Painter Crew Updates

Yesterday was my 38 week mark, this was the latest the doctors were going to let me go before inducing my labor!  There isnt much big news except... Austin FINALLY GOT OFF OXYGEN!!!! *update  just talked to the nurse they had to put him back on oxygen 😔. Minor step back but can't lie that I'm frustrated, not at Austin but at the situation.  Which means both boys are just working on eating skills and being able to eat a full bottle before passing out. Both are doing well with it but it is more sporadic when they finish, the doctors need to ensure it's consistent so when they do come home they aren't losing weight and ending back up in the hospital. Guessing time! Who is who??!! I'll be honest I got them backwards today. Scroll down for the answers First picture -Austin!  Second picture -Michael Not going to lie the hands confused me 🤣

The boys are nine weeks old! They will receive their two months old shots today, not sure who will cry more...me or them.  Austin is 6lb 11oz. His oxygen was dropped to 1L, and he isn't dropping like he used to. Just short ones but is able to correct himself. He is doing pretty good on the bottle but it's hard work!  Michael is 5lb 11oz.  Killing the bottle game he's finished two of his last three but couldn't finish this last one because he was all snuggling and cozy from his bath.  My patience has been thin the past few days because I'm struggling, why they aren't home yet. I know they need to be ready to go but, try being away from your newborns for the first nine weeks of their lives. They have changed so much. I've missed so many things. I don't have as close of a bond with them, I worry do they even know I'm their Momma? It's hard to be in this situation and until you've been there you can't explain the feeli...

Oops in typical Danielle fashion, I am running late on posting 🤷‍♀️ #iykyk It has been a chaotic week as my car ended up in the shop and only had one for a day or so. Which meant I took it to work and Philip has to stay home and not see the boys.  Needless to say, they are still doing great and I call daily to get updates! Austin: Went off 2L of oxygen down to 1.5L  LOVING THE BOTTLE!!  Weight 6.5!!!  Austin was started on the bottle after Michael, they had him only taking 5mL per feeding by bottle and the rest was in the feeding tube. Speech came in to do therapy and he sucked down 28mL like it was nothing. So the doctor rewrote the order and he can now try the whole bottle! Breathing is getting better but we are still having about two big drops a day. But it's typically when he is pooping and barring down.  Michael Eating (pretty much full) bottles every feeding Has learned to cry (just heard it for the first time yesterday) Still the little brother for sure ...

These boys continue to amaze us. We are so close to coming home!  Michael 5 lbs 3oz. Pretty much eating all bottles by mouth! Off all oxygen Could come home any day now 🥰🤩 Ps his hair is not red its just the lighting, because I said the same thing 😂 Austin   Topping the scales at 5lbs 14oz. Getting to start bottles this evening!! On very little oxygen and getting better at breathing every day. 

The boys have been busy this week and it's only Tuesday! Michael finally got a big boy crib yesterday and he is off ALL oxygen. He practicing eating a full bottle and making sure he can continue to gain weight! We just hit the 5 lbs mark! He is so close to being able to come home!!!  * I'm bias, but that little face is the freaking cutest  Austin is still gaining weight like crazy and was 5.10 last time I got an update (Mommy has been slacking since going to school again). He is still working on breathing but getting stronger daily!

Since I had to go back to work and the only time I can come see the boys I decided to stay the night. I only got about 2 hours of sleep, not because of the boys but because I couldn't get comfortable! Boys sleep about 4 hours before they wake up to be changed so I can handle that!  Michael is 4lbs 15oz and as soon as a big boy bed is open he gets to move into it! He is doing amazing with bottles usually drinking at least half before he gets exhausted and falls back asleep. He also decided to poop right in the middle of Mommy changing him...like ready to put the new diaper on and bam! Didn't even get the diaper fully opened-he pooped on the outside of it 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Austin is doing great too he is now 5lbs 6 oz and is getting better about breathing but still "swings". We are hoping that he can start bottle feeding today! He got to model the hat Tiffany made for them too! Still optimistic that we are home by the end of August 🤞

We are moving again! To the last neighborhood that specializes in getting babies ready to go home! It could still be mid September but hopeful it is before!! Philip got to go down again today and get snuggles!  Michael has had some major weight gains this week and is up to 4.11 Austin is working on becoming a linebacker weighing in at 5.5.

The babies are finally considered "full term"!! We made it to 35 weeks.  I had to go back to work so that definitely is putting a damper on me seeing the boys I can only go on the weekends now 😫 but Philip is stepping up and taking the role of Dad by the horns!  Philip got to give Michael a bath for the first time yesterday! Michael is also starting to work on drinking from a bottle and was able to take 3mL before getting exhausted yesterday. But he also had an eye exam yesterday so poor guy had a lot in one day! He is still a lot smaller than Austin but doing great otherwise. Weighing in at 4.6 lbs Michael after he got a bath!  Austin is off oxygen!!! He has been for the last 36 ish hours and seems to be doing well with it! He is not bottle feeding yet but give it a couple days and I think we will have no problem. He weighs in at a whopping 5.4lb almost beating Michael by a full pound! Check out Austin's hair! 

The boys are 6 weeks old now!!! While being away from them for 10 days from COVID was the hardest thing we've ever done it definitely made us so excited to see them again. The amazing nurses kept journals for us and marked all the mile stones they hit while we were gone.  Austin is still the bigger brother at 4.14 pounds. He has gained 2lbs since birth! He is loving the open crib. Still HATING the prongs in his nose but loves his pacifier when he has to use them. Austin loves to give grumpy looks when he is trying to figure something out..like what the heck this thing is on his face. But he is also a great sleeper! Doctors are going to try and remove the oxygen next week 🤞if that does well he will be on the nasal cannula for a week or so and then no oxygen!!!  Austin's check list to come home : ✔️ Open air crib ✖️ No oxygen ✖️ Eating by mouth (can't do this until oxygen is gone)  Michael has been moving mountains too, just smaller ones. He is loving the minimum oxygen th...

After 10 VERY, EXTREMELY, RIDICULOUSLY long days we got back to see our boys. They have grown SO much in this time!!  Michael is so happy to not have his bubble machine anymore and this oxygen mask should be coming off any day now! We are praying that he will be moved into a crib in the coming days. Then all we have to do is be eating by mouth. Once we get those 3 things done we can go home!! *His eyes were pretty swollen today, but not sure why Austin is loving the big boy crib and still doesn't love being swaddled 🙃. We are hoping that he can come off oxygen early next week. And then all we need to do is eat and we are free to go home!! *Austin was also swollen a bit today 🤷‍♀️ Philip has been saying that they'd be home before the end of August and it is starting to look possible!! We are so incredibly blessed with healthy, growing boys. I don't know how we were so lucky. ♥️

Small set backs... Last night Austin was having a hard time breathing so they put him back on the bubbles. Michael was having a hard time keeping his temperature high enough so they had to put him back in the incubator bed.  My anxiety is higher than normal today as I am worried I won't be able to extend my leave and stay off work. The definition of short term disability it ridiculous. We live in supposedly the best country and yet we don't even get paid time off.   My initial goal was to extend my leave to get 12 weeks off (6 have already passed because of being off in the summer) that would give me 6 weeks off and then I could take FMLA for the rest of the time. However, if they don't approve my leave I have to go back to work next week and that means I will only see the boys on the weekends until they are able to come home. Obviously this is causing lots of anxiety, especially after not being able to see them for the last 8 days. Waiting for Thursday is killing me in s...

First this is from my Zoom session with the boys! Austin on top, Michael on bottom. Second!!  We are off the bubble machine!!! Which is that giant thing on Michaels face. Fingers crossed we can stay that way.  Austin is up the 4.10 and Michael is 4.2!  Length wise Michael has majorly caught up to Austin from birth. At birth there was an inch difference in them. Now there is only one centimeter! It's been 8 days since we have seen them and so much as changed. I cannot wait to get back to them on Thursday.