July 25th Update

Ahhh........  I'm so sorry everyone that we haven't posted in awhile.  Things got a little off track at the hospital and there wasn't much to take pictures of, so I didn't take the time to update the blog with what's been going on. 

Here's the scoop--Alexander's feeding tube was pulled a week ago.  That's a good thing!  He was close to coming home.  18 hours later, he started vomiting and acting visibly distressed, so his nurse called the doctor and did an X-ray.  His intestines were dilated, meaning the lumen (the space in the intestines) was enlarged.  Not good--they withheld feedings from him and gave him an IV for fluids for 3 days.  He wailed when his nurse gave him an IV and I teared up a little.  They started a 10 regiment of anti-biotics, today being day 5.  Argh.

So, early this week, his X ray looked better and they put him back on food.  Just when you think he was going ok, he didn't poop in 24 hours and his belly started to get big again.  Another X-ray.  This time, they decided he must be not handling the fortifier they are adding to my breast milk and he really just needs to go to the bathroom.  So, they stopped the fortifier and gave him a glycerin chip--a couple of hours later, an "epic poop" came out.  The nurse said it filled the diaper and went up his back (yes, I know, gross!)

So, here we are, 1/2 way done with antibiotics.  Alexander has also had an issue keeping warm since he's been sick, so he's back on a radiant warming bed too.  But, all that said, he is now over 6 pounds! 

6 pounds!!  Remember, he was just over 3 pounds when he was born!  He's SO BIG!  :-)

Alexander in his little nest.....

You can see his little paw has an IV.. poor dude.

On his back--he doesn't open his eyes as much as Elliott.

Catching flies....

                        Chad getting ready to feed Alexander a bottle.

Burping....

                                         More burping.  Isn't he so blonde??












Now, Elliott on the other hand has made big strides this week.  His tube got pulled last night!  I am nervous posting this because when we go to the hospital today, I am certain I'll hear more bad news about why it had to go back in, but my fingers are crossed that he will be coming home next week.  He is still having Brady's, so we have to go 5 days Brady free.  It has only been one day, so we will see if he can make 4 more. 

Chad's step mom Gaye is here in town visiting and she got the opportunity to see the little men.  I took some great shots of her holding Elliott.  I also added a couple of photos from the previous days of Chad holding Elliott and feeding him a bottle. 

Gaye with Elliott.

                 Elliott looking around!

Gaye with Elliott :-)

                                        Elliott sleeping on Chad.

Elliott getting a bottle from Chad.  He looks small, but believe it or not, he's 5 1/2 pounds!!!!!

July 12th Update

Chad's dad was in town the last couple of days and finally met his grandsons!  We were so excited to see him and glad he got a chance to be here with them. 

Nothing new to report but I did get some pictures of Elliott taking a bottle.  He has only taken one bottle fully so far (he gets a little tuckered out usually to finish them).  Usually, he will start a bottle and we need to finish the rest of his feeding with the pump.  But we are so proud of him!

A while back, when I was still in the hospital on bed rest, there was a "community baby shower" at Prentice.  I had an hour in a wheelchair, and Chad wheeled me down there to check it out.  It was mostly vendors advertising their products, but there were some give-aways, and there was a raffle each hour.  We won a free car seat installation by a company that is run by a Chicago firefighter.  He installed our car seats yesterday in preparation for the boys coming home. 

Below are pics of Elliott taking his bottle and Grandpa Mark holding Alexander. 

Grandpa Mark with Alexander.  

                                                          Sleepy boy!

 Elliott getting his nightly weigh in. 

Afterwards, Elliott getting a bottle.

                                              Chad and his father.

3 generations of Crosbys (and me)!

July 10th Update

Hey everyone!  Sorry this update is a couple of days late.  Chad's dad is in town and I've been avoiding the computer (partly because I have a million emails I need to write and no time!). 

Exciting news.....  Alexander is now taking bottles!  The nurses have been giving him about every other feeding with a bottle.  AND he had a super successful breast feeding session yesterday, so he's making big strides!  Elliott is not quite there yet, but that's ok :-)  He needs to grow a bit more to get enough energy/stamina to work a bottle.  As of last night, Alexander is 5lbs 2oz and Elliott is 4lbs 9oz.  Chad took some pictures of me giving Alexander a bottle (the first time I have ever done this).  I think I did a good job, but felt at the time completely awkward.

Bottle feeding Alexander

Burping....

Our little man just before he ate.

We were caught up in the moment taking pictures of the bottle feeding on the 10th, so here are some pictures of Elliott from the 9th.  I will try and take some of him when I bottle feed him, which might not be for a few days. 

July 7th Update

So, we met Heather (Chad's sister) downtown and went up to see the boys.  Surprise!  They are now in open cribs and no longer in their isolettes (the incubators)! 

Yay!  I was very happy about this, but Chad has been more reserved.  He doesn't want the boys to struggle or regress, so he was more hesitant about this move compared to me.  But, we can pick them up and hold them so much easier, I can kiss my boys goodbye before we leave, and when they have a diaper that needs changing, it is SO much easier!

:-)  Alexander is up to 40oz of milk at every feeding and Elliott is up to 36.  The boys are growing like weeds, which is awesome.  As of last night, Alexander is just 1oz shy of 5 pounds.  Can you believe that?  In less than a month he has grown from a little over 3lbs to almost 5!  Elliott is a little farther behind, but he is catching up. 

Here are some photos from yesterday--if you look in the background on a couple of them, you can see the new "beds" which look like clear Tupperware bins on top of a stand!  But, those are actually their "cribs."  They can be tilted at an angle to help the boys digest their food better.  Eventually, they will lie flat before they go home and next week we will start trying a bottle a day........

 I am holding Alexander and Heather is holding Elliott.

Elliott in Heather's arms...

Chad holding Alexander....

Alexander sucking on his pacifier as we are about to leave...  Handsome boy!

July 1st Pictures

 I forgot to post these pictures from July 1.  The first 3 photos are of Alexander, in the grey onesie.  He was looking around when I took these photos.

 These three photos are of my little Elliott.  My little Benjamin Button (he hasn't filled out yet, so he kinda looks like a little old man sometimes!)

July 3rd Update

Hey all!

Sorry we haven't updated in a few days.  To be honest, that's a good thing.  There hasn't been much going on this week except both boys are either above or almost at 4 lbs!  See pictures below....

 Somehow Alexander is really charging ahead with his weight, but we think Elliott will make a raging comeback :-)  The fact that Alexander is above 1900 grams means that he will soon be transitioned to an open air crib and out of his isolette (incubator).  Yay!  To prepare for this, they have been gradually lowering the temperature in his isolette to room temperature and he is now wearing clothes.  Elliott will soon follow. 

I have been pretty sick with an infection these past few days and so I met with the nurses while Chad held both boys.  Our nurse yesterday, named Beth, was telling us that both boys were very happy to be swaddled and she removed their little nests in their isolettes.  Again, this is in preparation for moving to an open air crib.  Alexander was chilling the entire time, but Elliott started getting fussy!

 These three photos are of Alexander.  We have been told its hard to tell them apart!  Its easier in person, but I can understand.  I felt like a bad mom because for the first 2-3 days after they were born, I couldn't tell them apart.  Then, finally, after they didn't look so red and puffy, I was like "A ha!" 

The photo to the right is of Elliott.  He was not cooperating with the photographer (me).  :-)  We think he was working on going to the bathroom because he kept making squinty faces at us and fussing.  Beth held him up for me to take one photo for posterity.