Happy Halloween!!!

Cutie Patooties in their Pumpkin Hats
Nate-Ben-Sam


Nate-Sam


Nate-Ben-Sam


Sam-Nate-Ben


Paging Dr. Eli...

Double Trouble!!!

Sammy's home!!!

After 3 or 4 attempts and a minor meltdown (by me) at the hospital, we finally busted Sammy out of lockup!!! He came home weighing 6 lbs 4 oz...our chunky monkey. He's definitely more mild mannered and patient than Ben. We managed to get Sam quickly onto Ben's schedule and The first night home we had to wake both boys up at their 2 AM feed. We weren't sure what to do.

Eli is adapting as well as a 4 year old can when being plopped down in the middle of crazy baby land. He is definitely exhibiting some attention seeking behaviors and trying to help. His idea of help is a bit different than mine, and he hasn't completely figured out how to be as gentle as I'd like. I can't imagine the transition he's going through.

Getting buckled up


Elevator Ride


In front of LGH


Getting in the van


Double vision


On the front stoop


Chillin' with Ben (Sam-Ben L-R)


Now we just need all fingers crossed for lil Nate. He has been on the same roller coaster as Sam. 2 days of no Brady's then we get our hopes up, then he has a Brady. We need 5 Brady-free days. Let's go buddy!!! Come home soon!!!

Sam telling Nate to behave so he can come home.

Look who's home...

Benji!!!

Leaving LGH


Getting in the van


On the front stoop


Surprise Eli!!!




When we got home, Ben decided to poop through his take home outfit. Dave did the honors and changed the first diaper.


Then Ben did the honors and peed on Dave!!!

1 Month Old!!!

Here we are, cute as can be, celebrating our 1 month birthday!!!

Nate-Ben-Sam

And we passed our hearing test...let's see if we listen though!!!

Look Ma, No Tubes!!!

The boys are officially 4 weeks old (35 weeks gestation). The have been making such progress and are constantly amazing the nurses. Last week they had their NG tubes removed so they're officially taking all their feeds by bottle. Now we just have to remind them to breathe while doing this so they can come home. They've managed to check a bunch of requirements of the "going home" list, but the Brady's are still stopping them. Once they have 5-7 days free of those, then they have the carseat test, then they come home!!! It's tough because they can go 4 days, then have a Brady, then have to start all over again...yikes!!!

Tube-free pictures:

Benji


Nate


Sammy


Snuggle Time
Sam & Nate


Ben & Nate

Big Boy Cribs

The boys moved to "open air" cribs on Monday. I've waited to post to see if anybody needed to transition back, but they've all been super great! They are continuing to gain weight outside of the isolette so they're reducing their calories to 24. They're really little rock stars! Now we just need to stop the Brady's!!! Their pedi said he won't send them home on monitors so we need them to kick the habit and continue to rock their bottle feeds.

Benji


Nate


Sammy

4lb Club!!!

All 3 boys joined the 4 lb club today!!! Ben is 4lbs 1 oz, Nate is 4lbs even, and Sam is 4lbs 1 oz!!! The like to stay close to the same weight I guess. The nurse mentioned that they're pretty close to coming out of their isolettes into regular cribs and that they may also graduate to feeds every 4 hours (instead of every 3). Lots of exciting news on their 3 week "birthday".

3 Weeks old (34 weeks gestation)

Our 3 little miracles conitnue to gain weight and eat from bottles! We love them more and more everyday. It is a little weird that we still haven't been able to take them home, but it will happen, soon enough. Here's some of the criteria they have to meet before they can join us at home:
1. At least 35 weeks gestation (next Monday).
2. Have to be able to take all feeds from a bottle (no NG tube).
3. Can't have any "episodes" (Brady's, apnea, etc) for 5-7 days.
4. Have to pass a car seat test. This is to see if they can breathe with their chins touching their chests.
5. Have to be able to maintain their body temp without an isolette. Right now they are still in isolettes, but the nurses continue to decrease the temp so the boys have to work to keep themselves warm.

Once all those are met, then my little men can come home. We have no idea who will come home first or in what combination. We may get one at a time, or we may get them all at once. Also, the doctors try to keep us from getting our hopes up about coming home too early. They say that they should be home by their original due date (Nov. 15th). Of course we want them home asap and will keep praying that they pass their tests!!!