Our first couple days in the NICU

When Paul and I first went into the NICU to see the girls on Thursday evening, it was the most emotional experience I have ever had.  They were so small and hooked up to so many different things.  Immediately after birth, they both got umbilical catheters for their fluid and nutrients to go through, a cpap to help them breathe, and monitor stickers everywhere.  They were doing as well as could be expected for 30 week twins.  They were stable and that was the most important thing at this point.  We spent most of the evening there just looking at the girls and being with them.  We were told we would not be able to hold them for quite some time. Babies this small get stressed out very easily.  We didn't even really feel comfortable touching them.  They just looked so helpless and tiny.

Friday morning was even more devastating for us as parents.  We were told that both girls would have to be intubated because they couldn't keep their oxygen levels up.  They would have to get several doses of a medicine to help their lungs.  Hailee was actually looking worse than Hannah at this point.  Her lungs were very foggy through x-ray.  She was intubated first.  Hannah's umbilical line was too low and would have to be removed.  She would have to have a picc inserted in her arm.  They went over all of the risks of the picc line, but we had really no choice but to consent for it.  Once the girls were on the intubators, they each had their hats off and we got to see their hair for the first time.  They are both VERY blonde!  We have no idea where this hair even came from!  It's so adorable!  They are both just the sweetest little girls you have ever seen.  Even though yesterday was a rough day for us and the girls, we are hoping that the procedures done will be a benefit to them.  We were told that the lungs are the first hurdle to overcome and the gut (feeding) would be the next.  I am pumping now to get my production going, but the girls are not on any food yet.  They are just on IV fluids for their nutrition. 

Today was a better morning thus far.  When we went down, the girls were finally next to each other!  The NICU tries to get multiples together but it's not always possible due to what each one needs and all of the other babies also in there.  Hailee was already off of her intubator.  She had 3 doses of the medicine and they thought she was fine to go back on CPAP.  CPAP is a bigger machine on her face, but is not invasive like the tube was.  Hannah should come off of her tube later today.  She has also had 3 doses.  They want to make sure she does ok for a while longer before removing the tube.  Both girls looked peaceful and relaxed this morning.  With all of the pokes and prodding done yesterday they didn't look calm really at all.  It is so hard to see your tiny baby looking so miserable when there is nothing you can do for them.  When they try to cry, they just make a face but no noise comes out because of the tubes in their mouth.  We are hoping that the rest of the day keeps the course of this morning. 

Everything the girls have had done thus far is considered standard or normal for their gestational age.  To us it is not normal, but the NICU staff has not been surprised by anything up to this point.  We have actually had several doctors and nurses tell us that both girls are good size for twins!  To us, they are tiny but we are used to the size of a full term baby like Ella was.  This process will be day by day for us.  Things change each time we go down to see them.  We have been told to get used to "one step forward and two steps back".  The girls will have set backs during their stay.  While it will be hard to handle at the time, we are trying to be prepared now for those.  The NICU staff is great.  We can call at any time and talk to each baby's nurse to see how they are doing.  I have called each time I get up in the night to use the restroom.  It is reassuring to hear that they are doing ok at any hour.

Please continue to pray for our girls.  Even though God has got them safe to this point, they still have many hurdles to overcome. Please pray for their development and health in the next few weeks and months.  We appreciate all of the love and support our family and friends have blessed us and the girls with. 

Note:  The pictures are dark and kindof blurry because we can't use a flash in the NICU.  We hope to take more pictures soon since some of the tubes should be coming off shortly!

Hannah

Me holding Hannah's leg

Hannah

Mommy and Hannah

Hannah

Hailee

Hailee