Look Mom, No Cannula!!

The babies have been in the hospital for 48 days.  They are 7 weeks old tomorrow!  I can't believe how fast it has gone by!  If I were still pregnant, I would be 36 weeks along....and ginormous.  I suppose there are some upsides to delivering at 28 weeks.

We have settled into a nice rhythm here.  I go up to the hospital during the day every other day, and then every other night, Jay and I go together.  Our drive to the hospital takes about 45 minutes.  It has been really nice to have that alone time with Jay.  I might actually be a little sad when we don't have those long evening drives anymore.  

Jack and Luke love having Grandma Durrant here, so they don't really mind that I leave them a lot.  Although, on Friday, Jack said, "Mom, do you have to go to the hospital today?  Can't you just stay here with me and play?  Tripp and Charlie can't even play yet.  They will never know the difference."  Haha!  He sounds so grown up sometimes. 

They may not know if I come up every day or not, but I sure miss them if I don't.  I can't wait until they are home and I can snuggle them whenever I want :)

Jack took a headband and put it around his face so that he could have a nasal cannula like Tripp and Charlie :)  He is such a funny kid!

Tripp and Charlie are thriving!  They are getting fat, fat, fat!!  Tripp is now 4 lb. 13 oz. and Charlie is 4 lb. 6 oz.!!  They are starting to look like babies....instead of fetuses....or monkeys :)

The boys have made some awesome progress this week!  They have both gained enough weight that they can regulate their body temperatures somewhat.  So, they were moved out of their isolettes and into bassinets!!  Now they don't seem like they are locked away in little cages.  They are out in the open!

They also both came off of their nasal cannulas!  They haven't been having any apnea episodes and they were both weaned off of their caffeine!  Hopefully they can keep them off this time and not tire out!  Because it is so nice to see their little faces!

Aren't they so darling?  Charlie on the left, Tripp on the right.

Since they are regulating their temps, they get to wear clothes!!  Here is Tripp looking studly!  I couldn't get a picture of Charlie in his outfit because he is still a little cold and has to stay wrapped up over his clothes.   They are about a day away from growing out of their preemie clothes.  Chubbers.

Grandma and Tripper :)  Seriously, I think I have eaten a Chipotle burrito about the same size as him.

 Another leap made this week is bottle feeding!  Both boys get to try a bottle once a day.  It really wears them out so we have to start slow.  Yesterday, Tripp took 15 cc's and Charlie took 7!!  This is one skill they have to master before they can come home.  A full bottle for them would be about 40 cc's.  So, they have a ways to go still.  Their feeding tubes got moved to their noses so that they can get a better latch on the bottle.  I can't even imagine having a tube shoved up my nose.  Blech!!

Jay and Mini-Jay.

Charlie is always smiling.  I don't care if it is gas.  He sure has a cute smile! :)

They are starting to look more identical.  I am needing some ideas to tell them apart.  Right now I just count on their beds staying in the same place so I know who is who :)  Tripp's double chin helps, too :)

Can't wait to have our two other boys in the picture with these guys!  If all goes really, really well, we may have them home for Christmas!!  It's a long shot, but I'll take it :)