Answered Prayers

After venting about life in the unit, I headed back for a late night visit to read both babes a story and tuck them in for the night. It was as if the nurses and the babies had read the post and knew I was upset, becuase Chase let me hand-hug him for almost an hour without any desats or spells and Reilly's nurse let me give her a sponge bath! Before I left for the night, Chase's nurse said that if he had a good day I might be able to hold him the following night. Both babes also gained weight that night and mom left a happy girl.

Last night, after a long day in the unit and a long day at work for dad, we inhaled our dinner and rushed back into the unit. As soon as we arrived, Anna said that he was ready for us! She called an RT over and soon enough Chase was in our arms! I've only held him once before and he is so much bigger now! He has the blondest eyebrows, and little blond hairs all over his arms and back. He is cute beyond words. I got to hold him for an hour and a half! Best part of is was that his Dad was worried his head was getting cold so he would place his hand over Chase's head to keep him warm and cover his eyes. On Tuesday night we went to a meeting to learn about interacting with the babies while their in their incubators and they told us that if you do something and your babies saturation levels increase, then they like whatever you are doing. Well, when his dad would put his hand on his head, Chase's saturation levels went to 100, as high as they can go, and would stay there. He loved it. As soon as Dad would take his hand off, they would slowly decrease. We've learned that Chase really likes to feel contained. They say that premies are always looking for boundaries because they are used to being enclosed. So Chase will often stretch out and throw his arms around, kick his feet out, arch his back, etc and we are realizing that these are all signs that he wants to be comforted. So if we place our hands over him during these times, he often calms downs and his levels balance out. Learning so much everyday!  Here are a couple shots:

 

 

 

This is Anna, one of Chase's primary nurses. She is so great. She hums and sings to him every time she enters the isolette and she stays so calm all the time. She calls Chase her "Biebs".

 

 

 

 

Chase stole the show last night. Reilly received a blood transfusion again this week so she is looking much better. She is fighting a new infection this week, a skin infection, so we arent handling her at all. She was poked so many times for an IV last week and every time they poke her, they create a spot for infection to grow, so they assue that is how she caught this bug. Poor little thing cant catch a break. Hopefully the anti-biotics will work fast and well. She is up to full feeds now so hopefully she starts to pack on the pounds :) 

Happy Friday!