A few more days...

Well, we're getting close. The neonatologist thinks they might get to go home in a few more days (possibly Wednesday). At this point the boys just need to gain some more weight so cross your fingers. They are weighed each night before the 8:00 feeding. Yesterday morning Mason decided he was all done with his feeding tube and pulled it out himself. Later in the day Prior decided to do the same. The boys have been eating enough on their own not to need a supplement so hopefully it stays that way. The down side of no supplement is that I'm not able to skip any feedings but that's okay until they get the hang of things.

As of about 10:00 this morning I am officially "germophobic" for the first time in my life. The neonatologist said that if the boys end up with a fever before April 10th (30 days after their 40-week due date of March 10th) they are immediately hospitalized for a minimum of two days - no questions asked. They are given a series of tests, including a spinal tap. I guess I hadn't even thought about that. Of course I want to show off these beautiful babies to everyone in the world but now hearing that from the doctor we will probably have to wait to have any visitors unless they are helping with the midnight feedings and are germ free! I am sick of this hospital and definitely don't want to make the boys come back - they've been through enough already.

Today has been a busy day and it started early. Around 1:00 am the ultrasound tech came in and did an ultrasound of their brains to check for bleeding. This is standard procedure given their gestational age and everything looked normal. After that they each had their hearing tested (and the passed!).  Next up were the carseat checks. They each have to be able to sit in their carseat for an hour while hooked up to the monitors to make sure their stats don't drop while they are sitting in the seats. Mason wasn't real fond of the tightness of the car seat. Doesn't he look small in here? Neither boy had any alarms go off when they were in the car seats so that's good (not that we'll be going anywhere but the doctor for a very long time!)

After the car seat checks it was just in time for the 2:00 am feeding. At night when I don't have any help from Grandma or Ben it takes 2 hours for each feeding (rather than the 1 1/2 hours it takes during the day). I think some of that extra time is spent trying to keep my eyes open. I was able to then sleep from 4:00 to 5:00, feed the boys from 5:00 to 7:00 and then sleep again from 7:00 till 8:00. For those of you not good at math that is two one-hour "naps". I'm not sure what I would call it but I'm not sure it qualifies as sleep. I am pretty much delirious at this point and I think I might still be running on adrenaline. I'm sure it will be much easier once I get home.................

After the 8:00 feeding the boys made their first trip out of the NICU. They went with their pediatrician down to the nursery for their circumcision. I feel so bad for them!

I wish Mason would stop crying - I'm trying to rest!

For some odd reason my eyes look half shut in every picture I'm in...it must be the new camera? These are the first outfits the boys wore of their own. They were also the very first outfits in the boys' closet. Kristi got them for the boys shortly after we found out they were boys. They are preemie size and fit well but probably not for long mainly because they are so long. The little froggie feet are adorable.

Hey everybody - notice anything different about me?! NO TUBE!

Dear God, thank you for giving me a brother. Mommy and Daddy told me that most boys have to wait for a long time for a brother or a sister and I was lucky enough to get one right away. Love, Prior.

Hey - where did my Daddy go? Auditing can WAIT! I am only going to be 10 days old once!