Now it is time to eat!!!

Today was a relatively quiet day for the Kaldahl Triplets.  Caleb, Gideon, and Ezra experienced their first day since birth without any dramatic changes...good or bad.  That doesn't mean anything really good or anything really bad.  I think that as the days go on...we will see a more steady progression of progress...i.e. no dramatic improvements...just slowly improving so we can bring them home!

You can make out the letters on their wraps.  The nurses label with with their respective birth letters in case someone "new" has to come in and do something in a hurry.  The nurses know they by their names!!

Since the boys have all been taken off of oxygen and IVs...their biggest challenge is going to be eating.  They have to be able to take all of their weight appropriate formula by mouth at each feeding and in less than thirty minutes in order to be released from the NICU.  So far...they each take about 15ml by mouth about one or two feedings per day.  They'll have to be able to do about 60-80ml during all 8 feedings throughout the day. They'll also have to keep it down.  Right now, they all spit up a bit due to reflux and that will be something to continue to watch.  Once they do get the right amount of food several days in a row we will be looking to take them home!!  During a later post...I'll go over the "going home" criteria in more depth.

Besides the reflux the boys are doing well.  Slowly we are starting to see bits and pieces of their individual personalities.  Of course a lot of things are just typical newborn behaviors...but they express them in different ways.  So far, Caleb seems like the "relaxed" one.  As long as we aren't changing him or the nurses are prodding him he is a cool customer.  He also tends to look most like Jeff.  Gideon and Ezra are a bit more expressive as feeding time comes near.  In one of the pictures below you can see Ezra reaching out and touching his brother Gideon.  They are also more expressive with their eyes and it seemed like Gideon was trying to smile a bit a bit while "playing" with Jeff today.  If nothing else...they are all trying to focus a bit more at who is talking to them and from where they are hearing voices.  It is fun and we really look forward to when they recognize their individual names.

Autumn's mom comes in tomorrow.  She will undoubtedly be a great help, and it will mean Jeff goes back to school on Tuesday.  Arrghhh...no looking forward to it...but that is just the way it goes.

We do have a couple of prayer requests though.  First, Autumn is starting to experience an increased amount of pain that had previously gone away.  It makes it hard for her to go visit the boys when she feels that way, and as you can imagine...that makes her pretty bummed!!  More importantly...with the boys progressing as well as they are...we need their mommy in tip top shape when the DO come home.  So please pray she would feel better and that she would regain her energy over the next couple of weeks.

Next, with Jeff going back to classes...please pray he makes a good transition.  He is a bit behind on some assignments and now has they greatest distraction in the world.  Just pray he gets the assignments that need to be done complete but that he is able prioritize his time well enough to be able to take care of the boys and Autumn.  I'm sure it is everything every new Dad goes through...but that only lessens the nervousness just a little!

Gideon flashing his "eyes" (and also sucking on his swaddle wrap!)

You have to tilt your head to see...but Caleb had a nice "Reverse 'C'" as he was sleeping today.  That is the perfect shape for a follow through on a good golf swing...here's hoping!!  :-)

Ezra reaching out and touching Gideon...just to say Hi...or maybe just make sure he was there!!  After we picked Gideon up for his care time...Ezra started fussing a bit!

Thanks for all your prayers!!  We hope you having a great year!!

God Bless!!

J & A