Warner Bros. and Sister: Parties in the NICU and A's & B's

The babies were two weeks old on Saturday and we are so amazed with the progress they have made. We can't wait for them to be home with us soon! Yesterday was a big day in the NICU! When I arrived, West and Lilibeth had been moved from their isolette to an open crib. This is great for two reasons:

1) We can hold them for longer periods of time (and it is so much easier to access them) and 2) this means they are maintaining their body temp on their own (which is one of the requirements for coming home!)

Both West and Lilibeth had a sleep study yesterday to determine what we can do to help minimize (and hopefully eliminate entirely before coming home) the A's and B's they are having. The nurse said she thought they would just administer a little caffeine to them daily like they are already doing for Jack. This helps the premature nervous system remember to breathe!

For those of you who are not familiar with preemies (like we were!), A's and B's are apnea and brady cardia episodes. Our babies' A & B issues are due to their prematurity and this should resolve itself between 35-40 weeks gestational age (we are currently at 34.5 weeks). Apnea means a period in which breathing stops. In premature babies, apnea is any pause in breathing that lasts longer than 20 seconds, causing bradycardia, or a drop in the baby’s blood oxygen level (caused by a low heart rate). The neonatologist assures me that these episodes (which primarily occur during feedings) will have no negative effect on the babies. We are having to learn very specific ways to feed and monitor each baby to help prevent these episodes. When this does happen, you help the baby resume breathing by patting them on the back or ticking their feet to "remind" them to breathe. It is just a little scary for the parent or grandparent feeding at the time!

Enough about all that... we had a Halloween Costume Party in the NICU! You can find anything by googling! My mom found that preemies can wear Build-a-Bear clothes, so of course, she ran to Build-a-Bear for her babies! The nurses had so much fun and allowed us to take their first picture together since their birthday. One day we will love remembering this time by looking at those costumes and pictures. I know we will not believe how small they were on their first Halloween.

West, Lilibeth and Jack

Jack and Duke

Lilibeth waits to show off her costume and her high kicks!

West had to undress quickly... he was hungry!

Klint and I know that they are doing very little (eating, sleeping and pooping), but we are thrilled with that and somehow find a way to discuss these things all the time. We talked a lot in the thirteen years before they were born... I just have no idea of what we talked about. We love seeing little glimpses of their personalities and cannot wait to watch them interacting together.

We voted last night, then had a hot date to Chili's :)... We both think it is so funny that we have three children, but continue to live life like a couple without kids! We are looking forward to the day that they are home and the occasional trip out together must be coordinated!

Today is a big day for the triplets! Aunt Linz and Uncle Mark find out if they are having a girl or a boy. Yea for cousins! These babies will be so blessed by ALL of their cousins.

Here are a few more of our favorite pics of Jack, West and Lilibeth. Please continue praying that all three can come home to us soon!