Babies are coming home today!!

belfort and the boys...& mom




Babies are coming home today!!

No visiting , I'm a mean momma but I get'em first.

Tentatively plan on baby blessings Sept 9th, pending on gma/gpa flight. 

Kate feeding the boys video
Dad in NICU 1 video
Dad in NICU 2

NICU D8 8/29

The boys are coming home! We are taking the car seats tonight for the 'test' and should have them sooner than the initial 3wks we were told.

Let's make sure everything that belongs to the boys, gets used first! 
 

NICU D7 8/28

Manda and I went to the 11:30 feeding. Both boys ate ok, they were kind of sleepy but ate their 50ml. James also nursed for 10 minutes in addition to his bottle feed. Both boys are in open cribs as of last night when Rich and I were there, meaning they can hold their heat (A qualifier to leave NICU). 

They can come home when: They are able to keep their temperature in the normal range without the help of an incubator; They can eat by mouth without the help of a feeding tube; They have a stable respiratory pattern in room air; 

Nurses have been sticking to the 3wk they initially thought but Miles is showing signs of being a little closer than that. Rich went tonight alone after working in SLC and they boys were eating well, keeping their temperature normal, and had stable breathing. 

NICU D6 8/27

James

Miles

They are just amazing. We went to visit this morning and I fed James and then switched with Cristy so that she could feed Miles. The boys had had their ultrasound but the report had not come back yet. We went back as a family for the 8:30pm feeding as a family. I watched the girls so Rich could go see the boys first. He came back saying that James could come to the window for the girls to see. We hurried over and Daddy held him up for Grace and Kate to see.

The nurse put him to work and he undressed James for weight. Unknowingly James had a dirty diaper, so the nurse helped clean him up. He redressed him and was able to feed him. I went in after he was finished and helped with Miles. Since their room mate still was upset I got to prepare Miles for weight. I undressed him and moved him to the scale, then redressed him. Miles nursed again, I can't believe how easy it comes to him. After 10 minutes of that, he ate 30ml. Since he ate that so fast, I offered him another 20ml and he ate that quickly too. He was so alert and looked around the whole time I was there.

The ultrasound reports came back completely normal. We even both double checked about James's since the whole pregnancy we worried about the fluid on his head. We even asked what Dr Ball thought. He and the doctor who did the ultrasound were happy to report that he had a perfect brain. We keep receiving miracle on top of miracle. These boys are such a example of what faith and prayer can accomplish.

NICU D5 8/26

miles and dad

james sleeping

james eating

miles and momma

miles and daddy

james w/ his monkey blanket

miles w/ his monkey blanket

I think I am doing ok keeping it together, I came home without babies today. They are doing great. I got to nurse them both and they both knew exactly what to do. They both nursed 10 minutes their first time ever. When we (Rich came to visit and take me home) came down for my second visit to hold them James had had a drop in his oxygen saturation and was too weak to come out and play. Miles then nursed for 20 minutes and the only reason we went to a bottle was so he could drink a documentable amount. He's a little hungry boy and did great. We went home after that feeding and went by Grandma Lewis to get the girls. I can hold it together, I'll see them tomorrow. We knew they would be in NICU longer than me, I can do it

NICU D4 8/25

proud papa

burping james

momma feeding miles

tube feeding/bink stimulating mouth

This morning they started becoming slow to eat. Rather than use all their energy trying to eat they had tubes (James by his 8am feeding, Miles by his 5pm) in their nose traveling to their tummy. Breast milk is fed right to their tummy, bypassing using energy to get it there. This is normal for NICU babies and normal to be doing well and wear out. Rich and I were able to spend time with both of them.

At the evening visit (while in isolettes, we can have them out twice a day) I was going to have them out by myself. The nurse, a sweet grandma, asked if my girls were still in the hall, because we had started talking about them. She then allowed Grace and Kate to be in the family room. It was a tiny closet of a room but we were thrilled to have Grace see her brother. They quietly and quickly hurried in and were as quiet as they could be. Grace had been begging to see her brothers. I had even being previously accused of "not being a very good listener" and "not making a good choice" by telling Grace she could not go in to NICU . James was able to leave his isolette and I brought him for a very short visit. Grace loved it. She held him and kissed him twice. She held her doll and and said they matched in size. She was so happy to be so close to him. Katie touched his foot and kissed the top of his head and played in her chair. I know the other nurses in NICU were not happy with what our nurse offered, but the 3-5 minutes Grace had were great.

NICU D3 8/24

james top miles bottom, cheek to cheek

miles eating

miles getting burped

miles milk drunk

miles trying to excape, poor silly little drunk baby

they can only come out of the isolette 2x a day, that doesn't count

NICU D2 8/23

They look like Rich. I need a shower.

Miles looks like a monkey-baby (so did Rich), so cute.

Miles is very strong &

determined to lay on his brother (or kiss him?)

(The tape on James is his IV, in the head)

I visited the boys at 8:30 and got to hold them both. I felt good and after returning and seeing the pictures decided I needed to probably shower. My IV was out, my catheter was out. I waited a while to make sure I wasn't doing too much and got in. Well I guess I was doing too much because I lost a large quantity of blood when I got in and had Rich go get the nurse to define 'large'. As she was talking to me I got dizzy and since I was sitting, leaned against the shower bars. I passed out. I woke up to myself and four nurses, covered in puke, and smelling horrible smelling salts. The got me back to bed and was flat on my back for the rest of the day. I guess a warm shower was over doing it. So, now a day post c-section without a shower and a peri-bottle-in-bed bath to wash puke off, I feel grosser than before. I just wanted a simple shower, maybe tomorrow.

I went down to NICU and fed, burped, and held both boys at 8:30pm. They had a nurse that reminded me of Manda (in look, personality, mannerisms, and accent...she's from Georgia). So it was nice to have a version of Manda taking care of my boys. Grandpa & Grandpa Lewis brought up Grace and Kate and they were able to see the boys at the window. Grace wanted to go in so bad. I would love for her to be able to touch them, she loves them so much. Kate scares me as to what she will do. I can see her being possessive and wanting "my bebes". And as I thought, Kate seems so big now. Tueaday she was a baby. Now she looks like a toddler, so tall and chatty.

(**We have some video from the morning visit that I am hoping Rich will add on Friday. He is working Friday, so may be able to add to my youtube from there**)

J&M C/S Delivery

I don't know, rich might know who is who...i'm the middle one. :)

M 5 lb 2 oz, 17" - J 4 lb 9 oz, 16" - born 7:24am, James first (same minute)

Last night at 10:45 I got a call from St Marks telling me they needed us to be there at 5:30. This has changed from “call at 6am” to “be here somewhere between 6 and 6:30” to now “we need you here at 5:30” to be in surgery by 7 am because Dr Watts has a tight schedule. We were up and here on time and got prepped for surgery. We had a great nurse that kept me calm. I walked into surgery at 7am and was met by the anestheologist for my spinal. Rich had to wait until this was done to join me. Being in the OR and getting a spinal without Rich was scary, thankfully Keri was there, a familiar face from MFM. Once it was in and I was no my back and I was rolled back over they draped off from my chest down, let Rich in and started. It was a very fast process. I smelt a burning smell (they were cauterizing something) and asked and told I did not want to know, so when Keri did tell me I lost it a little. Then I was told I would feel a little pressure, I did, then a release...James was born via C-section at 7:24 am and Miles's leg was coming with him. James was passed to someone to be shown to me. I was awe struck. He was amazing. He made it through everything and was here. I was such a sweet intimate moment to see him. Moments later, Miles was out. Not even a minute apart and the same flood of love and emotion over my second little one hit. They are such amazing little babies. I am at a lack for words as for how to explain the presence they have, they have so much greatness packed in those tiny bodies.

Once the boys were out and the cord cut, something was added to my IV and I woke up an hour later in Labor & Delivery in a new bed, without a cerclage, and all stitched up with a bandage on my tummy. The experience was as good as it could be. Within that hour Rich had been with the boys getting video and watching the first activities of their live. I got to watch those on the computer as he would go back and get more. I was moved up to Recovery and within several hours was in a wheel chair to go to NICU to see my boys, I got to hold James while there but physically had to get laying down again and could only spend 15 minutes with them. I hate the physical restrictions of recovery, I want to be in the NICU with them . I tried again later and held Miles and then again with Kelly even later. It was a perfect Birth Day. (8/22/07)

Just a quick note to tell you all thanks again for all your prayers. We have so MUCH to be thankful for!
The babies were born this morning, 7:24 AM.
James was 16 in long, 4 lb 9 oz and first born
Miles was 17 in long, 5 lb 2 oz
They are very pink, which means good oxygen and their Apgar ratings were 8 for James and 9 for Miles. They have strawberry blond or red hair. We went to the NICU with Rich and both boys were snoozing away so we didn’t get to hold them. They were dressed and wrapped up tightly in little blankets. They took the boy’s temperatures at 2:00 PM and they were borderline for body temp . If they don’t hold their body heat, they will put them into the warming beds. Which is not bad but it’s great if they can hold their own. The doctors say that the boys will be staying in the NICU for a couple of weeks or so.
Just can't stop thanking Heavenly Father for this wonderful miracle!
I’m posting this for Libby, I’m her mother-in-law. Got to say she did a great job on these twins, they are to quote their Mom, "adorable."
Love and thanks again to all of you.
Barb Lewis (grandma)

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