On Sunday, March 7, 2010 we got a call at 9 AM asking us if we’d like to bring the boys home. After much deliberation we decided it might be for the best. (Actually, we both screamed, “Yes!”) We raced to get the house and supplies together then went to pick up the boys.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be a scary place. After Amy gave birth we didn’t get to see our boys for a few hours. Alex was having real difficulty breathing and Danny was really small. When we finally got to go in, it was a little much.
Alex on a ventilator
Monday, February 22, Amy and I were admitted to the hospital in the evening. Earlier in the day we had been told that Amy was 90% effaced (her cervix was flattened) and 1 cm dilated (her cervix was opening). That was good news.
After admission, the wonderful doctor on call gave Amy some Cervidil to get the cervix dilating. Cervidil looks like a limp piece of electrical tape. It gets balled up and placed in the cervix. We were then told to get some sleep. (more…)
We are in a holding pattern as the boys improve in NICU. And they are improving daily. Both can maintain body temperature, eat from a bottle and the breast and keep the food down. They are still in isolettes, but not for long, hopefully. When they can perform all the above tasks, plus breathe without a cannula (Alex) and maintain body temperature in an open crib, we can take them home.
Amy and Alex 2-27-10
Danny with large hat and NG feeding tube
On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 3:09 PM and 3:19 PM respectively, Alexander Michael and Daniel Gregory were born into the world. Their weights were 6 lbs. 7 oz. and 4 lbs. 15 oz. They are beautiful.
Here is our first family portrait:
Taken around 5:30 AM this morning
I had a doctor’s appointment this morning, and I am one centimeter dilated and 90 percent effaced. Dr. Dershaw seemed pleased, and I am going to the hospital tonight. He will deliver my sons, Alexander and Daniel, tomorrow. (more…)
So, last Tuesday I went with Amy to a non-stress test. She has one every week. Her Mom had gone to the previous ones. Amy told me how easy they were. Ooops.
Despite its recent attempts to kill me with falling glass, our nursery is way cool. Many thanks to Marina and Rinn. If you want them to paint your nursery, they’re available, but they don’t come cheap.
We thought it might be fun to see Amy’s belly grow. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Week 5 (more…)
Hopefully, I’ll be able to update more often in the future, but the past several weeks have been beyond busy.
Amy and I packed up six years worth of accumulated possessions, cleaned the house and basically ran around like crazy people. We beat out three other offers to get the four bedroom colonial in a great school district. The stress really mounted when the mortgage appraisers started devaluing the properties and making demands. We got through all that and, with the help of Amy’s folks, got everything ready for the movers. Then the party really started.