPAP, although he can't stand having the tubes in his nose. Both are under t...