Daily Visit - July 30, 2012

Well I had my first day back at work after being off for almost two weeks recovering from the c-section yesterday, Monday the 30th. I knew the day would be filled with lots of questions about the babies and the delivery as everyone at work was just as shocked as I was since I had been at work the Monday before the babies arrived. It was definitely nice to be back into a somewhat normal routine and always nice to know you have a good group of people you work with that care so much. The day went by super quick as I played catch up to get everything back on track. I worked until about 3:15 and then headed to College Station to see the boys.

I was greeted by NICU nurse Cindy and she said the boys were doing great. I kangarooed with both boys as me and Cindy talked about my baby shower and how good it went and about how MUCH stuff we received. The time of course flew right by since I only get to hold the boys for about 30 minutes each. I said my goodbyes and I love you's and then headed to the house.

Today the routine started all over again... Wake up at 5:30, pump, shower and head to work... Leave work at 3 and head to see my boys. I kangarooed with both boys today and Suzanne was the NICU nurse and she always lets me sneak in a little more time with the boys so I actually got to hold Wesley for almost on hour and then Westyn was about 35-40 minutes. They are both doing good and had a great night last night. I talked to Sue the Nurse Practitioner and she said both boys are looking great and right where they expect them to be at. She told me that the time will go by quick and they will be coming home before we know it.. So we can only hope she is right.

The boys stats:
Westyn: 3lbs 5.6ounces
Wesley: 3lbs 5.2ounces

They are definitely starting to fill out and Wesley is continuing to catch up with his brother. We are thinking that he might pass up Westyn pretty soon. They have gained about 2 ounces each day this week.. so the breast milk mixed with formula is definitely paying off. They are mixing 1:1 of my breastmilk with formula to make the milk 25 calories a feeding and each boy is now at 30ml (1ounce) of milk per feeding.

I also got a phone call yesterday that the bracelet Ronnie bought me to remind me of the boys while they are in the NICU had come in so I swung by James Avery today and picked it up. It has 2 sets of little boys shoes on it and each shoe has the boys name and their date/time of birth on it. I've added it to my right hand that has the NICU bracelets that I have to wear and keep on in order to get the boys out of the hospital once they graduate from the NICU.

We continue to ask for everyone's prayers in hopes that the boys will be released soon and ready to come home and start all the memories we will have together.

Showered with Gifts

We have had a very productive weekend. Yesterday I went to visit the boys with Morgan and Kayla and had a great visit as always. The boys were very active and moving around and sucking on their paci's. They definitely seem to be getting stronger as time is going by. It's always nice to have company at the visits and see their reactions to the boys and the different things they do and also see who they think each boy looks like. I definitley appreciate everyone that drove me to see the boys over the past week while I was not able to drive and get myself around.

Today was a very busy day. We got up this morning and my parents picked up me and Ronnie with the nephews and we made our way to College Station to get our time in with the boys before my baby shower at 1. Both boys are still doing great. Not much change, but like I always tell the nurses no change is better then bad changes.


Westyn: 3lbs 2.3ounces - 29ml milk

















Wesley: 3lbs 1.9 ounces - 28 ml milk

The NICU doctor, Dr. Stiener, had warned us that it was probably going to start getting boring with the boys changes, but that is okay. I would rather it be boring then the craziness of things going wrong.

After the visit with the boys we headed back home and I loaded up my car with all the things I needed for the boy shower and headed to the hall. We had a great turnout at the shower and am so thankful for everyone that came and ALL the wonderful gifts that we were showered with to make us more prepared for the boys arrival at home. The hostesses did a great job and had TONS of food for everyone and had the hall decorated super cute. I had story time telling how the how surprise arrival of the boys took place.. and yes I did break down and cry.. I tried not too, but the emotions overtook me. After story time we opened gifts and that was very overwhelming with everyone's generosity on everything that we received. The boys are definitely blessed.

Once again thank you to: Bonnie, Morgan, Sarah, Patti, Nichole, Darleen, Jill, Jenny, and Kay on throwing the boys such a wonderful shower. We are so thankful for each and every one of you!!

Like always - - Please continue to pray for the boys so they can come home soon.

Daily Visit - July 26, 2012

Upon our arrival to our visit today our nurse, Cindy, forwarned us that Westyn had just had a stinky diaper and she was not lying. Ronnie and me walked around the corner to enter into his room and goodness gracious did he mark his territory. We had a good laugh about it and joked about what we have to look forward to when they come home. She said that the reason so smelly was probably because supplementing my breast milk with formula. They had told us they would be doing that in order to add calories to the breast milk and help with weight gain.

Wesley was very active today. It was super cute seeing him sneeze and squirm around while Cindy checked all his vitals. While watching him we noticed he was sticking his fingers in his mouth and I told her we definitely wanted to break that before he becomes a thumb sucker. So she gave him his paci and he went to town sucking away at it. Just melted my heart sitting there watching him.

Me and Ronnie still are trying to pick out each other features that the boys have, but it's so hard because they are still changing so much and still working on getting fat on their bones. We are super excited to see how they will change and look as they continue to grow and get stronger.

The boys both had head ultrasounds done to check for bleeding in the brain and both of their tests came out good. They also had humidity going in each issolette and have been able to turn that off for now. The humidity just was to help with putting moisture back into their skin. They had swim lessons (baths) the other night and when I went to see them yesterday Westyn's hair was sticking straight up everywhere.

Their stats are: Westyn - 3lbs 1oz and up to 28ml of breast milk. Wesley - 2bs 14ozs and up to 26ml of breast milk. They are almost at their full feeding level of 30ml (which is 1 ounce). I have been kangarooing with both boys daily and we are hoping that Ronnie feels comfortable enough to start kangarooing with them next week as well to create a bond with them. Ronnie did read some books to the boys today while I was holding them. Such great family memories are already starting to form.

Till next time!! We continue to ask God to watch over our boys and keep them strong so they can come home soon!

We are One Week Old Today!!

I can't believe that the boys are already a week old today. To think that I was laying in the recovery room this time last Tuesday and had jus became a mom to 2 sweet boys. I still think back on that day, and know that I will for a long time, about how everything went so fast and my world took a full 360 degree turn. My heart know belongs to my two sweet boys, Westyn and Wesley. I went to visit them today with their Great Aunt April and they are both doing good. I kangarooed with both boys and it's the best feeling in the world being able to hold them and see how content they are. There is definitely that motherly bond that is strong as ever. Westyn has a little personality of his own. He makes the cutiest expressions and is constantly moving his mouth. He even had a slight smile today. He will open his little eyes and look up and that eye connections just melts my heart. Wesley has changed so much to me already since he was born a week ago. His features are changing so much. I just love his little nose. When the time comes to put them back in there isolette (incubator) it melts my heart. I just want to be able to keep them in my arms forever and take them home with me. Aunt April thinks that they do resemble each other, so we will see as they get older and get more filled out if they will resemble each other or not. They are fraternal so there is a chance they can look identical, but we think they may have their own look. Westyn is now weighing 2lbs 14ozs.. So he is down a little, but they say that is normal and he is still doing great Wesley is now weighing 2lbs 14ozs as well.. So he is up on his weight. He also got his IV's taken out and his bilirubin light is off because his level is down to 3.3 which is great because it was about 7 yesterday. I also reached out today to a non-profit organization called Preemie Prints for emotional support, because I know we have a long road ahead of us and it will be nice to be able to talk to other parents that have been in our shoes. I've reached out to a friend of mine, but will be nice to have others to hear their stories as well. They offer support and also other additional services for free to preemie parents. One of the things is free preemie photos so that will be nice to be able to take so photos that the boys will have for when they get older to look back on. So looking back it's crazy to think that the boys are a year old already, but we are so in love and can't wait to get them healthy and bring them home. I'm super excited for my shower this Sunday to see what all the boys get and be able to complete their room and get it all ready for the day the doctors are able to release them into our care. Once again keep the boys in your prayers and I will keep the updates coming!!

Daily Visit - July 23, 2012

Westyn Dale Shay

Wesley Dean Shay

So I have decided to create a blog to keep everyone updated on the boys progress. Figured this would be the easiest way to keep in touch with everyone. We had a very lively visit today. Since I am unalbe to drive I have lined up people for this week to take me to see the boys. Today Katie (Bush) took me to get my staples taken out and see my doctor and then over to the hospital. I was worried about how it would feel getting the staples taken out, but it actually wasn't that bad at all. I still have to take it easy and am limited to the things that I can do. I asked the doctor to release me back to work and driving next week because I am gettin stir crazy just laying around and not being productive. She agreed that was fine and that I was doing good and released me to return to work on Monday, July 30. I can also start driving as well. I am super excited about that, which is crazy to think about getting so excited to go back to work, but it will help my days go by faster until the boys are released. I am planning on trying to put in a full day and then after work head to the hospital to see the boys and kangaroo with them. Also, will have to keep dropping off breastmilk until they have a good supply of it and then we will begin freezing it.

The boys are doing great. Still holding their own, but continue to ask for prayers to keep the progress going. I met with Dr. Stiner (spelling not sure) and he said he is very happy with where the boys are at right now. He said that he expects them to go home around 6-8 weeks. Hopefully they keep up the strength and can come home before then, but me and Ronnie both agree that they know what is best and want them to be there until they are healthy enough to join us at home.

Updates:
Westyn - was taken off his IV so he has no more needles sticking him, just the monitors and his feeding tube. He is up to 23 ml of breastmilk. Weight 3lbs. Has pooped (which is a big thing in the NICU). Kangarooing with him daily and can't wait till Daddy decides to hold him.
Wesley - was taken off of oxygen yesterday and has stayed off it. Still having to do some phototherapy for the bilirubin (Jaundice). Had first kangaroo with him yesterday, July 22 and will now on a daily basis. He is up to 21 ml of breastmilk. Weight 2lb 12ozs.

We had a couple of first funs today. After the kangaroo today with Wesley I went to hand him back to the nurse and when I looked in my shirt by his foot I thought that he was bleeding, but as I took a closer look I realized he had pooped on me.. Of course I didn't mind it at all. Just took some tissues and wiped it off.  The picture to the right is Wesley all relaxed after the kangaroo and being cleaned off- I also got to change Westyn's diaper for the first time. I was hesitant to do it at first, but Katie and the nursed convinced me to change it. He wasn't a happy camper, but it was a great experience to be able to do something interactive with them. The picture below is mommy changing Westyn's diaper.

The nurse also sent home their blankets for me to wash and then I will sleep with them and keep them around me till tomorrow and then take them back to the hospital for them to lay the boys on so they can have my scent on them and they will be able to smell it.

All in all we are so happy with how the boys are doing. We know that we still have a long road ahead and continue to ask everyone to keep the boys in their prayers. Hopefully the updates will keep everyone informed on their progress and can't wait till the day I get to post that they are coming HOME!!