5 weeks old

We had a good weekend.  Saturday was a "mommy and the boys day" and a "Char and daddy day".  Kristen got in a lot of time holding the boys close to her, which we can do more frequently now.


Char and I went to the bike shop, burger bar, farmers market, bank, park, and the hospital all on our bikes.  She loves to talk to them and we're including her in their cares by getting their diapers and clothes for us.  There's a video of her talking to Andrew at the end of this post.


Sunday was zoo picnic day for work.  I went to see the boys in the morning and Kristen went in the afternoon.


Andrew was off of the high-flow air for a few days and went back on "the wall" today due to some increased desats.  Bennett is on a flow of 2.  Both are doing well, and hopefully by this time next week, the'll be doing it all on their own.

Andrew raises his hand to let us know he's a fighter.

hat, nasal canula, oversized paci, open eyes and alert - priceless pic while I hold him

week 5 - Andrew bear

week 5 - Bennett bear

vulture donation at the zoo

grilles cheese and cottage cheese
(our bikes in the background)
at Hollywood burger bar

big sister necklaces from G&G Massing,
sporting her new haircut

necklaces and rings and puzzle

checking in on Andrew

Char talking to Andrew

Days 31-33

July 13th and the boys keep getting better!  Bennett is now 3 lbs!! Andrew is so close to being off any breathing assistance, and Bennett is close behind.  Andrew is maintaining his temperature on his own meaning that his isolette is open to the room.  They both have their feeding tubes in their nose now.


Char had some fun this week with a trip to Oaks Park with the Adelmans, and a snow cone in the park.

3 lbs for Bennett and up 70 grams!  They both had their feedings increased a few days ago.

Bennett

Char used her own money from her piggy bank to make her first purchase - a snow cone.

Andrew

Bennett 

Dr Baker told them to be good, but they still "desat" every once in a while.  I took this picture in hopes that we won't see and hear this much longer.

At Oaks Park w/ Orion!!

Orion, Mason and Char

Snack time.  What great friends!

one month old, 32 weeks gestation

These last few days have been a good continuation of progress that started on the weekend.  Bennett did well off his CPAP Sunday night.  Andrew went off his CPAP yesterday morning and did well too.  Both are still really stable!  We get to hold them twice a day now and they are starting to be able to hold their own temperature.  Bennett got his clothes on tonight for the first time.  These guys have come such a long way in a month!  Every few days, we have a new nurse of RT that tells us they remember hearing when the boys came in and how sick they were.  This is scary to think about especially since they have 150+ nurses and 60 patients at one time.

Char went to school with Mason and Orion again which she was really excited about, and she got some special daddy and mommy time too.

Andrew is 4 lbs!!

I got to hold them both for the first time.  You can see how Andrew (right) is bigger than Bennett.

Kristen took Char for ice cream.  First time ever at Dairy Queen.

Uncle David (Brad's brother) got his Army Combat Medic Award for his service in Afghanistan.  We're really proud of him and can't wait for him to come home.

Bennett did great without his CPAP over night

Kristen w/ Andrew

Andrew no CPAP

Char setting up our favorite game "bugs and trucks".  You push the truck at the bug and whichever one you hit is yours.  This on had the variation of animals where you hit the animals who run and get the bug.  Char has been getting new cars when she's a really good girl, starting when we were going up to Seattle for doctor visits twice a week.  This is really special time I have with her.

4 weeks - exciting day!

Today was one of the best days in a really long time.  All 3 of our kids came a long way today.  We're so proud of them.  Char was so excited that they were doing well enough that she could hold Bennett.  She chose Bennett because "he's the littler one".  She also listened to Andrew's heart and "helped" change his diaper.  Andrew was keeping his temperature on his own so we dressed him for the first time and kept the lid open.  Then, Bennett got his CPAP off.  He is now on the high flow; which means no bubbles, no hat, and just loose prongs in his nose that provide air.  We'll see how he does over night with it.  They'll probably try Andrew off CPAP tomorrow as well.  This is really exciting that they are progressing like this!

it looks like the boys had another plan for their care - Bennett went off CPAP

 

big sister getting ready to go in and hold

Char listening to Andrew's heart

mommy dressing Andrew for the first time

Andrew really comfy in his clothes; well as comfy as you can be with prongs shoved up your nose

a video of Char holding Bennett

Super happy big sister holding Bennett

This was so great!

Char talking to nurse Adrian.  She was so proud of herself.  Then out of nowhere she told me that I was bigger than Adrian.  I'm glad it wasn't the other way around; could have been embarrasing

 

Bennett with CPAP off!!

Bennett's monitor after the CPAP was off.  Everything's really stable.  (These are the monitor that we look at for hours on end while in the NICU.  Enough to drive you nuts when the alarms go off!)

Andrew bear - week 4

Bennett bear - week 4