Tuesday

2 weeks old today!

The girls are really starting to beef up. The way i can really tell is when i hold their chins for burps and i used to feel boney jaw, and now its just a hand full of lard. Double-chins never looked so divine. It is so much fun watching them get healthier every day.

Olivia is starting to lose her hair and join the club of shiny domed baldy-bubs. Violet, however is not giving up her jet-black Elvis locks without a fight. In fact, at least for now, its growing thicker. I gave her a bath today and its all fluffy and cute. Nearly enough to do a faux hawk, but not quite, instead i settled for a comb across at the top and a mullet at the back. We had manicures last night, the girls have started to scratch eachother, so i filed them down.

Mum and Auntie Net just called me from the airport, they are on their way to the US. We organised a car to pick them up and bring them back here, its about a 2 hour trip from Seattle, so we'll see them around 4pm tomorrow afternoon. Then we all leave for the airport at 5am the next morning. I hope they arn't expecting a good night's sleep, this is our house and that concept is so yesteryear. We are excited to see them and i think it will be a fun few weeks. I know Dustin's family in Memphis are keen to meet the girls. His Mom, Marlene and Step-Dad are flying in from Las Vegas, a week before thanksgiving to spend time with the girls. His Mom's twin sister Darlene is biting at the bit to meet them too, she is based in Memphis. I think his Dad is meeting us at the airport to help get the girls home.

Its going to be bizarre going from just D and I doing it alone, to lots of help. We are actually really glad the way it turned out though, exhaustion aside, we've had a fantastic week alone as a family. With beautiful sceneary, no laundry and eventually no dishwasher (stopped working as part of the plumbing issues) so everything was soap and hand, it was a little too Blue Lagoon, Earth Mother for my taste, but it all worked out.

D even managed to work a fair bit this week, our primary roles were for him to keep us out of the poor house and for me to keep the babies alive. Both accomplished.

Pics - Can't believe they are 2 weeks old tomorrow.

The Doctor's Visit

We took the girls out for the first time since leaving the hospital, and all went very well. We weren't sure where this doctor was located, so it was all a bit frantic getting them ready to make sure we weren't late. Especially considering this Ped was seeing the girls as a 'favour' ie, not on our insurance, i really didn't want to run late. I got everything organised early so i had time to feed and change before we left.

Well my guess on their weights was pretty much on the money. Olivia was 5bls9oz and i was 1lb off with Violet, she exceeded my expectations at 6lb1oz. They both received rave reviews. They are in approx 30% for their length (compared to full-term 40weekers, who are now 2 weeks old like them), but only 1% for their little noggins. The doctor was happy with pretty much everything. We were concerned about Violet's eyesight, because she's been yet to focus at all, whereas Olivia is always focussing, but the doctor said its not unusual for preemies to take longer to get their vision in order. Dr Dustin had already diagnozed the poor bub RCS (ray charles sydrome) but the doctor quelled his fears.

I'm fighting this flu thing with all i have, and being rather obsessive-compulsive with hand-washing, and purell dispensing. I am so worried the babies will catch it. The pain has gone from my neck to my throat, but i still have that visible and unsightly lump on my neck, probably quite timely for halloween.

I closed my eyes at around 5am this morning between feedings and drifted into the deepest sleep, when my alarm went off at 6:40, i swear i have NEVER wanted to throw something out the window with such gusto, I was dreaming really vividly too. It was pitch black outside and i could have slept for another 24 hours quite easily. I think it was my fluey aches begging for more rest. But when you hear those hungry cries, you get over it.

Dustin went out and bought a sling for the girls ride home, they both actually fit in the one, its really cute. There was only one left at the store, but I think we'll try to find two, in case one gets fussy.

2 more (absolutely no) sleeps til Mum gets here! yay!

Big swollen gland

On the left side of my neck!

Feeling like there is a flu a'brewin. Feeling achey and breaky.. i think its been looming for a while. Also a sniffle or two. Great!!!

So worried about giving it to the babies, but can't avoid them for obvious reasons! Being very careful with my hands and keeping things sanitary.

Dustin felt swollen tonsel yesterday too, not sure if its from him... we'll see what unfolds over the next few days.

Doctors appointment for bubs in the morning.

Oh yeah and Livi has found her voice, gone are those silent achiever days, she's giving Violet a run for her money with her wide symphonic range.

Sun

Yawns and stuff. We're soooo tired, BUT..

The girls are doing wonderfully! Getting stronger and stronger. I"m so glad we didn't rush them back to Memphis, they have just been thriving the last few days. What used to be a whimpy little slack hand grip is now tight and strong. Their colour is healthier too, and their cries much louder. All in all they are doing great.

Violet is still taking forever to eat, but she's doing better. I think the Dr Browns bottles are working well on her tummy. They have a built-in straw trapping out air. Olivia is a lot more demanding nowadays, but in a 'i'm as strong as my sister now, so you better notice' way. I think before she wanted to be as grisley but couldn't muster the energy. They are both so adorable though, we never get sick of cuddling them.

It was day light saving clock switch last night, so we moved our clocks back an hour and in all my exhaustion i thought maybe that meant i got an extra hour's sleep... haha to that silly train of thought. In the old days, maybe.


We have their first doc visit tomorrow at 11am, so we'll get to see the fruits of our labor with their new weights. I'm guessing Olivia to be around 5lbs9oz and Violet to be close to 6lbs. That would be around 5oz gain each since discharge.

My Mum arrives on the 1st of November with my Auntie Annette, can't wait to see them! Havn't seen Net since christmas and Mum when she visited in June. They'll be a huge help to us and we may see some zz's. Speaking of which, its important to note -- we are tired!



x0x 2 all. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon, the girls are excited too.

Pics

Sat

The girls did pretty well last night.
I get everything organised at 3am for the day, and then again at 3pm for the night, based on the bottles etc i have, this works best. When i get back to Tn, i'll have more supplies etc. so i can do it all in one go. I've found without the laundry its not so much an issue of washing, its the drying part, its freezing outside, so i have wet outfits lying everywhere in front of heaters Dustin bought.

We're used to the deer now, they come up all day long. Apparently there are a lot of cougars and coyotes out there too, Dustin saw a cougar print outside meters from our house.owner of the house said, its the rule of thumb, if you step outside, you've been spotted by a cougar.
I'm actually pretty used to the tiredness now, its been pretty non-stop since we arrived in Seattle, and i'm just so grateful to have them home and healthy, it makes it all a lot more tolerable. At first i was so worried they would stop breathing, so their cries are like music to the ears. I definitely need my book for notes though, its easy to forget who had how much and when. A quick hair check is all i need to make sure i have the right baby.

I have to say i'm not surprised by anything that Motherhood as thrown my way so far, thats what months of internet reading will do, i expected a lot worse actually. The one thing that did come as a surprise though is how long the feedings take. I figured i could knock back 30mls in one shot, i thought a baby would take a few minutes maybe, tops. Of course now i realize that Violet still needs about 50 mls per 50 minutes. Liv is my little half hour honey.
So thats about it! dont feel bad for taking this blog off the 'must read' list, i know its a little lack lustre nowadays, but i can't say i'm unhappy about that! This predictable new schedule is a refreshing change.

Friday

The girls' have now been home for about 30 hours and so far so extremely good. We got them all settled in and i've been handling their feeds just fine. I feed Olivia first because she's a pretty good feeder and only takes me half an hour or so to feed her. Violet takes around 50 minutes to 1 hour to get her 65mls. So its only fair Liv goes first. They are fed every 3 hours, so that gives me an hour and a half in between for all the other stuff. Most of the time that hour and a half is poor Violet crying, her reflux and tummy problems are causing her a lot of discomfort, i'm doing my best to settle her. I'm going to see if the Ped will allow medicine yet (my appointment is on Monday) at the hospital they wouldn't allow it, just the usual advice on elevating her head etc. Fortunately she doesn't wake Olivia, but it really sucks watching her in so uncomfortable, especially when shes crying for food and when she gets the bottle she wont take it.

I can't believe how quickly the times goes though, Beck rang me this morning and i'd just finished their feeds and put them down, and by the time i hung up from her it was change and feed time again.

Dustin has been organizing the flights out of here on the 2nd and unfortunately they have stopped doing direct flights to Memphis now, so its going to be one of those ugly connections, probably through Dallas or Denver, a 8 hour or so journey with a short connection time, yucko! If we miss our connection we'll have to wait at the airport, we're catching the earliest flight so at least that way we have a chance to catch a later one if we miss it, otherwise its an overnighter, with no carseats (they'll check to Memphis) so cant' leave airport.. Anyway.. ughness with all of that, but what can ya do, we can't stay in WA forever, although we saw two more bambis earlier, so its tempting.

I have found that the thought of all this stuff is worse than the reality. Like that quote "the worst times in my life never happened", so apt. I thought taking them home would be quite an ordeal but its turned out to be quite nice, and a lot better than the hospital scenario. At least now i can be in my comfy clothes and do lots of things at once, plus have some privacy.

Last night i gave the girls some massages, using a technique a nurse taught me in the hospital, Violet LOVED it, (any opportunity to get naked) but poor Livi cried and cried, she just wants to be bundled up, cuddled and fed. Shes not interetest in being naked or taken out of her swaddle for anything. They both looked so cute though, all oiled up, like little red piggies, I have some great pics.

Maria came over for a visit today, they are leaving for a vacation in San Diego on Friday. She has booked one of those swim with the dolphin things, so shes very excited.

I forgot to mention in my last blog that i can't make international phone calls from the phone here, its incoming only unfortunately.

The Babies are "Home"!

The girls were discharged early today and we're all settled into our rented house. Dustin found pretty much the only house available in Olympia for 'per week' rentals. Its on the waterfront, so its lovely, but its out in the sticks. No cell phone reception, but there is a house phone, so if anybody wants to call us, we're on 00 111 360 455 9738. Feel free to call anytime, because if we're sleeping, we'll take it off the hook, otherwise, dont hesitate! I know i've been MIA for phone this last week and a bit, but now i'm finally home, i have more time. To use our cell phones we need to drive several miles, so i may not read any texts etc.

The girls are doing GREAT. They cried in their carseats, but were fine when we got them home and all snuggled in. I have to say it feels fantastic to have them out of the hospital. Great for us, and for them. The nurses were great, i received some lovely notes from them. Violet still has her reflux, so shes a grisley bear, but Livi has been nice and peaceful. They really are very good girls.

Its nearly 7pm, time for another feeding. The day has been really mellow, just the usual baby stuff, Dustin has been working and is not relaxing in the hot tub. We had 2 deer in the back yard a minute ago and we filmed them, they just walked up metres from our front door, it was pretty cool. The girls got to experience Daddy being Steve Irwin-esque with the camera.

This house has no laundry, so its hand-soaking all the way.. back to nature, mm lovely. The plumbing is also a bit of a disaster, but I can't complain, its a lot better set up than a hotel room. Plus we're only 15 minutes from the hospital.


Ok, i hear them begging for their food, more tomorrow.

Discharge Day

We had a good night with the girls last night. They are so cute!

Well, we finally have a discharge day, Thursday!

They initially said Wed, but lil Violet had another heart episode, so its Thursday. Olivia's saturation is not good either, she keeps dipping into the 80's and apparently any lower and we're checking for blue lips.. nice! Olivia is incredibly peaceful and is now eating at least another 10 mls more than her sister. She just sleeps like an angel, makes a slight frown when she's hungry and then drinks like a champ. Violet, however is so grisley, we can barely get her to sleep peaceful for half an hour consecutively, she wails for her food but when we try to feed it, she wont take the bottle. I wonder if this is a preview of their future personalities? Probably not, probably just Violet's reflux, and belly pains. She may not like the formula too, many factors are possible. All the nurses agree she's next to impossible to burp too, just a difficult little munchkin all around. When you hold her, its just a squirming and wailing situation.. and she's nearly always bright red, poor little thing. Of course things can change, nearly every day they have.


We will be taking the girls tomorrow to a house we rented, day by day until we feel better. The Doctor who saw the girls yesterday, said it would be good if we were around for a post check-up, so thats our plan. We'll then head back to Memphis. Memphis was colder than here yesterday, so its the lesser of two evils anyway. Apparently both cities get annoyingly icey early on.

Nervous and excited to take my babies home to start their little lives!

I'm here to check out of the hotel, and Dustin will get us settled in the house today while i care for the girls.

I have a fantastic polaroid of Dustin doing his first diaper change last night. All the nurses and I ganged up on him, i was holding Olivia and he was holding Violet, so when Violet needed a change, everyone looked at him. Unfortunately it wasn't anything sinister, and we have a photo of him with the hugest smile on his face when he realizes it was a pee. Saved, this time! Its funny, i actually love doing them, bizarre i know. Brings me back to my cabbage-patch kid days. Right now i have my two doll fantasies lived out, Olivia looks like a cabbage-patch kid and Violet looks like my little china porcelain doll. Lucky, neither look like Miffy.

One week old

I can't believe a week has gone by already. The first few days felt like months, but the last few days have flown by.

The girls had their carseat tests yesterday, Violet did great, Livi was borderline, but they passed her. I need to watch her closely in the car to make sure she doesn't flop too much. They have a baby bed they tell you to buy if they are borderline, but they think she will be ok with supervision.

The whole, having to fly the babies home started to dawn on us yesterday. I think the reality of having no nest here and a good 7-8 hour trains, planes and automobile journey with them, (2 hours to airport, train thru airport, 4hrs15mins on plane and then all the good stuff in between and after), and the cold rain, hit us both. Dustin's mom is unable to fly in to help, so it will just be D and I and the two kiddos. D felt they needed to get on the plane asap to get them home, i felt they needed a couple of nights here to get stronger before being exposed to the germs, so the sum of our differering opinions was... well not one of our finest hours:-)).. Alls well that ends well though, we both feel a lot better about it and decided to stay one night when they are discharged (we have to anyway because we can't possibly make a flight in time), and see how we feel from there. I just want to be super organized when we fly, rushing through airports barely making flights has not been uncommon practice for us, darling D has made a career of it, and i want to make sure this time we have plenty of time. The nurses told us to take some purell, so our plan is when we're going through security if and when they try to paw our babies with their filthy mits, shoot them in the hands with a wad of sanitizer. We'll be carrying them in slings on our chests with pieces of material covering their faces, very Michael Jackson of us.

As of yesterday Livi is weighing in just over 5lbs and Violet is a curvy 5lbs6oz.

We are sleeping in the hospital tonight, so if you dont hear a blog from me tomorrow, thats why!

Definitely need to write down feedings, i always thought there was no way i'd forget, but with your exhaustion you really do forget who ate what, and who did what. In fact, I was so tired yesterday i would pull the hat back to check which colour hair mid-feeding, because when they're feeding they look the same.

If you can tell personalities early on, i have a sweet sleepy angel with Livi and a tanty throwing fusser with Violet, i think thats mainly attributed to her reflux though, poor little thing.

pics

Pic 1
Violet is enthrawled by Daddy's book American Shogun about Emporer Hirohito,, he couldn't understand why she fell asleep.

Pic 2
Violet is such a loving sister, she knows Olivia has a club on her hand, so she lends her own finger for her to suck

Pic3
Olivia is starting to open her eyes more and more.

Pic4
Big cuddles, she missed her sister so.

Another day, another ounce

Yesterday was a wonderful day. No dramas to speak of.

Violet had her first bath, and literally minutes later she marinaded herself in all kinds of yucky, time for another bath. She did a number on all the heart monitor tubes on her chest, they needed to be wiped off, how talented is that. !..She was diligent in covering every square inch, leaving her face out so she could look at Daddy's facial expressions as he gagged.


Violet is still doing her heart plummet thing, but she is recovering herself, so for now they're just watching her. If continued, it may be a situation for a Cardiologist.

They girls love sleeping together, its keeping them warmer too, as their temps were somethingelse that needed monitoring, but they are all toasty cosied up.

Today will be another day of us doing all their cares, and the nurses just checking on their 'issues'. Still up in arms what to do about hotels etc, i know they want the girls out asap and arn't afraid to toss us out with a heart monitor in tow. There are lots more babies now, our girls are in danger of outstaying their welcome. We know it wont be long until they show them the door. Of course i'd rather the longer the better, but my hinting fell on deaf ears, the nurses are hell bent on getting them out by Wednesday! We're taking up a lot of space with all the machines etc.

Today they are going to try taking out Livi's IV. Yay for that.

I'm sorry i havn't been calling anybody much, cell phones are to be turned off in the hospital, and my phone doesn't pick up in the reception area so the only place is outside, and nothing says unpleasant like zero degrees in the rain.

Girls both gained an oz since yesterday.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Peaceful Violet and a Hamo hand conglomeration with Olivia

Pic

Update

Well the girls should be getting their tubes taken out soon, but for now, they have finally been put together!.. It was such a cute sight, they were all bundled up together closely. They are both having temperature issues, so they are double or triple wrapped most of the time now, and even though i like to take their hats off to check out their tresses, i have to resist the temptation to do it all the time.

Violet is having that weird heart plummet thing (no actual name for it, so thats my own phrase), her heartbeat just drops suddenly for a few seconds, sets off all the alarms and then returns. They need to see her not have that episode for at least five days to let her out, and she's had 3 in the last 3 days. If it continues for 2 more days, they will be calling the cardiologist.

Both are feeding pretty well. 19mls for Olivia (she's starving), and Violet 19mls BM and the rest formula at 30mls. I am making sure they split it evenly, nobody can say i'm not a fair and just momma.

Things are great now, we are just enjoying being up there with them. Maria is doing amazingly with the pumping, shes feeling great too. She went shopping yesterday and came to the hospital to visit yesterday, she says she feels 'back to normal'. She is giving Dustin meals every day for him to eat, apparently he prefers them to my gourmet Lean Cuisines in the hotel room.

Speaking of hotel rooms, not excited to bring either girl back to any of the rooms i've seen around here. In the one we're staying at now, which is 'the best' in Olympia, they clean when they feel, rarely empty rubbish, heat keeps playing up, just not particularly Waldorf Astoria-ey --so we'll see.

We were told to take the car seats in today for the check, so i have a feeling they wont waste any time. They will be sending them home at the earliest, they even said they may send them both home with heart monitors. I can only imagine how well we'll deal with all the beeping and false alarms that happen all day.

Well thats about it, I think its all low-drama levels on this front for a while. Olivia has a club hand right now(where the IV is) and i saw her hit her sister in the head with it.. so their inevitable inter-twin disputes will hopefully be the next time they seek such a high level of attention.

We're both hitting that wall of exhaustion, i think because things are going well now, we are allowing ourselves to get tired. You know when you're so tired, the idea of even getting ready for bed is too much. We miss our king size bed with a million pillows, this bed is akin to sleeping on a bed of nails, what can i say, Dustin and I, have and always will be bed divas.. We love a good bed, and loathe a putrid one. Of course we have no interest in complaining, we are just so lucky with how things are going with the girls, although its somewhat refreshing to be complaining about trivial things. Of course we're not without worry for the girls, we're not dwelling on it, but will be happy when this heart thing of hers is resolved.

Pictures - Violet wrapped up and Olivia

Doting Daddio

Whenever Dustin goes out in the early morning for the milkrun, the plan is for him to come pick me up and take me back to the hospital, but as soon as he drops it off he sees the girls and can't leave them. So i think hes forgotten about the pick me up part, the crucial part of the plan. Hes a smitten Papa. He said yesterday he wants to teach them Spanish asap, I told him we might wait til they're off feeding tubes first. His most poignant and commonly used phrase is "Our girls are so cool".

Room

The hospital offered us a room, which was nice of them. We're still going to keep the hotel room though, as Dustin needs internet for work, and i have a fridge full of vitamin-packed Pepsi Max ensuring verticalism. The room they offered doesn't have facilities, but at least its nice to have a place to lie down sometimes.

BG

- Olivias Blood gas is 52 (was 65 when rushed to TG hospital), so thats a lot better. Still some room for improvement though. I'll be rapt when the stop jabbing her little foot, she's not a fan of this ritual.

I'll be heading up to the hospital for the day in a minute, Dustins just finishing the morning milk-run.

I'm starting to feel that fluey feeling, its freezing in Seattle and flu season.. so popping vitamins and drinking tons of juice. As is D-man.

Great day

Today was a GREAT day. Olivia decided she was missing her sister, and suddenly began breathing on her own without the CPAP. They kept in the nasal cannular to keep her lungs open. This was a great achievement and also meant she could be sent back to St Peters!

We were told this morning when we arrived that she'd be there at least one week, so this news was a welcome surprise.

She arrived back in St Peters NICU via Ambulance at around 6pm, in time for the first attempted bottle feed. She took it all! Of course it was only 9ccs (9mls), but still a wonderful achievement. She is still in her isolette so wasn't able to be reunited with Violet.

Violet isn't advancing quite as rapidly as her sister. Her heart rate has had two 'sessions' of a plummeting heart rate. This is obviously not great, and they wont be letting her go anywhere til the reason for this is established, it can be a number of things. She didn't turn blue, and she swiftly returned to a healthy heart rate without interference.

She is also struggling with her digestion, but by the end of today was doing well again.

So apart from these issues, they are both doing great, being treated for their jaundice and taking their feedings. They will be upping Liv to 12mls tomorrow and Violet to 45mls. Violet gained an oz since yesterday, and of course Liv is losing pretty quickly. She'll turn that around now though. Also, they think Violet has reflux, we'll know more tomorrow.

All in all, we're feeling positive.

Its about midnight now, we're pretty tired, but wanted to send some pictures. The internet at this 'hotel' sucks, so we didn't install ftp client for an upload, instead we went the ol' fashioned way -- email. If you didn't receive photos, please email me on whichever address we write eachother on and i'll send some tomorrow. I just did a rush job and picked just a few addresses that were nearby -- sorry!

Also, thanks to all those who have offered breastmilk! especially you Andy, .. We're doing great on Marias, but i'll keep you posted.


Finally, have the girls' birth certificates right in front of me, we can now start to apply for SSN #'s, passports etc what a nice feeling!

The Sisters, Hamilton

I just got word the girls' birth certificates are ready! .. That is sensational news, and quite unbelievable considering the huge backlog and red tape usually required to step over for this type of situation.

Dustin and I pooled our organizational resources yesterday, brought the seven or so parties together as necessary, and I took a trip up to see the top guy in government paternity to personally appeal to him and ask him to expedite it, the usual time frame is 60-90 days (a time frame we were told only when we got here, previously we expected a lot less)., even slower now because they are an understaffed (flu season) govt department. I didn't think he was going to see me, but i sort of waited around until he would, sat down in his office, told him whats up, and he told me he'd personally handle it (i had to engage in small talk, and act interested in soccer, among other things, long story) Anyway, as things are time-sensitive. We are very happy our efforts paid off, and we now have birth certificates in record time. He told me he would have had it for me earlier today, except he needed to confirm the spelling of my maiden name.

A much better Day

A much better Day!

Insurance Company

Being a pain in the bum!

UPDATE

Update

Olivia is transferred

Olivia is transferred to Tacoma hospital.

Day 2, Feeds, Diapers and Drama queen Livi

Well today was the longest day of our lives!.

Olivia had been on oxygen the previous night but still ok to hold for a little while, because she was returned to her isolette.

Livi has deteriorited during the night and her CO2 levels had increased and her PH levels decreased. This means the amount of Carbon she is exhaling is not enough for the amount of O2 she is taking in. Her breathing saturation had decreased. She was not allowed to be touched (not even light strokes), and preferably no voices near her. She was needing all her energy to focus on breathing. Her little foot was black and blue from all the blood gas samples they needed to take and she was not a happy camper. Her face was frozen in a perpetual frown, and very red. We were a little taken aback and worried, especially when the medical staff dont give you that much coveted assurance (of course they can't legally, but it would be nice to hear), when asked if we should be worried, the answer is "well we can't say yes or no, but of course you will be".

She was being fed purely by IV, which is just sugar water. This is good because it doesn't require her to take any energy to digest but the negative is of course, no nutrition for her body. Dr Peterson the doctor assigned to them (more about him later, all doctors are not created equal, this guy was a bumbling fool with almost completely contrary advice to what we received later). He requested the nurses feed Olivia 5 cc's, to which the head Nurse Julia (amazing) winced, she definitely didn't think she was ready for it, and she was right. Needless to say if he has an 'accident', dont be surprized, Daddy Dustin is not a fan, and is plotting his bodily harm.

So.. onto some good stuff for a minute, this is the sweet part of the bittersweet day. I got to fully take care of Violet, feeds, changes and all that good stuff. She is amazing, her little eyes are starting to open and she just wants to be held, and was demanding her food right on the 3 hour mark. She also had some pretty diaper surprises for Daddy, and of course he coincidentally needed to visit the restroom during those moments, i guess their bodies are in sync? She did just great and is most happy when shes in my arms, with my hand cupped firmly on her head.

Olivia was out of her isolette waiting for Dr Peterson to examine her, but he was 2 hours later than he anticipated, so the time out of her isolette was not good for her. Her saturation was at a low level of 80, and eventually when moving her back to her Isolette away from distraction, it increased again. He commented they should have put her back, but of course they thought he was coming 'any minute' and didn't want to distress her with moving her back and forth.
Now, Dr P confirmed that Livi is on a course of antibiotics, which is standard protocol for under-developed lungs, in case the issue is not Hyland Membrane Desease or more commonly known RSD, (Respitory Stress Disorder), is indeed pneumonia, so this precautionary measure is a must. This antibiotic needs to be monitored closely, if too much is administered, there are risks of hearing loss/hearing impairments.

All of the staff agreed that if Olivia wasn't showing signs of improvement by midnight, she needed to be transferred immediately. They did not want to see her Co2 levels increase anymore than 55.

By midnight her levels had gone from 55 to 60 and then to 65. This of course was what we feared. Another Dr came in to discuss and it was decided we should get her there asap. She was also very distressed and tiring out, her little rib-cage was moving up and down with real 'pulls' in her chest (not great).

The Girls Have Arrived!

Dustin and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our two beautiful baby girls Violet Isabelle (5lb13oz) and Olivia Renee (5lb4oz), 18 and 19 inches respectively.