Thomas came home last Monday, and Nathan came come on Friday! I would have sent something out sooner, but email time has been very limited. ;-) Thomas is a rather vocal little boy who wants what he wants when he wants it, but luckily Nate is a little more patient. We won't speculate about who takes after who... Jennifer's parents are here, thankfully, as four people on two babies seems much better odds than two on two. They are both doing very well and had their first appointment with their pediatrician this morning. Yes, Sunday morning. When we said that we already had plans he said to us that it would be better if they did not yet come out in public for another six weeks or so since their immune systems are a little behind most babies' immune systems. Sooo, we'll just deal with it.
We had a visit this week from my sister and brother-in-law along with their their son, Noah, who is five weeks older than Nate and Tommy. I happened to have been able to see Noah when he was born February 24, because I was trying to get home from Dallas and Boston was snowed in. When I held that 5 hour old, I said that I wasn't sure I could hold anything that small... Little did I know...
We had thought they might share a bassinette but they are just too big, so we are using bassinette and a cute basket. However, Tommy thinks he sleeps in a certain queen sized bed... Did I mention something about Tom letting us know when he wants something?
One thing that we are finding is that while these guys are newborn sized, they are not newborns. Mentally they aren't eight week olds, but they learned a lot more than most babies at the hospital do. They both really need stuff to look at...
So, after eight weeks, this will be the last of these types of emails for a while. Oh, here are the pertinants from this morning's office visit:
Thomas: 7lbs, 3oz. 20in long
Nathan: 6lbs, 8oz. 18.75in long
By the way, they we due June 2. Could you picture Jennifer with 13lbs. 11oz. worth of baby in her? That ought to bring a smile... !
The Dr. plans to send Thomas home next week, and at this point I would be pretty shocked if he wasn't home for Memorial Day. Nate will probably not be home, but he will be pretty close. The Diuril takes about a week to get out of his system or he'd be going home with his brother...
Nate has been on room air for 2 and a half days now... The doctor is going to try to wean him off the Diuril and see how he does.
We are hoping for Tommy to go home this weekend and maybe Nate next week...
Nate: 5lbs, 4oz.
Tommy: 6lbs. even!
We are very happy with their progress this past week at Emerson Hospital in Concord. They have both steadily gained weight and Nathan has had less DSATs (oxygen level drops). After a week of Thomas being put back on to a O2 monitior, gets his oxygen sensor off today. Nathan has been kept at a level of 25 ml oxygen supplement and the last few days has shown that this is more than sufficient, so they will drop his level to 12 ml today and allow for him to have it off in between feedings if he is okay. Emerson also sets their O2 limits a little differently (90% and100%), so those 87% he was getting at B&W had to be improved. This is about where we were when we left Brigham's hospital. The doctors told us to expect about 1 week set back because of the transfer and this is pretty much what happened. We found out today that Nathan has an inguinal hernia and will need it repaired in about 1 month by a pediatric surgeon in Boston....poor guy.
They were both put on Zantac the end of last week to help their reflux. When this happened, Nathan's deep desats (<75%) pretty much stopped. We and their Doctor attribute Nathan's progress greatly to this wonderful drug. We've been saying for weeks now (Diane, one of our favorite nurses at Brigham's suggested this to us but then the docs their said no it wasn't) and so we are thrilled that our new pediatricians suggested it.
Thomas' only claim to fame this week is a nasty little diaper rash. Serves him right for sceaming like he does for his dinner when his diaper needs changing. Such an impatient little boy!
On Friday, their red blood cell count (hematocrit) will be taken (again) with the hopes that they will be higher indicating that they are both on their way to producing their own. Currently, Thomas' is lower (25 % - Retic is ~3.1%) than Nathan's (31 % - Retic ~ 2.5%). The docs like to see these levels above 31%. The Retic number is the the percentage of brand spankin new red blood cells and anything higher than 2% says their bone marrow has kicked in and are making them. They both get an iron supplement and Thomas is a little anamic right now.
Current weights:
Thomas 5 lb, 11.4 oz
Nathan 5 lb, 1.5 oz
Nathan had a little choking spell while nursing (chicken bone, I think) and had to have a little extra oxygen, similar to his episode with you. Thomas has his first diaper rash! Poor guy.
They went to Emerson today! Nate is on Diuril, twice a day to keep his lungs dry. I don't know if it was because of the move or what, but, he got another lasix even though Dr. Wilson said he sounded great last night, and the Dr. at Emerson said he sounded excellent post lasix. Tommy had a real brady apnea spell (the apnea was >20 seconds) last night. They're both pretty anemic right now...
P.S. We just found out that they are finally going tobe moved tomorrow to Emerson...
I thought I would send along a few pictures for you as you asked how things are going. Both boys are still in Brigham and Women's NICU in Boston.
Thomas has been having heart rate dips (no apenea) this weekend so we hope to talk to the doctor this AM to find out what she thinks of it. He had been on a 5 day count down with the hopes of him coming home at the end of the 5 days.
Nathan still receives a minute amount of oxygen to help him. Both boys continue to eat well and gain weight.
Thomas is 5 pounds 3 oz and Nathan is 4 pounds 10 oz. I received 2 adorable Mother's day cards from my boys--the NICU nurses make cards for all the moms.
Jennifer
Tommy has had a few more spells since Saturday's so now I really do doubt the doc will let him leave. We will speak with her hopefully in the morning. Will let you know what happens.
J
After we left Saturday night, Thomas, who had a blanket over the crib to shield his eyes, had a 5-10 second dip to ~68bpm. They had just been handed off to someone who had no experience with our guys by a nurse who had just finished his first time with our guys. Anyway, it was self resolved, Thomas was pink, and the doctor on duty yesterday said that it shouldn't impact his going home. Then at 3:20AM or so, according to the nurse, he turned dusky during his feeding. He was then circumsized yesterday, and passed the car seat test last night.
This morning, Kathleen said the Brady was not that big of a deal but he wouldn't be able to go home because of his feeding. She then transferred us to Marge who said the feeding was no big deal, but that he couldn't go home because of the Brady. Anyway, we're now looking at Thursday.
Nathan had another Lasix treatment Saturday, and looked improved yesterday and we're told he is even better today. He didn't show much after the first Lasix treatment, but I think some nurses would rather see a 100-101% HiSat than a his eratic DeSats. His saturation levels yesterday were greater than 95% while on less than 25ml (not sure on the unit) of Oxygen. When he started to figet, they dropped, but only to the high 70s/ low 80s. In general, he looked more comfortable.
