Tiny hands...

(one of my favorite moments during a feeding)

Hi there everyone.

Everything is going okay at the Vincent house.

We took the twins to the pediatrician today. The twins have been packing on the grams... an average of 80 a day. Tyler is 6 lbs 8 oz, and Kristina is 6 lbs 6 oz. She mentioned this growth rate is off the charts and she gave us an A++ for the effort. She also mentioned that we should relax a bit and shoot just for the A. Sounds good to us!

Kristina and Tyler are on a tight 3 hour feeding schedule (3, 6, 9, 12) to make sure they gain the weight that there were supposed to get if they went full term. It takes 1 to 1.5 hours to get a feeding complete and ready for the next one. If it all goes smoothly and the twins eat without falling asleep, we have gotten the time down to 40 minutes, but that is a rare moment. With all that it leaves us with 1.5 to 2 hours of sleep per session. But that is when all is going well. A bubbly tummy may keep them fussing for another good hour. So far both of us have been getting up at every feeding. We have been given Doctors orders, by our pediatrician, to make sure that one of us gets at least a 4 hour stretch of sleep. My hardest time is the 3AM and 6AM feedings. Amy's hardest is the midnight feeding. I think I'll be taking the midnight feeding tonight on my own.

The diapers are really starting to fly now. We are guaranteed to go through at least 16 a day; 1 for each baby at each feeding. But occasionally they mess up the clean diaper the moment it gets on, or just after the feeding (or sometimes, both). Tyler fires the hose once he feels the fresh air. Thanks for that mister, I already had my shower.

Enjoy the photos... Don't forget to click on the photo to see the larger image and use it to print it out.

Jason

(Mommy and Kristina enjoying some bonding time)

(a preemie trait is to put their hands over their face when they've had enough)
(Put the camera away DAD!!!)

(one Tyler and Kristina burrito to go please.)

Must sleeeeeeep..... zzzzzz

There's No Place Like Home

It has finally happened ... both of our precious ones have come home.

Kristina came home first on a cold Monday evening. We had one night to practice before we had two babies to feed and care for (every three hours round the clock). Then, on Tuesday, during a snow storm, Tyler joined his sister for a car ride home. All we need now is sleep. Even though we feed them every three hours, it is about an hour and a half before both are changed, fed and the supplies put away and cleaned up for the next feeding. That only leaves another hour and a half to sleep or get things done. They just don't have the strength to chug those bottles, yet. That is one reason the Christmas lights are still hanging (although not on).

All the nurses loved the two of them. They were both happy and sad to see them go. The doctor visit today was refreshing. They have both put on weight since leaving the hospital. Tyler is up to 5 # 13 oz and Kristina is up to 5# 11 oz. We were lucky that as premature as they were, no major respiratory problems were noted and they did not have much jaundice. In fact, they did much better than some preemies further along than them. The doc said we are doing a fantastic job. The only obstacle left is feeding strength. They cannot eat very fast or much at one time, hence the long time to feed and the every three hours.

The dogs have adjusted fairly well. Stuart tries to be the center of attention by rolling over on his back and being cute. The babies always win the cuteness battle. Jake is concerned when they cry or make noise and will most likely be a good protector of them. The cats have not really met them yet. Pumpkin and Beau got a quick glimpse of them today in their catseats before heading off for the first pediatrician visit. Beau was a little cautious and jumped back when they moved or squeaked. Pumpkin tried to crawl into the carseat for a good sniff or possible cuddle and take a nap.

Not only did the twins have a doctor appointment, so did I. My blood pressure has been too low, to the point that I have been dizzy and weak in the mornings. My drugs have been decreased & I should be weaned off them soon. I have been given the okay to go on walks but not to drive. Now that I can get out of the house, the twins cannot until the threat of flu season is past.

Jason and I will try to keep posting to the blog, but we will be pretty busy in the next few months. In fact I hear Kristina fussing right now. Gotta run!

I'm Home At Last

Hello Everybody
Thank you very much for all your thoughts and concerns!! One week in the hospital is enough for me. Positive: I was closer to my babies.

My blood pressure is still not back to normal but is being controlled at a more reasonable level on medication. I am now on more medications & supplements than I have ever been on before (9 different kinds). Positive: I am more likely to drink plenty of water

I missed a snow storm while semi-comfortable in my hospital bed. Positive: I stayed warm.


But, what you really want to know about ... the TWINS
Tyler looks just like his father's baby photo. He is the more mellow of the two. Kristina is a mini me, complete with the dimples. She is the queen of facial expressions and lets you know when she does not like something. She will be a handful.
Tyler and Kristina continue to improve every day. The doctor estimates that they will still be in the hospital come Monday but may be home early next week. Because of my c-section, I cannot drive for two weeks so I have to find somebody to drive me back and forth for their feedings (every three hours) or stay at the hospital all day. Although I would love to have them home so that I can feel like a mother, it is nice to be able to sleep at night in order to fully recover from my surgery before taking care of two preemies all night! As all the doctors say, it is important for me to heal since I am the primary source of food for the young ones. If you can't tell already I am trying to stay positive through the whole ordeal.

The next step for the twins now is to eat 140 calories/kg/day as well as be able to remain stable in their car seat for 1 1/2 hours (to be tested tonight). Tyler is only eating about 109 calories/kg/day while Kristina is up to 120 calories/kg/day. To his credit, Tyler is eating slightly more but because he weighs more is not reaching his required quota.


My milk is finally starting to come in. The twins drink my milk readily, and do better on it, than the formula. I have been told that it is normal to take a week for milk production after a c-section at 35 weeks gestation with high blood pressure only exacerbating the problem. The twins are not yet strong enough to suckle completely from my breast so pumping and bottle feeding is the best way to go. Tyler is much more enthusiastic about the breast feeding than his sister; he is his father's son.

Hugs and kisses from us all! Love Amy.

BTW: the dogs were very happy to see me and immediately found my healing incision site. Then the cats jumped on my lap causing me to vocalize my discomfort: I went back on my oxycodone.

Amy staying some more.

Well if there is anything definite in medicine is that nothing is definite. Amy's blood pressure continues to concern the doctors. The pressure is remaining high even when she is in bed. Today she will get her staples taken out.

She won't be going home until the blood pressure is stabilzed at a lower level.

c ya... time to feed our babies,
Jason

One more night.

Amy's blood pressure continues to be elevated today, so they decided to keep her a second additional night. She'll definitely be heading home tomorrow (Tues). She is walking around fine, and has been making it to the nursery on her own.

Babies are progressing nicely. They both have a feeding tube now. This helps to supplement what they are getting from the bottle. They are working so hard, that they simply fall asleep while feeding. They say the coordination reflexes to suck, swallow, and breath is the last thing they develop. Once we get them over the hump, they should really start gaining some weight. In order to go home they will need to be consistently gaining some weight over several days.

Cheers,
Jason

Big Progress.

Hi everyone.

I finally had a chance to get back to our home computer to post an update. I guess I'll have fewer and fewer of those in the next few days (and years). ;) It is amazing to me how quickly you forget to take care of yourself and worry about your family.

Amy had improved quite a bit, but she still has high enough pressure today that she was asked to stay one more day. We expect her to be released on Monday.

Tyler and Kristina are doing GREAT! They are now sleeping together in a small crib. All they have to do now is learn to eat enough to start gaining weight. Amy and I have both fed the two of them several times now. If they don't fall asleep while eating, they do pretty good. Today they have been getting about 25-30 ounces of milk down. Tyler has had a little trouble getting enough to eat, so they may insert a feeding tube just to get him past this difficult stage. The same may come for Kristina if he follows the example of her brother. Some jaundice is a apparent in both of them. However it wasn't so bad to require a light treatment yet.

They will have at least another week in intensive care. I'll be heading in for work this week to save up some vacation days for when they come home.

Some more formal numbers:
Tyler, born 1/4/2007 at 9:41pm at 5 lbs 9oz and 47cm long.
Kristina, born 1/4/2007 at 9:43pm at 5lbs 5oz and 45cm long.

They are the cutest, most perfect babies I've ever seen. No really, I mean it. HE HE!

Cheers!
Jason

A Big day.

Hi all,

A big day today for the twins and Mom. (Tyler in the green, and Kristina in the yellow. Click the images to see a closer view.)

The twins are progressing very smoothly. They are no longer on oxygen equipment as they have now gotten strong enough to maintain a close to 100% oxygen levels using the room air. Because they are off the tubes Amy and I finally had a chance to hold them.

Click here for a video of Momma's first holding. Tyler is in her left arm, and Kristina is in her right.

Amy should be able to come home on Sunday. Her blood pressure has improved greatly today. They are still watching her. The Twins will need to stay in the nursery for 10-14 days, maybe a little more. This means after all the ordeal at the hospital, we have to come home without them.

Thanks for all the support. We will take all we can get.

Jason

The Twins are HERE!

Tyler Jason and Kristina Amy were born on 1/4 at 9:41 pm and 9:43 pm at 5lbs 9oz and 5lbs 5oz: 5 weeks early. They are in intensive care and being watched carefully. Mom is recovering from severe pre-eclamsia(sp?) and being monitored carefully for high blood presure (~185/105). Other than those issues, all is ok.

More details and pictures to come later. Time for bed.

Keep us in your thoughts.
Jason