1 Week Old :: Thanksgiving Graduation!

We celebrated Sophia and Ethan's first week and Thanksgiving yesterday. We have so much to be thankful for... the babies are getting stronger every day. Both of them are now breathing on their own. Their brain scans (ultrasounds) came back perfectly normal. They are up to full feeds through their gavage tubes (about 34ml each time - a total of 68ml) After losing weight like all babies do after birth, they are now gaining weight. Sophia tried breastfeeding yesterday and actually latched on! Sophia and Ethan are beginning to open their eyes and look around more. Best of all, our little troopers were downgraded to Level II Intermediate Care ward yesterday. The downgrade is a good thing - they are now classified as "feeders and growers" which means that they have no medical issues, and just need to get bigger and stronger before coming home.

As soon as there is space available, we'll be able to transfer the babies to the Newton Wellesley Hospital which is closer to home. The Newton Wellesley Hospital, or S-Newton (snootin') S-Wellesley (swells-ley) Hospital as one nurse called it... has a newly built, spacious, and posh special care facility (Level II) where the babies will continue to feed and grow until they can come home - hopefully by Christmas! The facility is currently full, and we're hoping space will become available within the next week or so.

After several hours of family time with the babies yesterday, we went to Steve's parents' house for Thanksgiving. The meal was delicious, but the highlight of the dinner was Chrisanne's cheescake. If you've ever tried to make a cheesecake, then you know that it takes real talent to make one that doesn't have cracks in the middle. As it turns out, Chrisanne's cheescake was a crack-free masterpiece - and delicious with the cherry topping! Steve and I had a great time with Chrisanne and Bernie!

It is an understatement to say that we feel thankful that the babies are okay and that they are able to receive such good care, and grateful for such a loving community of people who continue to support us and cheer us on.

Sophia often sleeps with her mouth open...


Sophia wakes up to have her temperature taken and a diaper change before eating...

Sophia looks around...

Sophia still has some jaundice, so after her diaper change, it's back under the lights...

Ethan likes to sleep with his hand under his chin...

Ethan dreams of big things...

Ethan wakes up...

Our little Ethan glow worm...

Chrisanne and her famously delicious cheesecake (and no cracks!)...

Steve's favorite is the cherry topping...

Bernie loves the cherry topping also!