6 Days Old!!

So here we are, day 6. The girls are almost a week old now and it seems like all of the days since their birth have merged into one. Since our last post we have moved into the Ronald McDonald house, which is just down the street from the hospital. This is a huge blessing and relief for us! The room is similar to hotel room only there is no bathroom, just a sink. We have a bathroom just outside our room that we share with the room next to us. There is also no TV in any of the rooms, just in the community area in the lobby. This is to encourage families and parents to visit their children and not watch TV all day. Melody and I think this is a great idea and really have enjoyed not having a TV. We have been able to talk with a few people that are also staying here and everyone is very appreciative for everything the Ronald McDonald house provides. They have washers and dryers with laundry detergent, a kitchen with some of the basic foods and snacks. All that are free of charge to the guests. All of these things have been provided through donations from businesses in the area, churches and organizations, and previous families that have stayed here. After being in this situation and fortunate enough to have the house available for us, Melody and I will be giving back for years to come.

And now what everyone wants to know....."How are the girls doing?"  

They are doing great! It seems like every time we go back to the nursery there is one less piece of equipment strapped to their little bodies. So far we have experienced and waved goodbye to a "C-pap", 2 nasal canulas, 2 IVs, 1 bililight (for jaundice) and 1 isolette! Sayla is out of her isolette and is in an open crib, she still has a feeding tube but we (really Melody, I'm not so good at it) is working on breastfeeding. Brynna is still in her isolette because she is so small it is easier to regulate her temperature in an enclosed environment. She also has a feeding tube. Brynna was off her bililight yesterday but she was put back on it today. The doctors wanted to see how she would do without it, but her numbers climbed a little higher. It seems like a step backwards but the doctors and nurses know what's best. We just spoke with a pediatrician about the progress of our girls. She says that they are right where they need to be, if not a step ahead. They have been increasing the "feeds" gradually and have reached the ideal amount. Now they are now wanting to see a gain of 0.5-1 ounce per day. 

Some of you may know this already but for those that may not, a friend of mine from high school and his wife gave birth to twins girls, Noel and Natalie, the same day Melody and I had ours. Only they were due in November. She was only 24 weeks along and the girls weighed 1.5 lbs each. The girls are at Riley Hospital right now and really need everyones prayers. This is very hard on them, this was an emergency delivery and they weren't prepared for something like this. Dan and his wife staying at the Ronald McDonald house just a few rooms down from us. I have told him we would pass along their information to everyone that has prayed for our girls so we could pray for them. Feel free to pass this along to fellow believers and lift them up in their prayers. I will try to keep updates on them as I get them.

Allan