Stronger and Stronger (three weeks)

Si and Gabe keep getting stronger. Still in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for a few more days, they're getting close to graduating to "Two South" a step down in care intensity. This week, both had their IV's pulled out after several days of ingesting enough food on their own to go without intravenous supplemental nutrition. Their respiratory and cardiac numbers are getting steadily stronger. Although they both have had some problems with feeding intolerance (regurgitating some of their milk) they are both nearing 3 1/2 pounds (1/2 pound heavier than their birth weight). At last night's weighing, they both weighed exactly 1345 grams - identical to within .1%! We were told that when they reached the "corrected" gestational age of 34 weeks (today) their suckling instinct would start to evidence itself, and it certainly has. For the last couple of days, both have been very enthusiastic about pacifiers. Over the next few days, we'll start to introduce them to oral feeding, and if that goes well, we'll take the next step of getting them out of their isolettes and into cribs. That's about the time they don't need to be in the NICU any longer.

The official hospital line is that we should expect to bring them home on their original due date (Dec 3), but the unofficial word we're getting from their nurses is that just before Thanksgiving is a strong likelihood, if they continue to make this kind of progress. What a way to spend the holiday!

Since they're stronger and not relying on the oxygen and IV anymore, we've been able to spend more time holding them. This week, we were able to get Gabe's isolette moved into the spot next to Si's and we introduced them to each other for the first time since they were born! See below for our first family portrait.

Mom is getting stronger every day as well. The high blood pressure and other symptoms of the pre-eclampsia are declining as concerns, leaving Suzanne to contend mainly with the soreness and fatigue resulting from a major surgery. It will likely be another 3-5 weeks before she's fully recovered. She is very excited to have hands instead of mits and feet that don't look like elephant's (the swelling was really something else!).

Those are the details. Here are some of the photos we promised you:

Grampa Bill and Nana visit with Si.

Gabe in Suzanne's hands.

Our first family photo.

Si's hand in Derek's. Mom's holding Si.

Amma holding Si.

Keep your eyes peeled for a postcard showing you actual size footprints.