Three weeks old! (34 weeks gestation)

Three weeks ago at this time I was down in the patient library checking out the "How to Survive Bedrest" book.  HA!  Five hours later, that book could have been returned.

The girls are still doing great!  Feeding and growing is their full-time job.  It's my full-time job too.  Biggest milestone this week:  They both joined the 4-pounder club!  They also went from being in their isolates to co-bedding in a crib together to being in separate bassinets.   They were separated because they're becoming more alert, and they also love to grab things... Yesterday morning, Danika pulled out Johnalyn's nasal tube, and then Johnalyn's put her fist in Danika's mouth, which then Danika proceeded to suck on it! Super cute, but too much action and potential accidents. 

Danika:  

She is now 4 lbs 3.7 oz.  She's taking on slowly to oral feeding, but she's gaining weight very well!  She is still having random bradycardia episodes, but the doctors are not concerned one bit.  None of them have needed any intervention, and are becoming shorter and shorter stints.  

The doctors detected a heart murmur on her, so they decided to go forward with an echocardiogram on Tuesday.  The echo wasn't the best experience for her or me... it was long, she was hungry, I was tired, and the tech decided to nearly pass out...  After about three hours, I was able to get some answers.  She has a small PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus)and a small ASD  (Atrial Septal Defect).  Sounds scary,  but when I reached out to Dr. Google (before the actual doctor came to talk to me), both conditions are pretty common in babies, especially preemies, and will most likely resolve on their own. She'll have one more echo before discharge, and then we'll just follow up with their primary doctor when we get home.  

She is still showing us how spunky she is.  She LOVES to pull out her feeding tube.  

Johnalyn:

Even though she had a rough first 72 hours... she's proving that she's pretty mighty.  She's now 4 lbs 6.5 oz, and is taking oral feeding like a champ.  She loves to cuddle and loves to be cuddled (they both do, but Johnalyn REALLY loves it).  She loves touching her sister (picture below), and would sleep most of the day if her stomach didn't wake her up for feedings (which is another great sign!)  

The doctors hear a slight murmur on her, but they said it's so minimal that she doesn't need an echo.  I feel bad that her update isn't as long, but that's because there's nothing else to really report on her.  She's packing on the grams everyday, loves her pacifier, loves to be cuddled, and loves her sister (we know Danika loves her sister too, but she loves her space too).  

That's about it for this week's update!  Here are pictures!  

High Five?

Johnalyn (purple bow) and Danika (pink)- Danika is ALL about pictures... Johnalyn could care less  

"Love you sister"

Danika

Johnalyn