Update on Cole & JD

Well, our morning visit this morning was great - we just couldn't get to the hospital fast enough! Plus, we had the "goods" (aka-breast milk) stocked up from the night so we needed to get that there for their daily feedings. They are receiving my milk through their OG tube (feeding tube)which goes from their nose to their bellies. JD is tolerating feedings well and is up to about 6cc's of food, every 3 hours. Cole had trouble tolerating today's feeding for some reason (he's on 3cc's, every 3 hours) so they were going to give him something to try to stabilize his belly.

JD has been off of the ventilator for a couple of days now and his breathing had become somewhat labored and fast. In fact, he looked like he was tiring himself out breathing so fast. His blood gas levels came back a bit low all day yesterday so they put him on CPAP which is a step below the ventilator but still assists with his breathing a bit. It is actually forced air through the nose, instead of having a tube down the throat to the lungs. He seems much more content today and relaxed. He opened his eyes a few times when we were there and we talked to him. He definitely recognizes our voices which is so amazing. Cole recognizes me too, and will squeeze my finger occasionally when I talk to him. Their fingers are so amazingly small, it's even hard to describe.

The nurse showed me how to take their temperature today in the armpit and I was able to help change my first diaper for JD. We laughed since that was the first of THOUSANDS of diapers we'll be changing over the next few years! We were just happy that the nurses allow us to participate in things with them when we're there. Both C. and I have had the opportunity to help with their feedings over the last few days and that is wonderful too.

I was told today that maybe tomorrow I'll get to hold JD again ~ they were not comfortable taking him out of his crib today since he was having some trouble keeping his body temperature up. But maybe tomorrow. My arms are aching to hold him again - and Baby Cole too. We're hopeful that he'll be off of the vent in the next week or so and he can come out for some Kangaroo care too.

Here are a few new pics of the boys. We have some great ones that the NICU nurses have snapped for us but they are not digital so unfortunately, I can't post them yet. In a few days, I'll get the scanner hooked back up and get them on line. For now, these will have to do.

Here we are helping with JD's feeding yesterday:


This is Mommy with Cole (you can get an idea of their size):


And Mommy & Daddy with JD: