Monday, September 7, 2009

Proud Papa

I write this with a smile beaming on my face. I am, for the first time, feeling every bit the proud father.

Lily finally took a bottle for me—she guzzled the whole bottle in just a few minutes. This was just minutes after finding out that she has outgrown the preemie diapers! My littlest baby is growing up!!!

Lily was one pound eight ounces at birth and today she weighs in at four pounds five ounces. Her breathing has been steady on very low settings on the High Humidity Nasal Cannula and she may be able to reduce to a Low Flow Nasal Cannula some time soon. She got a quick sponge bath tonight and could not have looked more adorable the entire time. And when I was holding her before her feeding, she was looking at me with her beautiful piercing black eyes and I was just swooning. Every day I think, this is it; I can’t love them more. And then one of them does something and I fall in love with them all over again.

Charlie took a whole bottle for Brooke at 9:00 tonight, but he drank it so fast he had some issues with reflux. This was the third time today a feeding has been followed by a drop in either his heart rate or his breathing. Nurse Mary assures us that it’s something he’ll outgrow somewhat quickly, so we’re not altogether too worried. He’s also doing really well with his breathing and today was put on the Low Flow Nasal Cannula. His settings were so low that he’s barely getting any help at all with his breathing and it’s just a matter of time before he can do it on his own (hopefully).

Brooke went up to visit the NICU by herself in the morning today while I stayed home to cut the grass and do some schoolwork. I decided I would also visit Annaleigh at the cemetery today for the first time since we finalized everything a couple days after her funeral. I got there and was sad to see that all her flowers were dying or already dead. I don’t know why this surprised me since there’s no logical reason cut flowers would last more than a few days, especially when they’re left exposed outside and not cared for at all. I saw them and decided I would clean them up after I sat down to talk to her for a while. But as I was sitting there, I saw that a whole family of butterflies was fluttering around inside the dried up leaves and flowers on her grave. Maybe they were just passing through but I remembered the day of her funeral they were there and Brooke noticed them when we were there after the funeral. So maybe some butterflies have made a home on Annaleigh’s grave. I know it sounds ridiculous but I find this very comforting. I still plan on cleaning up the flowers maybe next weekend but I hope the butterflies decide to stay there anyway.

That’s all for today. Back to school tomorrow, which means back to one visit each day. I’m not looking forward to that, but at least I can see the light at the end of the long NICU tunnel and know that they’ll be home sooner rather than later. Go babies!


Look at Lily's muscles!


Lily just loves Nurse Alicia!


Feedling Lily tonight took about five minutes.


Charlie would happily stay in his mommy's arms all day long.


If his mommy can't hold him, Charlie is happy to cuddle with Nurse Mary. She takes great care of him!


He was sound asleep after his breathing issues tonight but Charlie still looked really cute in his onsie. It has sneaker feet!

14 comments:

Gretchen said...

Way to go FAMILY!!! It seems everyone did some great things today so that seemed appropriate! I can't believe how cute and chubby Lily and Charlie are getting!!! SOOOO adorable!!! One question that I had though, are there certain times you need to wear gloves as apposed to not having to wear any? I've noticed in pictures that sometimes you're wearing them, sometimes your not same with nurses... I just was curious.

Lani said...

That is such great news that Lily's taking her bottle so well! I don't think mine EVER took a bottle in five minutes, not ever:) Your babies are doing AMAZING!

Kelsey said...

Good job babies! Keep up the good growing!

Lauren said...

Those babies are just so freaken cute! Yay for such accomplishments! And I love that Annaleigh has some butterfly friends. I remember seeing a dragonfly hovering the day of the funeral, and now I think of her every time I see one.

Anonymous said...

You've earned your pride Daddy... Wait - it just gets better and better. The love - the pride - the whole picture... Thank you Babies for making your Mommy and Daddy proud and happy... :) xoxoo
Keep growing - keep thriving my little loves.

I had a butterfly come to me on my rose that day. They were all around me yesterday while I was cleaning out my gardens and I was talking to them and cried... Female hormones...

All My Love, Auntie :) xxoxoo

Brooke said...

Gretchen - we have to wear gloves when we are with Charlie. Since he had MRSA we need to take precautions as if he were contagious for the entire time he is in the NICU. So with him we wear gloves, and must visit with Lily first and then see Charlie as our last stop before leaving. With Lily there are no gloves.

Anonymous said...

Hi Joe,
You may be able to receive 6 weeks of partially paid family-leave with the new FMLA act. I looked into it for my husband, and was told that both father and mother could each take 6 weeks within the first 12 months of the babies life.

Kristine McKowen said...

Awesome weekend of posts! Love all the photos of the babies. Yes, I agree, Miss Lily is looking more like her brother.

Loved the tattoo too!

Gretchen said...

Brooke, Thank you for explaining that to me! Makes a lot more sense now!!! That must be hard though having to wear gloves when you're with him. You may have already put it on your blog but has the MRSA cleared up on Charlie's arm? and are the gloves more of a precautionary thing just to be safe? It has been such a joy especially recently to watch your little ones grow and become so alert! I look forward to reading your blog and to see how you and your family are doing, it really is such a joy being even a "tiny" part of your lives, I have a 6yr old little girl and she loves to sit on my lap and look at all the pictures especially of the babies! (she is begging for a little brother or sister now! My husband has also taken an interest in your blog and always asks how you guys are doing and what the babies weights are up to...) They are looking wonderful and it's GREAT to see them putting on weight and the weight showing, I can tell they're packing on the ounces especially in their faces, and it is SO AWESOME that Lily has out grown the preemie diapers!
I absolutely love your tattoo! I know it has to be bittersweet but the halo above the heart with the A is gorgeous and it turned out so well!
Our thoughts and prayers and with you.

mrsolsenk12 said...

I can't believe how big Charlie and Lily are getting. it is amazing how quickly they grow. Yay for both of them doing so well with their bottles.

#1SAHM said...

Glad your babies are doing well. That's so cool about the butterflies! Maybe you guys can get some potted flowers for Annaleigh (until the first frost at least) or something. I hope that you guys are doing well.

Anonymous said...

It's time for another baby check.

Joe - In Charlie's last picture - he looks just like you...

All My Love, Auntie :) xoxoxoxo

Patte said...

I'm just lovin' these pictures - watching how big both Charlie and Lily are getting.

Michele from FTHS said...

From now on, every time I see a butterfly, I will think of Annaleigh. How special.