New blankets

We received a package for the babies the other day, which included (amongst many other things) these beautiful, personalized blankets made by Auntie Joyce. Thank you! We are told frequently that our babies are the best dressed children in the NICU!

First Grandpa cuddle!

Caelan has been off his CPAP machine all week and was able to get a first cuddle from his Grandpa on Wednesday. Unfortunately, he was placed back on CPAP on Thursday night because he kept forgetting to breathe, which causes his percentage of oxygen saturation to drop. I was hoping that his 3rd trial off would be his last, but it looks as though he still needs some extra time. We look forward to the time when he is off for good!

Big Yawn by Ashlyn (video)

Caelan with no CPAP (video)

Weighing In

Because they are stable, both babies get their CPAP face-masks removed for their midnight weigh-in. We took an opportunity to visit them while Grammy and Grampy were at the house looking after Shaylah. It is sure nice to be able to see their faces! Ashlyn continues to be about 100 grams bigger than her brother, but he is starting to catch up.

Pretty in pink

Ashlyn was moved into her new bed on Wednesday and the nurses have been having fun dressing her up all in pink. There is no mistaking that she is a girl anymore! She is now officially double her birthweight and continues to do well with her breathing. Both babies are wearing their own clothes and love to suck on their soothers. They are still fed by a tube and won't be able to bottle feed until they are stable off their CPAP machines. Right now, they find it difficult to eat and breathe at the same time, with most of their O2 desats occuring during their feeds.

33 Weeks

The babies would have been 33 weeks gestation today, if they had not been born early.

Too hot!

Caelan is out of his incubator and into a "big boys bed". Both babies were getting too hot in their incubators and were ready for cribs; however, there was only one available. Instead of choosing which baby got to move, we made the decision fair and square. Caelan won because he had the higher temperature just before the move. So much for ladies first! Hopefully Ashlyn will get her crib within the next few days.

Growing

Both babies seem to be growing very quickly in the last few weeks, coming up close to 4 pounds! They are both maintaining their own temperatures in their incubators and will likely be placed into little cribs next week.

Back on CPAP

Caelan did very well to last 3 days off his CPAP machine. He was working pretty hard and needed a break so that he could concentrate on growing. I am sure we will have another trial off the CPAP soon. Until then, he continues to gain weight on a steady basis and is now well over 3 pounds.

Double Cuddle

I had the priviledge of holding both babies at the same time today!

Gaining weight

Ahslyn is still on her CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure), which maintains a small amount of air in her alveoli once she has fully exhaled. This makes it easier for her to take her next breath. She is growing more quickly than her brother and is officially 2 ounces heavier than he is. She takes after her Daddy when it comes to eating! :)

Hard work

Yesterday, Caelan started a trial off of his CPAP machine. He is getting low flow oxygen through nasal prongs, but he is doing all the work himself to breathe. It is quite exciting to be able to see his face! He was working pretty hard, but hopefully he will gain strength and be able to come off all breathing assistance soon.

Old man

We now know what Caelan is going to look like as an old man, with wrinkled skin and a receding hairline. We were finally able to get a good look at the area of hair they shaved for his IV. I sure hope it grows in quickly!