kid pics January-March 1016

 

Gary and Lori were in town to visit and gave me a much-needed break from the NICU to take the older kids to the children's museum in Escondido.

St. Patty's day rainbow necklaces.

Weeks 3-8 February 24th to April 3rd Rady Children's NICU at Palomar Hospital Escondido

The babies were transferred from the main Rady's campus to another Rady NICU in Escondido.  The babies were to stay at this NICU until they were ready to go home.  We were transferred there late one Wednesday night, and by the time the babies got to the hospital in the ambulance and we got there, it was quite late.  the NICU they were at was in the old Palomar hospital, and it was old.  Our initial impression of the NICU wasn't very great, as we had just left a private, well-lit room with rocking chairs and found ourselves in a more common arrangement, with isolettes lined up and divided by curtains.  The babies were eventually settled into a far corner and we took up residence for the next six weeks.  While at this NICU, the babies just had to eat and grow.  Their major obstacle was avoiding anemia.  It isn't uncommon for preemies to need a blood transfusion, but both babies were able to avoid it.  They were given a drug called endomethacin that stimulates bone marrow to make more blood cells.  The drug was effective and helped the babies keep their blood levels up.

We still went to the hospital every day, either Matt or I, and spent the day holding babies and working on feeds.  Since babies can't eat well until about 34 weeks, the babies had to learn to eat.  It was no easy task for such little guys.

Learning to eat.

Our very first picture as a family of 7.  This was the first time the kids had seen the babies.  

I had a cold for a few days.  No germs on babies.

Molly's car seat test before heading home.  She had to keep her oxygen levels at a normal rate for as long as it would take to drive home.  She passed!