Home at Last!

I know we should have probably written the details of Adam and Eleanor's stay at the NICU at St. Joseph Mercy as it went along, but I just couldn't bring myself to do that for the longest time. Then, when they were doing better, I was still at the hospital all day and couldn't find the time. Now that Adam and Eleanor are home, I am hoping, perhaps naively, that we will be able to keep up with a website. Lofty goal, I know, but we're going to give it a shot.

Yesterday, Adam and Eleanor had an appointment with the pulmonologist. For as long as they remain on oxygen and apnea monitors, they will have to see him. Loading both kids up with all their attachments takes some work, but I'm getting it down! After being tested by the doctor, we found out that Eleanor is getting very close to coming off her oxygen. Yeah! Adam will have to be on it for at least eight more weeks. Oh well, we aren't leaving the house anyway. In three weeks we will probably have an overnight stay at the hospital to monitor Eleanor with a sleep study to make sure she is ready.

Right now, they are both on the same schedule , eating every three hours. They are on 22 calorie preemie formula to boost their growth. The pediatrician would like to see them "double gain." That means they should gain enough weight to eventually catch up with their actual age. Preemies are measured by their adjusted age until they are about two. This means that as of their due date, January 22, 2006, they are considered one day old. So for newborns, their weights are great: Adam weighs 8 pounds 4 ounces, and Eleanor weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces. For four month olds, their weight is far behind. The higher calorie formula should help them gain faster. Right now they eat about 24 ounces of formula a day each.

During our days, Adam loves to sit in his Boppy. Eleanor would prefer to be held the entire day, which doesn't bother me at all! It was so long before we got to hold them that we have to make up for lost time.

If you are interested in reading the details of Eleanor and Adam's story from the beginning, read the archives from September.