8 Weeks

Audrey says - "Kiss me!"

Daddy giving Oliver his bottle

Grace getting her sponge bath

Daddy, Oliver, and Audrey

Audrey getting her pre-shot "sweeties"

Letting the "sweeties" work their magic

Audrey doesn't like her shots!

Poor baby! Oliver getting his shots.

Mommy and Oliver after vaccines

Oliver says "I'm DONE - no more!"

Grace getting her vaccines

Oliver and his binky

Mommy and Grace after vaccines

Oliver getting burped!

Sleepy Grace

Precious moments with Mommy

Grandpa Scott and Audrey

Sweet brother and sister

Yesterday marked our 8th week at the St. Charles NICU. The babies are now 35 weeks gestationally and have come a very long way from the tiny 1-2 pounders they were 8 weeks ago! We still have probably a good month left before all three babies are home, but it looks like Oliver may be coming home in the next week or so!

Audrey is well over 5lbs now, but due to her still open PDA (ductus in her heart) and her chronic lung disease (a term applied to any baby still requiring oxygen after 32 days of life), she was retaining quite a bit of fluid and had to be put on a diuretic and some reflux medication. She has been losing water weight the past few days and is looking less puffy. She is such a curious baby (the few moments of the day when she's awake!) and I love how she opens her big eyes as wide as she can and just looks around and blinks - just trying to take it all in!

Oliver is 5lbs 4 oz now and is so awake and alert all the time! I have to make an effort to keep my voice down when it's not feeding time because as soon as he hears my voice he wakes up and starts rooting around looking for food (even if he just ate!) He is still doing a great job at "nippling" (eating from breast or bottle), and as soon as he can go 7 days without any apnea that requires nurse stimulation to remind him to breathe he will be able to go home!!!

And sweet little Grace. She is up to 3lbs 12oz and is back off of oxygen! Mommy and Daddy have been continuing to do Kangaroo Care with her, and she is just such a sweet little baby. On July 7th she was finally moved from her isolette into an open crib like her big brother and sister, and now all three babies are in the same room!

On Wednesday the babies received their first few vaccines (ouch!) which they were not too happy about, but after some "sweeties" (a sugary liquid given to soothe the babies before needle sticks) and some Tylenol, they were done crying and back to sleeping - I think it was harder for mommy than it was for them!