Live in rooms full of light. —Cornelius Celsus

Cal shows Crosby the drawing he made for him.

The boys moved to the incubator/isolette yesterday morning. When I walked into the room, I must say I was shocked to see them. I’d been used to them swaddled in their little cribs with several layers of clothing, blankets and hats. They were moved because their bilirubin levels were too high and because their temperatures were still too low. Poor little babes were stripped down to their skivvies and sunglasses. And they were NOT happy in their beach condos. They had been so used to being swaddled in little bundles and their new found freedom to move disrupted their sleep and comfort. I swear Crosby burned 10,000 calories yesterday with his air jabs.

I was so happy to come today to see the lights off. Their bilirubin levels had decreased enough to stop the phototherapy. Fingers crossed (all 20) that they remain low tomorrow and we can check this box for good.

The boys will stay in the condos to help regulate their temperatures. One of the milestones they need to reach is to be able to hold a normal body temperature in an open crib. The isolette keeps the temperature at the right level and the boys are allowed to sleep comfortably in just a little onesie and blanket. But it’s tough on Mom and Dad, who have to stick their hands through holes to care for them (change diapers, take temperatures, help them with a pacifier). And it’s so rough not to be able to hold them. We can hold them when we feed them, but that’s about the only time. And it stinks. But, as with everything, time = maturity and maturity = homecoming. We are hopeful their temperatures will improve and they can move back into their cribs soon.

The feeding is touch and go. Like I said, we are taking things every three hours, not just day by day. And we’ve seen both boys make both strides and slips. And we’re trying bottles and breastfeeding. We have to be careful not to push them too hard because it’s a lot of work for them to eat this way, so we alternate attempts at one or the other (or we alternate babies), to give them rest and just the feeding tube (which is passive and the milk runs directly to their stomachs). The doctor said it’s not really a matter of practice but a matter of maturity. One of the other milestones is to be able to eat independently of the feeding tube. So we will continue to work on it and hope that with more time, the eating will simply just click for them.

Cal visited again today. He was very excited. For about 45 seconds. And then he was more focused on jumping on the chairs and trying to push all the buttons he could find. One sprint down the NICU hall meant Sayonara Big Brother. But he did have a sweet little moment with Cooper and was able to see him up close on Mom’s lap and touch his hand.

Ted and I are so thankful for all of the support and love we’ve received. These days are long, but we know soon that we will have all three boys together.

And for me, I can’t wait until I can stop riding the hospital elevator …where, every single time without fail, I am asked when my baby is due. 🙂

K