Momma and Daddy get to hold the boys again!

Jared snug as a bug

The four of us (Jared in the background in his isolette)

Daddy holding Jared
Anthony while Momma is holding him

Anthony with no CPAP

Daddy giving Anthony his pacifier

Every two weeks the nurses change out their isolettes with clean ones, this is when Jason and I are most helpful. We offer to hold the boys (of course just to help the nurses out) while they maneuver the bedding around. Last night was the night - Jason held Jared and I held Anthony. It was just as amazing and touching as the first time we held them in our arms just two weeks ago. I cried...again.

Jared is still doing very well on his feeding and is up to 16 ccs as of this morning. Yesterday, Dr. Kamran, changed his schedule to a 2 line protocol (increasing the amount after every second feeding) in order to get him to full feedings more quickly. He has been tolerating this very well and has advanced as planned. Hopefully they will remove the PICC line and discontinue IV fluids today. As we have explained before, the PICC line is just another possible site for infection (which we don't want) so it is best to remove it as soon as possible.

Both boys have lost about 10 grams in the last few days. So far there is no cause for concern unless this becomes a trend. The nurses say that it is common for them to lose a little bit of weight here and there, mostly because of how much and how often they are pooping now. It never fails, everytime we are in there...one of them poops. Last night, Anthony's nurse was getting ready to change his bed and thought that she should check his diaper first. Sure enough, it was poopy. As she was changing it and began to remove the dirty diaper, he pooped again! We all started laughing, but thank goodness she has quick reflexes!

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday afternoon when I walked into the NICU and found Anthony breathing room air on his own. No CPAP, no nasal cannula...just plain old breathing. So, I started to cry. He has been without any type of oxygen supplement since 11 AM yesterday, and as of 8 AM today, is still doing well. The doctor can't say that he will stay this way, so there is a nasal cannula standing by, but for now it is great that he is doing well on his own.

I almost gave Jason a heart attack. When I saw Anthony, I had to call him right away. Note to self: Don't call your husband from the NICU crying ever again! (Daddy's Editorial Note: She's not kidding! I almost died when she called me!)

I can hardly believe that they are four weeks old today! It is amazing how slowly time flies by. Jason and I often talk about how it seems that these weeks have come and gone so quickly, but how it also seems like a year has passed because all of the days have been running together for us. At any rate, Friday they will be one month old - I kind of want to make party hats for them and bake them a cake!

Last night, the NICU admitted another set of twins (that makes three now!). All of the singleton babies have been discharged and the twins stand alone. Both of the other sets are much older and even the ones born last night are more advanced than our boys. Jared and Anthony were happy to welcome their new neighbors, even if they were crying and keeping them awake most of the night.

So far today, good news, but we still remain leary of what awaits us and our babies. I often think to my self and apologize to both Jared and Anthony (as I hold their little hands) for making them work so hard. I explain to them that we all understand that we are asking them to do so much each and every day but that they are doing so well and to just keep fighting. It will get easier, I hope.

Fight On! Little Fighters!! - Love Momma