Baby Update

Both Elsie and Elias are doing very well. There billiruben levels were high as of Sunday, and the doctor decided to put both under the special lights yesterday before the levels got any higher. I called this morning at 2 am and they said both babies' blood work came back with lower levels. :)

I was sent home on Sunday, and though the soreness is MUCH worse than when I had Emily I am trying to keep on the 800 mg Motrin three times a day and the pain is very manageable. This is good because yesterday they upped both babies' nursing to three times a day, and today it will probably be upped again to four. This means three or four trips back and forth to the hospital because of course the nursings can't be back to back, they have to be spread out as much as possible.

So right now the deal is that both babies just need to continue eating and growing. They both have the suck, swallow, breathe reflex down just great and are nursing very well. Eli for sure is the champ here. He surprised everybody with how well he does eating. Elsie is a little more finicky, and is already showing us that she can be quite the princess. As they eat more and grow, they will increase nursings. Until then the rest of their feedings are still done through a feeding tube in their poor little noses. The nurses explained that at this early gestational age and weight they just don't have the strength to nurse enough to get all the calories they need... hence the feeding tube. Once they grow and can eat more on their own without expending too many calories in the process, they will get to come home.

Until then we are making several trips back and forth to the hospital. Emily comes about once per day. She is very excited about her new additions and wants to help do everything! Of course Grammy is a tremendous help. While in the hospital she was carrying Emily's baby doll, as per Emily's request. Of course Grammy was going all out, and shhhhing the baby and rocking the baby. When we got on the elevator, the nurses at the nurses station just about jumped over the counter, as did everybody coming off the elevator. They all thought mom was trying to steal a baby! :) This made me laugh so hard I thought I was about to bust my stitches! For sure a laugh we all needed to lift our spirits and provide a story we will never forget!