Thru Day 84: That's right, Day 84!

Wow, I didn't realize the last post was one week ago.  Apologies fans, as we had a holiday and long weekend in there.  The days are starting to become blurry, since progress has nearly plateaued as we head into the homestretch of our NICU stay.  We started our NICU journey on the evening of October 5, 96 days (or 14 weeks) before Christie's actual due date.  The homestretch is not being measured by the dates, but that we now realize the only things the boys need to do is be able to take a full bottle on their own without having a breathing spell.  I should mention that although this seems to be the most simple of tasks for babies, it is not so for preemies.  They are behind.  Taking a full bottle for them could literally take weeks, and this is no joke.  They need to learn that they need to work to get their food.  They also need to be weaned down farther on the flow of oxygen they are receiving.  Right now they are on a flow of 2 liters, just weaned from 3 liters on Sunday.  They are slowly adjusting to the new reality that they will have to continue breathing on their own without the support.  I'm fairly certain that if they come home on oxygen, that they cannot be on a higher flow than .25 liter, since there is no oxygen concentration control on home oxygen, just a flow control with the concentration at 100%.

So, now the big question.  When will they come home??  That question deserved more than one question mark.  We have not been told or given a ball park go home date, but Christie and I are thinking beginning to mid February.  Feel free to start a pool on go home dates since no one won the birth date pool.  No one was even close on that one :)

Christmas was great.  Aiden received his first bath from mom and dad on Christmas Eve.  He loved every minute of it.  Didn't cry, and nearly slept his way through it!  Jackson was moved back into the pod with Aiden on Wednesday, and was extubated on Thursday, straight to the cannula.  This was a huge relief to us since we thought he'd have to go through CPAP again.

Quick update on the eyes before we get to some pictures.  Jackson's eye were looked at on Friday and everything looks good...so far.  Both him and Aiden are now on the same schedule for exams, and will receive the next on Thursday.  One of Aiden's eyes is completely back to normal development, and the other is nearly there.  Jackson will have his first official follow up post-op on Thursday.  Hoping his goes as well as Aiden's did.


Below: Aiden

Below:  Jackson

Below:  Our Christmas shoot at the NICU