So Happy Together

Me and you and you and me no matter how they toss the dice la la la la so happy together..... Ok, you get the point our boys were reunited finally after 33 days apart! It was such a amazing day to see all three of them side by side. Our nurse moved all of the beds close together so we could hold them all at once. Many of you have asked if Alex went back to picking on Connor like when they were in my belly. Amazingly they picked right back up where they left off. Alex was poking Connor in the eye and making Connor cry. Cade went right back to sleep and stayed asleep most of the time. Having all my boys together was the best feeling!

A couple of other side notes that are very exciting - ALL 3 ARE OVER 3 LBS!!!!! This has been a hump we have been working on with Connor for some time now and he finally made it. Cade is at 3lb10oz, Alex is 3lb2oz, and Connor is 3lbs. Looks like we will start bottle feeding next week. Cade's feedings are increasing to 30ml/3hr and the other two are going up to 28ml/3hr today.

The other big news is that all 3 are on a regular nasal cannula now. We discontinued the high flow this morning and were informed that it's very unlikely to go back. This is a HUGE step in the right direction and we are very excited! Getting closer and closer to going home :)

1 MONTH OLD!!!!!!

Cade

Connor

Alex

The boys are one month old today! I can't believe it. This may have been the longest month in history.... I am so proud of these little guys. They have been through so much in such a short period of time. I can't believe how strong they are. They are starting to grow so fast. Here are the updated weights: Connor 2lb 14oz, Cade 3lb 7oz, and Alex 3lb 1oz. They are all off IV fluids and may switch from the high flow nasal cannula to a regular nasal cannula in the next couple of days. Feeds have increased dramatically since our last post. Alex is eating 20ml/3hr, Connor 22ml/3hr, and Cade 24ml/3hr! Today they also got to start wearing clothes! Cade is the only one big enough to fit into some of the preemie clothes that we have. The nurses put little t-shirts on Alex and Connor. We have had several great days in a row and I finally feel like we are making some major progress. We can't wait for the day they can come home!

Sweet little Connor

Alex waving to his fans!

Cade Sleeping

Cade busting out of his micro preemie diaper

Today was a good day!!!

Hello all,
The last week has been extra busy! Here is a quick update of everything that has been going on. Alex got sick, then Connor got sick, then (you guessed it) Cade got sick. Everyone had a bug that caused some setbacks. Alex had to be reintubated, and so did Connor. Cade toughed it out and never got to that point. Alex had it kinda rough and had to discontinue feedings then Connor had to do the same.

Today, Connor came off the vent (woo hoo)!!!! He was the last one.

All back on room air with a nasal cannula.

Cade has moved up to the big boy diapers (they are still the preemie diapers though). They look really funny to Court and I because we are used to the little micro preemie diapers. He is, as always, the big'un. 3lb 3oz.
Alex is 2lb 15oz -Almost 3 lbs!
Connor was sick the longest so hasn't put on weight as the others so he is around 2lb 7oz today.

Cade and Connor are taking feedings of 12ml/3hr and Alex is at 5ml/3hr.

We got to hold all 3 today!!! That was a refreshing change. Thinking back, I can't remember a day where we got to hold all 3.

I held Alex, who had Lasix last night to get rid of some extra fluid, and of course.......he peed on my chest. Oh well, something about it being my kid makes it not quite as gross.

We have several new pics that I will post soon.

Thanks for the prayers and thanks for reading.

More soon,
Justin

A few new pics of the boys

Finally.......this is what it is suppose to look like

Big Boy Cade found his fingers!!!! He will figure out that this sucking thing makes his belly full!

Connor was very alert today

Connor wide awake but wore his daddy out.

NICU - Day 20 and Counting

Alex seems to be fighting his infection. He did have to go on an oscillating ventilator to control his CO2 level but got to go back to a normal vent this morning. Settings are already coming down and will start feedings today. We look to get him off the vent completely in a day or two. No holding Alex until cultures are clean and he is off the vent :(

Connor is catching up rapidly. He has been the smallest since birth and is now up to 2lb 5oz and has his feedings up to 7ml/3hr. I am going to hold him today!

Cade is still the hoss of the group weighing in at a whopping 2lb 13oz! Even though I have caught bass bigger than that he is gonna get bigger than me before we know it :) Court gets the arm work out holding Cade today.

Funny side note: Cade is the biggest by far but is still in the little micro preemie diaper which looks kinda funny. Alex and Connor went to bigger diapers cause they kept peeing out the side.

BOYS.........Go Figure!!!!

The NICU Roller Coaster

We were told by the NICU doctors that our boys would have many ups and downs throughout their stay. Every time we have several good days in a row I start to think that everything will continue to go smoothly and then I am reminded that this truly is a roller coaster ride and we aren't allowed to get off........ I hate to have to report negative news but unfortunately this is our reality. Alex has been our little show off for the last few weeks and now he has an infection. The doctors told us that at some point we should expect them all to have an infection of some sort. That is just the nature of having premature babies. Alex is back on the ventilator to help him rest and give him some assistance breathing. He also started a course of antibiotics. This should knock out the infection in a few days.


On a lighter note...... Connor and Cade are both doing well and continue to gain weight. Yesterday Cade taught me a lesson about changing little boys diapers. I learned you must be fast and keep everything covered or chances are you will get peed on! Thank you Cade for teaching me this valuable lesson :)


We appreciate all of the prayers. Please continue to pray for the health our little guys!