It's a new year & we're 3 weeks old

It's been a long week for Mom & Dad. Mom went back to work, and we're not going to lie; it was extremely difficult. On New Year's Eve, both boys had to have blood transfusions for anemia prematurity. Basically, their bone marrow (not abnormal in premature infants) can't keep up with their need for making new red blood cells. They were having difficulty keeping their blood saturated with oxygen and struggling more to breathe. Both were increasing their need for oxygen and dropping their O2 sats. Afterwards, they both got really puffy and needed a diuretic to pull the extra fluid out of their blood. That night, we got news that both Kian and Ethan hit 3 lbs! Yay! That's a milestone for both.

----------------------------ETHAN LAWRENCE--------------------------------




------------------------------KIAN PETER-----------------------------------


As excited as we were for hitting that 3 lb mark, we had a scare with Kian. New Year's day, Kian struggled with his breathing. He was as high as he could go with his oxygen and just not tolerating anything. The nurses drew some blood & took xrays to check him over. We learned quickly that all results were normal and we would have to wait it out. This was extremely difficult but Friday was a new day. Kian's nurse on Friday was able to wean him on his O2 and helped get both boys comfortable. They are both in isolets instead of open stablets and it's harder for Mom & Dad to hang out with their boys, but it's better for the boys. It's more like a womb experience. We have to remember with preemies- it's 2 steps forward, 1 step back. It's just hard to swallow those steps back. They've graduated into preemie diapers. Before, their diapers were the size of credit cards now they're the huge preemie diapers which they swim in!


Dad enjoying snuggling and holding Ethan


Today, mom's doctor stopped by for a surprise visit. He was in the area- which he usually doesn't practice at this hospital- so he was checking in on us. He got to see Kian pee all over Mom and he walked away laughing.