3 Weeks

The Babes are over 3 weeks old now! They mature so much and so fast that when I look at pictures that I've taken a few days ago, I can see a difference. Liam has now officially reached the 5 pound club as of yesterday morning!!!! And Sia is just a few ounces behind her brother. Actually, she may be in the club already this morning, but I haven't called yet so I'm not sure. I would put money on it. :) They are still short little peanuts, but now that they've put on a over a full pound since their birth, they are starting to plump up and get little rolls around their thighs. Both have these amazing little double chins. I just can't stand the cuteness. When one of the NICU nurses has been off for a few days and then they come visit them, they walk over to them and say, "Holy Cheeks!!!!" So true....

The big accomplishment for week 3 was when they were both moved from their cozy isolettes to what the nurses called a "crib." It was essentially the little bed that they WOULD have been in had they been full term and stayed with me in my hospital room. Last Saturday, when they were exactly 3 weeks old, it had been a rough night of pumping milk every 2 hours or so and I wasn't getting any sleep in between. I pumped at midnight, then 2, then 4. Finally at 4:30am, I got up and showered and went to be with my babies at the hospital. I figured that if I wasn't sleeping anyway, I may as well go pump by their side. :) By the time I got there, Sia had already been moved to her crib and was ready for a bath. Yay!!!! Perfect timing for Mommy. I went to change Liam's diaper first before I helped with little girl, and wouldn't you know it? Liam peed and pooped all over himself, his blanket, and his bed. And just a little on his Mommy. SOOOOO... Little boy got a bath, too! And by the time I pulled him out of his nice warm bath water, the nurses had decided that he seemed to be doing okay temperature wise that they had a crib waiting for him as well. What an awesome morning. I got to bathe and hold both of my little ones and help them settle into their new beds. I feel like I can't be there for so much of what they accomplish (it's just impossible for me to stay there with them round the clock) so this meant so much to me to have been there for that moment. :)

Both babes are starting to take more and more feedings by bottle, and they have actually nursed from me a little bit, too. Awesome. The doctors and nurses are all amazed because the babies will be just 35 weeks gestation this Friday, and they have been nipple feeding for almost 2 weeks now. Technically they wouldn't have expected them to start doing that until sometime this week. It's like my little ones just want to come home. I'm so proud of them. I love them beyond anything I could have imagined. EVER. :)

We're still thinking good thoughts about them coming home for Thanksgiving. Basically, they have to be able to take every feeding by mouth and not have too many little breathing episodes while they feed. They also have to still consistently put on weight while they do this to prove that drinking their milk (instead of using the gavage tube) doesn't make them burn too many calories at this point. Once they can do that, they have to prove it for 48 hours straight. Then they can come home. I can't wait for that phone call....

Here are some updated pix of their 3rd week! Enjoy.

Sia - 3 Weeks Old!!!!


Sia's crib after moving from her isolette:


BIG smile...


Liam - 3 weeks Old!!!!


Liam's own crib after graduating from his isolette:


Family time...


Bathing Liam:


Bathing Sia:


This picture shows a LOT about Sia's personality. She is our little "talker," grunter, noise-maker, squeaker... however you want to call it! I've told Kevin over and over that once the babes come home, if he doesn't get ANY sleep while they are in our bedroom during the night that I am happy to sleep in the nursery with them. At least until we feel comfortable letting them be in another room. I'm not sure when that will be. We'll see! I just have to remind myself that the doctors will not send them home until they are ready. And while that IS comforting, I can't promise that I won't check to make sure they are breathing a million times throughout the night... Can't wait to have them home. :)

Along with her sweet little noises, Sia LOVES to stretch to the very ends of possibility. She always wants her hands by her face and tries to lengthen her legs to their limits. Liam, on the other hand, is so content to be swaddled and just settles in and chills out. We've started calling him "Laid Back Liam." We joke around by saying that we think that the morning they were born, Sia must have stretched long and hard and just kicked Liam out! I'm not sure that that isn't true...


Quiet time with Daddy....


The Smith Boys:


A big smile for Noah!


Have a fantastic week... We'll keep you posted. Also, stay warm! More pix and some videos coming very soon... Just as soon as I actually make it to the main computer in the basement where the magical software is. I don't think I've been down there in about 2 weeks. Hopefully today. :)

Love,

One Busy NICU Mommy
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