The nurses have made it very clear to get used to the idea that one twin will be going home sooner than the other. They are 2 different people and are going to progress at different rates. With that in mind, we will discuss the girls progress thus far...
Kylee, who was born the smaller twin is doing extremely well. They say that the smaller twin often times does better, because it is already used to fighting for survival in the womb. When fighting for position and size, it causes the baby to release natural steroids and endorfins that allow the baby to be very strong at birth. Kylee was extubated on Sunday, and then yesterday they removed her CPAP breathing machine and she is now breathing on her own with the assistance of a Nasal Canula oxygen mask. She has tolerated the nasal canula very well, and her oxygen saturation remains good. Keith got to hold her Monday for the first time, and we both got a chance to hold her yesterday. She had to remain on all of her monitors, but it was so amazing to have her next to us. She also practiced sucking on a pacifier. Sucking, amazingly enough is a very advanced skill that most full-term babies dont learn until around 35 weeks. She did very well though.
Kaylyn has had a little more difficulty in the airway area. She remains on a ventilator. They tried to extubate her on Monday because she was fighting her tube very hard. She was able to maintain on the CPAP machine, but did not excel. She was working very hard to continue to breath, and had a lot of chest retraction with every breath. To avoid her working too hard and going in to full respiratory depression, they replaced the breathing tube early Tuesday morning. They are possibly going to try to extubate her again today. It is hard to keep in mind that even though she is progressing a little more slowly, that she is right where she should be for a 28 week old preemie infant.
Both of the girls had a ultrasound on their brain done on Monday. The radiologist read the results as negative for any head bleeds. The girls' neonatologist had a more "inconclusive" results, and did not like the quality of the study and felt he could not come to any certain conclusions. He did say that neither one of them have a bleed in the normal spot they find head bleeds in preemies. They are going to repeat the test in 5 days, so we will have more answers then, but right now we don't have reason to worry. That too could change.
On Tuesday, they did a cardiac echo on each of the girls (ultrasound of the heart). There is a valve in the heart that is supposed to close at birth, but often times with premature babies this valve does not close on its own and medicine has to be administered. Kylee's valve seems to have closed nearly all the way on its own, which is probably why she is having a more successful time being off the ventilator. Kaylyn's valve remains open most of the way, so they started her on the medicine to help it close. They are going to repeat this test in a couple of days, and see if any progress was made. This valve is extremely important to be able to move forward with any airway progress. Also they cannot start feeding until the Dr.'s ensure this issue has been taken care of.
I never thought I would be so elated to change a diaper! One of the hardest things about the whole NICU environment has been the inability to do all of the maternal things most mothers of newborns get to encounter. Right now, I can take their temperature, change their diapers, and pump milk for them for when they are allowed to start feedings. I have not even been able to kiss them as of yet, and that kills me. I am just taking things one step at a time, and reminding myself how lucky I am to have these precious girls.
At this point, every little victory is such a miracle. I cannot wait until I get to hold both of them in my arms (We have yet to have the opportunity to hold Kaylyn). Most of the nurses are reluctant to let you hold until their aterial line in their belly button is removed. If for some reason this line got yanked out, it would be very detrimental.
They are so perfect to me, and I am so lucky to have 2 beautiful little girls. I am confident that though its going to be a long road, we are going to prevail victoriously. One day, this whole NICU stay will all be a memory. I will try to keep this updated, but its going to be really hard. They are releasing me from the hospital later on today, so I am going to have to come up with a schedule to see and feed the girls, so I will be coming and going back and forth quite a bit.
Please keep us in your thoughts. Our hope is that this NICU stay is as short as possible, but realistically they probably won't be home until around their due date which is December 28th. Thanks so much for everything. Everyone's support has been amazing, there are not even words to describe it. Well, I must go down to the NICU now to see the girls!
Daddy changing his first Diaper on Kaylyn
Kylee
Kylee
Kaylyn
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