Got Milk???

I never knew it was such a hot topic, but a lot of people seem to be interested... maybe because we have 3 babies?
YES, I am breast feeding the boys.
I pump around the clock and take my milk to the hospital for them. They are too young to actually suck & swallow, so they are getting my milk through a feeding tube right now.
When we "kangaroo hold" them they do root and try to suck. It is so cute and at the same time it is interesting how instinctive they are even at a premature age.
When they are 32 weeks or around then, we will start introducing nipple feeding with a bottle, they still won't be strong enough to take the breast, but it will be nice to be able to hold them and feed them ourselves.

Here are some photos of the boys at 6 days old...

Caden

Garren

Mommy & Caden

Aunt Autumn & Caden

Mommy & Kellan

Kellan trying to find something to suck :)

Mama & Garren

Uncle Steven & Caden

Kellan on his Mama

Five Days Old...

Today was an amazing day with the boys!!!

This morning my sister & I went to see the boys. The nurse that was with them today was very friendly and informative. Caden weighed 3lbs 5oz, up just a smidge, and Garren & Kellan were up to 2lbs 14.5oz. They are all doing great with no oxygen. Caden & Kellan were able to come off their light therapy, Garren is staying on it for one more day and we'll see what his Bilirubin level is in the morning.

After giving us all the boys info, the nurse asked if I wanted to "kangaroo hold" them?
WHAT?!?! Of course I do!!! (for those who don't know, that is skin to skin holding, great for the babies and for the mommies) So I started with Kellan and then moved onto Caden :D I wasn't able to do it with Garren because they are still waiting on lab results for him. They think he has contact dermatitis, but ran some labs to be sure it isn't anything more serious. In the meantime we can only handle him with gloves on.

This afternoon, when Donna got home from work, she, Steven & I went back to see the boys. They were still doing great and Donna got to "kangaroo hold" both Kellan & Caden. The nurse asked if I wanted to hold Garren? OF COURSE I DO!!! (still couldn't kangaroo hold) Garren was the only one we hadn't been able to hold yet, so Donna & I both got to hold him :D Steven also took a turn holding Kellan. So so adorable. Kellan was happy in his uncles arms. Aunt Autumn of course is incredibly jealous so we will see if we can't get her some holding time with the boys tomorrow.

Mommy & Caden

Mama & Kellan

Uncle Steven & Kellan

Mama holding Garren for the first time

Four Days Old...

Today was the boys first full day in NIC2 all together. I feel so much better that Garren is now with his brothers and I think it is already doing him good. Last night he kept pulling his cannula (nose prongs) out, so the nurse said "well we'll just see how he does without it." He did fantastic and was taken off his oxygen completely this morning. He is wiggling around more now too and stretching out on his back.
All of the boys are up to 10 or 11cc of milk now, they will be growing like weeds before we know it!!!
Right now they are all doing the normal newborn weight loss thing... Caden weighed 3lbs 4oz this morning, Kellan and Garren are both down to 2lbs 14oz. The nurse said they look for them to be back up to their birth weight at 2 weeks old.
Caden is already expressing his hunger. It is a little frustrating not being able to give him what he wants myself, but I know it's just a matter of time before they will be getting bottles instead of a feeding tube.
We still haven't been able to hold Garren yet, I think we will really push for it tomorrow evening if we don't get to hold him at some point during the day.

Garren, no oxygen :)

Kellan, sleeping so peacefully

Caden still under the blue light this morning

My mom & step-dad left at lunch time today, so they got in one last visit with the boys this morning. My sister & brother-in-law & nephew arrived this afternoon, so the boys got to meet their Aunt Autumn & Uncle Steven. Kids aren't allowed in NICU, so the boys won't meet their cousin Chandler on this visit.

Three Days Old (30 weeks gestation)

Yesterday was a BIG day for us all...

My mom & step-dad arrived late Saturday night. So the boys got to meet one set of their grandparents yesterday.
Garren & Kellan joined Caden and started on light therapy for jaundice, which is completely normal for preemies. Caden had to also go on a "blue light" his Bilirubin level went up instead of down, he did get to wear a very stylish pair of sunglasses while under the light.

Caden with his stylish sun glasses

Caden under the blue light

Kellan came off of his oxygen and is doing very well.

Kellan without his oxygen :)

And the biggest news of all... all three boys were moved to NIC2 and are together!!! For those who don't know, being moved to NIC2 is an upgrade, babies get moved there when they are more stable and doing very well.

Garren, look at how big his hands are!

And finally... I was discharged from the hospital after almost 3 weeks. It is so nice to be home and sleeping in my own bed, but it is hard not being close to the boys.
It was also very exciting to see my pups after so long. Eason laid on the couch and chattered to me most of the afternoon & Haddie kept sniffing me over and trying to see my incision. They are such love bugs, I missed them a lot!!!