Thursday, December 6

While Austin and Chase look alike with hats on, it's easiest to tell them apart by their hair.


Austin (asleep) has a full head of dark hair and his complexion is darker too. Chase (awake) has only a thin coating of light brown hair and his complexion is light.

These pictures are a little dim because they're taken while the boys are in isolettes. Until they can maintain their body temperature on their own, this is where they will live. The doctors say they could be in open cribs within the week. While at the intensive care nursey, the boys will always be monitored for heart rates, oxygen saturation levels, blood pressure and respitory rates so co-sleeping is not an option. There are just to many wires to get tangled. But I'm holding out for an opportunity to put the boys together for a special holiday picture...so stand by for that!

Chase has a central line right now because he is still working back up to full feeds. The line allows him to receive nutrients via TPN, allowing him to thrive as well as his brother. What you see sticking out of his blanket are called lumens and it's where the TPN is given. One lumen is used right now while the other just gets flushed every eight hours. Once he's on full feeds, the central line can be removed. As of today, Austin weighs 3 lbs. 5 oz. and Chase weighs 3 lbs. 2 oz.

The tubes in their mouths allow them to eat. Sometimes these are put in their noses but it can affect their breathing rates. The tubes are not painful at all. The boys both like to suck on pacifiers while they eat which shows their stomach and brain are communicating effectively by associating a full or hungry belly with sucking. All good signs they will eat normally soon!

Both boys are vigorous, according to the staff. They say this is a great sign but that we're going to have our hands full when they come home. I say, bring it on! We can't wait until that first sleepless night, as long as we have both boys at home with us safe and sound.