Yesterday marked Shep and Jack's three week birthday. A great deal has changed over the last few weeks and the boys have had lots to celebrate. The biggest news is that both boys were moved to a less critical room in the NICU and for the first time since their birth, they are neighbors. Something I have failed to mention in previous updates is that when the boys were first brought into the NICU they were placed in separate rooms, which is standard procedure in the hospital (separating twins helps reduced commotion and confusion in the NICU). However, as the boys improved the nurses told us that Shep and Jack would eventually be placed in the same room. Vicki and I were ecstatic when we received the call from the hospital letting us know that not only were the boys being placed in the same room, but they would be moving to one of the Step Down (less critical) rooms.
A stay in the Step Down rooms is vastly different and far better than the more critical care rooms. Both are loud and filled with sounds, but Step Down is filled with the sounds of babies crying, not with machines and alarms beeping. The Step Down rooms are focused on preparing the babies, and more importantly the parents, for the transition from hospital to home. Shepherd and Jackson's new home is awesome because it is basically a Parenting 101 class for Vicki and I. Over the past week or so, Vicki and I have received instruction and been able to practice bottle feeding, bathing, and something I like to call the onesie challenge.
We will start with bottle service. The NICU is basically a club for babies (lots of flashing lights, blaring sounds, and everyone wants a bottle) and the doctors, nurses, and parents are the wait staff. Premie babies typically don't have the coordination required for feeding until about 34 to 36 weeks (Shep and Jack are 33), but doctors and nurses like to start the babies as soon as possible. Shep and Jack still receive most of their feeds through a tube (when you look at the pictures it's the tube in their nose); however, Vicki and I have both been able to feed the boys and they are improving every day. Both Shep and Jack are doing very well and have taken entire bottles in one feeding. Though Shep's heart issues make it a bit more difficult for him to feed, he doesn't let it show and is doing just as well as his brother. The feeding is definitely paying off as both boys continue to gain weight. Jack is 4 lbs 3 oz and Shep is close behind at about 3 lbs 15 oz.
Anpther first for Vic and I was bath time. The boys get sponge baths every two or three days. Bath time is not their favorite time of the day (we have to replace their leads, which means pulling off stickers), but they take after their mother in that they both love getting their hair washed. There is lots of squirming involved during bath time and it takes Vicki and I quite a while to just wash one, so we have decided that to save time when the boys come home we are only going to give them a bath once every six months, whether they need it or not. Of course we are kidding, but we are very thankful the NICU is giving us the opportunity to practice. By the time the guys get home we will be as efficient as a NASCAR pit crew!
Last but certainly not least is the onesie challenge. For those that are wondering, there is no such thing as a onesie challenge, but the boys are now allowed to wear clothes (no more IVs!) and that means we have to dress them. I have recently come to find out that putting a baby into a onesie is like trying to put a angry sumo wrestler into mazda miata...it's difficult, and I am not very good at it. Vicki is great with the clothes, but if it was left up to me the boys would be naked all the time or I would need 6 hours of lead time before I had to get them anywhere. Needless to say, I will be working on my onesie skills over the next few weeks.
If you couldn't tell from the tone of this message, things have been great! Vicki, the boys, and I are all doing well. Vicki is feeling great and even started back to work this week. The doctors and nurses are very pleased with everyone's progress and we are still looking at late November or early December as a potential homecoming.
To parents who are reading this, I hope you are enjoying yourselves as you laugh at me. As always, thank you all for thinking about us and sending your love, positive thoughts, and good vibes. There are pictures posted below.
PS Through all the craziness of the last month I failed to mention that Vicki passed her medical boards (she took the exam back in August) and is officially a board certified physician!!! I am a very proud father and husband!
Kodak Slideshow of Shep and Jack Week 3 Video Slideshow
-The Britton Clan