9wks+ a growing like weeds!

Quick update since it's been forever again. The boys are just over 9wks old and both OVER 5lbs!! They are only on O2 nasal canula's..NO MORE VENTS!! Liam is taking bottles but still has his feeding tube. Ryan got his 1st bottle today! I'm still pumping for them but not doing so great so they get formula as well. Just trying to hold out for them as long as they are in the hospital. Mommy & Daddy got to hold BOTH babies together  for the 1st time recently. How exciting is that :) And got their 1st family picture too! Lots of exciting updates I've slacked on, sorry about that.. There is talk that it's possible at least Liam go home around Halloween. Look how far they have come from those teeny tiny 25 weekers! Here are a few recent pics:

Seriously slacking here..

 SO sorry we've fallen this behind on the blog. I guess now that the journey is "over" I just don't know what to post anymore. The boys are 7wks & 2 days old and growing so fast! Ryan is over 4lbs and Liam is just shy of it. They both did GREAT during and after their surgeries! The incision site is just below their shoulder blade and did not require stitches, just surgical glue. Can you imagine doing heart surgery on such tiny humans?? They are eating approx 22 & 25oz every 2 hours. I'm pumping still, trying to keep up the best I can : )
 Last week was the boys Welcome to the World shower. I know Mommy & Daddy had fun taking a break and getting to visit with a lot of their friends. I made Carrie a scrapbook for the boys and had some other stuff personalized for them.
 I realized after my last Dr visit that my regular OB has no idea any of this ever happened. Last I saw him was getting the ok to carry one last time. Boy will he be surprised at my annual in a couple months..LOL

Liam's Surgery

Liam's surgery is finished, it was very fast and went perfectly. Mommy said there was no blood loss so no need for transfusion and they were walking with him back to the hospital. Continued prayers for him and Mommy & Daddy as they were told to expect a rough few days following surgery as he recovers.

Prayer request, boys having surgeries this week.

 Liam is having his PDA ligation surgery early tomorrow morning. Ryan's will be Friday morning. Please pray for them, as well as Mommy & Daddy. The Dr's say this procedure is "simple" and should really help the boys towards getting off their vents and in growing as well but extra thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated. I will update afterwards.

 Growth update: Liam is up to 3lbs2oz and Ryan is now 3lbs8oz!! They both are maintaining their temps and are in open air beds and get to wear clothes now :)

So sorry everyone....

I would like to take a moment to apologize to all of our sweet followers... I've completely neglected the blog since Liam and Ryan arrived :( It's been quite the roller coaster. I promise to post a better blog entry soon and include a link to some of our pictures. For now, I'll leave you with a little preview of how they are looking at 4 weeks old! Love to you all. Thank y'all so much for the kind words and countless prayers!

Craig and Carrie

Sweet Liam... Saying I love you!!

Our chunky monkey Ryan :)

2wks & a day :)

Update from Mommy:

Both boys are up to 18 ml feeds every 3 hours.
Great day for Mr. Liam... He especially enjoyed pooping and peeing all over mom during a diaper change :) Up to 2lb 1.8oz.
Ryan is still trying to fight off this infection. 3 more days of antibiotics and then possibly re-intubating him with a new tube in hopes that the infection is colonized around the tube and not in his lungs. He's only receiving clear fluids and his antibiotics through his picc line now. Up to 2lb 5oz!

12 days old/2wk post op appt

 Today was my 2wk post op appt. Was there almost 2hrs to see the Dr literally 30 seconds. He just checked the incision and said to come back in 4wks. Will do a repeat glucose 2wks after that just to make sure the GD is gone. I am also back to pre-preggo weight, yay! Now I can start focusing on the baby-baking retirement makeover : )

 I took my oldest daughter with me so that she could see the boys for the 1st time. Since Ryan is in isolation even I can't see him :\ So we visited with Liam & Carrie for a while. The boys both had repeat head sonos and again both were CLEAR, no brain bleeds! Liam has NO IV's or anything! Just the CPAP & feeding tube. Is that not amazing!! Both are above 2lbs and Carrie said that Ryan has already moved up in diaper size! Liam is up to 16mL breastmilk every 3hrs. I'm not sure what Ryan is up to but I swear it's going up by the day! Will definitely take some work for me to build up supply for them but hopefully I can do it.



Here are some pics from today's visit:



Liam says Hi!!

Look how alert he is!!

Hi Michaela!

Holding Mommy's finger :)