Good-bye 4 pounders!!

I guess when babies start off so small, they have little choice but to grow, and grow, and grow. That's what the boys continue to do.

All three of them are over 5lbs and they are all getting better and better at feeding. Caleb and Gideon are now both off the feeding tubes. They've both taken a try at breast feeding and seem to do pretty well with that. Tonight...Gideon took 60ccs in about 10 minutes!! That is lightning fast and he could've had more if we would've given him more. Not to be outdone, Ezra is also getting better at feeding and took his full meal by bottle this evening too!!

Which brings us to discussions about the boys coming home. I think I've mentioned it before, but I will go over again what the boys need to do individually to be released from the NICU/hospital (there is no inbetween nursery they stay at).

1. They must demonstrate the ability to maintain a healthy body temperature in a crib. They can be swaddled or under a blanket or with a little cap...but they can't be in an isolette or anything else that maintains their temperature for them. They all did this in the first week.

2. They must demonstrate weight gain. Check.

3. They must not have any issues of Apnea (stop breathing) or Brady's (drop their heart rate suddenly) for at least 5 days straight. They are still dealing with that a little bit...and sometimes it happens while they are eating. So quite honestly...I'm not sure if we are 100% sure where they are at with that. It isn't a dramatic issue or anything we expect them to get "stuck" on for a long time.

4. They must be able to take all their required nutrition / formula / breast milk by bottle or by breast during all their feeds throughout the day and in each case under 30 minutes. Caleb is pretty much there. He just needs to do it a little longer...Gideon is pretty much the same way. Ezra still needs a little practice.

But as a whole, they are all doing well. The nurse even asked Autumn about our preference for taking them home piecemeal (one / two at a time) or all together. Right now, our preferred course of action is to bring them home together. It keeps them all in the same place (easing logistical issues) and it means we wouldn't have to deal with the emotional side of "leaving anyone behind." That doesn't mean we'll be able to do that...but that is where we stand right now.

In other news we are working on our finishing touches to get the house ready for the babies. I have found some amazing deals on Craigslist for pack-n-plays, snap-n-go stroller, dr brown bottles (we need about 30 to make life easier), and other little things. We've also stocked up on a weeks worth of formula (7 x 12.8oz cans), a week+ worth of diapers (200+), baby wipes (1000+), and hand sanitizer for all over the house!

On the to do list still is getting rid of our dining table to make room for the "boys" area. I can't wait to start adding fun things for them to play with in there. We are also making final adjustments to the car seats in the car...although the Fire Department visit went great.

Autumn is doing better and better every day. She still walks slowly...but it is amazing the improvement she's made in the past week. Gigi went home to Oklahoma this evening, but she really helped out taking care of Autumn, and I know she enjoyed seeing the boys and is probably already trying to figure out when she can come out.

That's about it for now. I'm excited to get this "home" show on the road. There are all these little 'systems' I just want to see if they work and how to make them better. It is gonna be a crazy few weeks for sure. But what stories we'll be able to share!!

Until later...hope y'all are having a great week!!

God Bless!

J