Sophia Plum and Ethan Pepper Gregoire

Just a quick update... Steve and I came home from the hospital yesterday night. It was hard to come home without the babies, but we know that they're in very good, very safe hands. I miss them terribly and can't wait for them to grow strong enough to be here with us where they belong.

Before we left the hospital we needed to give the babies middle names. We decided on Sophia Plum and Ethan Pepper. We considered many names, and in the end picked Plum for Sophia and Pepper for Ethan. When we first settled on the names around week 20, we brainstormed middle names. The first name that popped out of Steve was Sophia Plum. It stuck. I came up with Ethan Pepper after we decided on Sophia Plum. :)

Today was my first day going into the hospital, and I was there from 7am until about 4pm. It was a long day, but I just love being with our babies... Steve had interviews and job stuff to work on today, so he came for the morning feeding and "kangaroo-ed" Ethan for two hours while I kangaroo-ed Sophia. "Kangaroo care" provides skin-to-skin contact for the babies and parents, and has been shown to help babies' brain development, regulate their temperature, breathing and heart rate, and to make them grow faster. During kangaroo care, the baby lies on the parent's chest. It is the most marvelous feeling...

Both babies are still doing well. Ethan went back on the CPAP - a breathing apparatus that helps him to keep the air sacs in his lungs open. It is common for preemies to go on and off the CPAP breathing help. Hopefully he'll be strong enough soon to go off it. Sophia is also needing some help, but is on the "high flow" which is just a tube that blows air in her nose to remind her to breathe. Again... very common and not something to worry about. Both babies should outgrow their need for help within the next week or two.

Ethan and Sophia are up to full feedings now. Early on, both were receiving calories via IV but are now digesting a combination of breastmilk and formula. My milk is finally coming in and I am just about keeping up with their needs. The lactation consultant says that I'll continue to produce more milk over the next week and should be producing more than the babies need soon.

Many thanks to everyone who has emailed, called, checked in, and sent stuff for us! Our email boxes are full of good thoughts, well-wishes, and lots of love. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will hopefully have time to respond soon!

More pics of Ethan coming soon! For now, a couple of Sophia...

Sophia sleeps soundly.

Sophia on the "high flow"...