Life in the NICU: Days 1-3

I don't think anyone could ever truly be prepared for life in the NICU. It is quite a different experience than the average delivery and hospital stay. My girls are hooked up to machines and monitors all day and have IVs in their tiny little bodies. But, it is comforting to know that they are being take care of by excellent doctors and nurses. The NICU at the hospital we are at (Utah Valley Regional Medical Center) is amazing. The nurses make sure to talk to us EVERY time we go up there--they update us, explain every little detail about what they are doing, ask us if we have any questions, and make sure to let us interact with them as much as possible. The nurses seem to actually love the babies they are taking care of and not just doing their job. The nurses are what help me to be able to leave when we need to because I know they are in good hands.

I wanted to make sure I had a journal of some sort of the daily things that happen with Kendal and Lyla. Each day has seemed to hold changes, progression, something new, and something exciting that I don't ever want to forget. We also want family to hear everything that is happening and how the girls are doing.

May 19th, 2011

The girls were born at 5:11 and 5:13. Both girls were put on a CPAP to help with breathing. They were both given medication since their lungs are not fully developed and I did not receive the full steroid shots in labor and delivery. Leigh changed Lyla's diaper. Leigh always told me he would not change diapers, but now he jumps at the chance. Every little chance to take care of them and interact with them is a treasured moment--even a diaper change. Kendal and Lyla opened their eyes for daddy and he got it on the video camera. They both looked quite swollen, but had good color and doing well.

May 20, 2011

We had lots of visitors today! Gammy and Papa got here and got to see their first grandchildren for the first time! Jessica, Daniel, Aurelia, and Aaron all came to get a peek at Kendal and Lyla. 

Lyla was having a little more difficulty breathing so she was put on a stronger breathing respirator. She was also put on medication to help with her low blood pressure.

Leigh got to change Kendal's diaper today. He also got to pick up Kendal while they changed her bed linens.  

May 21, 2011

Today was a hard day with lots of news that seemed scary to us, but the doctors were not too worried. Everything that Kendal and Lyla are going through seems to be typical for a baby born at 31-32 weeks. Daddy gave each of them a priesthood blessing, which comforted all of us.

Lyla started on a bilirubin light today so she wears a little mask over her eyes. In the morning we learned that Lyla would be on antibiotics for a possible infection. Her blood cultures were coming back negative (which is good), but her other numbers indicated a possible infection. They treat it, just in case. We were told there were many possibilities for the infection and if it was an infection it probably start in utero and could possiby explain preterm labor. We will never know. Both the girls also received an echo-cardiogram to see if certain ducts had closed in their heart. All babies have ducts that are open during pregnancy, but close before being born. Since the girls were born early, there was a possibility that they didn't close. Kendal's duct had closed, but Lyla's had not. Since Lyla's duct had not closed they started her on medication to help close it. They give her 3 rounds of the medication and check 36 hours later to see if it worked. She started on the medication late at night.

Kendal was taken off of her CPAP today and put on a low flow cannula. She is doing really well with her breathing. She also opened her eyes for me!

May 22, 2011

Today was probably one of the best days so far for all of us. 

Lyla started on her heart medicine to close the duct in her heart. We will find out today (May 23) if the medication worked, which the doctors think it will. The doctors have been quite impressed with Lyla's little body--everything indicated that the little thing in her heart had closed up, which means that her lungs and everything are really strong for such a tiny baby. Lyla got a little break from the bilirubin light today and opened her eyes wide for all of us. She stared straight at us, even looked like she waved, and was wide awake for a good 10 minutes. Lyla got all of the IVs taken out of her belly button, which meant that we could hold her! Since she is under the bilirubin light, the don't like her to be out of the light for very long. I got to hold her (skin to skin) on my chest for about 20 minutes. She opened her eyes even wider than earlier in the day and stared up at me for a long time. It was an amazing 10 minutes or so, just being able to look at my daughter's eyes.
Kendal started on the bilirubin light today, but her numbers are really low and the nurses don't think she will need to be on it for very long. Most babies' jaundice numbers peak at days 4-5 and then go down, so hopefully Kendal and Lyla's will start going down in the next couple days. Kendal also got a picc in her arm and the wires taken out of her belly button, which means we can hold her tomorrow!

May 23, 2011
Today was another excellent day! Each day keeps getting better and better. The girls were moved closer to each other, so we can now see both of them at the same time. Kendal was taken off her breathing machine and did great all day without it. Her feeding tube was also put through her nose and she is receiving my colostrum. I got to hold Kendal twice today! Both times she fell right asleep and was extremely peaceful the entire time. Lyla's heart was checked to see if the medication worked to close the duct in her heart--and it did! Yay! The doctor said that there is still a possibility it could open again, but he is not worried about it because she responded so well to the medication and did so well before it was closed. They will continue to monitor her blood pressure and other indications that it may have opened, but otherwise they don't worry about it. I got to hold Lyla today and Leigh also got to hold Lyla! It was Leigh's first time holding one of the girls and it was adorable to see how much he loved it and loves her. It looks like we will be able to hold the girls twice a day (once per shift of nurses) for about 30 minutes each time. They really encourage the skin to skin contact with both parents because it creates a bond.
 Leigh and his amazing self had a test today that he has been dreading taking because he doesn't want to leave the girls to study or to go take it. He tried to study for it and be ready for it. He went to take the test and came out with an A, which is amazing! I'm so proud of him. :)


May 24
Today both girls were taken off the bilirubin lights! Their numbers looked great and there is a possibility of a rebound of jaundice, but the doctors think there is a good chance that they won't. Kendal and Lyla were both put in isolettes--little covered beds. We don't get to interact with them as much, which is a bummer, but it helps them get better sleep which will help them grow. It also helps them learn to soothe themselves. 
In the morning I held Lyla and Leigh held Kendal. We got our first family picture!
We had our first diaper blow out--which is extremely hard to change in the isolette, by the way. I went to change Kendal's diaper and it was all the way down her leg and just everywhere. She did not like the cold, wet wipe over and over. It took 3 of us to get it all cleaned up. :)
Lyla was also quite feisty today. She loves to pull on the things on her face (I'll give her this, I'm sure they are extremely annoying). She has pulled out her cannula several times and she pulled the tube out of her mouth 4 times today! The first time it shocked me and I couldn't watch them put it back in. Apparently it happens a lot and is really easy to put back in.
We got some excellent pictures of the girls today--they are growing and becoming more and more beautiful each day.