Day in the Life September 2005

Date	Milestone
September 30, 2005	Both babies had several heart rate decelerations last night, so they each had their caffeine level increased to coincide with their recent weight gain. Both Trey and Bella each ate 24 cc's of breast milk from Mommy at their first nursing session today! Since Bella has successfully eaten three full meals from Mommy, they are going to let her try a bottle either at her midnight or 3am feeding. Hopefully Trey will be doing the same very soon! Trey and Bella both did an excellent job at their second nursing session! Trey took 30 cc's of breast milk from Mommy and Bella took 28 cc's of breast milk from Mommy! Neither baby had an episode during this feeding!!! Daddy held Trey and Bella both at the same time tonight!!!!!!! He was the first person to do so! Trey weighs 4 pounds 4.3 ounces and Bella weighs 3 pounds 10 ounces!
September 29, 2005	Both Trey and Bella are keeping their temperatures where they should be! Both babies had a little bit of trouble when nursing today. Trey's heart rate dropped twice and Bella's oxygen saturation dropped twice. Trey still ate 13 cc's of breast milk from Mommy and Bella ate 19 cc's of breast milk from Mommy. We may give them a little break today and not do a second nursing session. We'll see what the doc says! Trey's amount of breast milk per feeding was increased this afternoon to 38 cc's per feeding! Bella's amount of breast milk per feeding was increased this afternoon to 34 cc's per feeding! The doc said the babies were fine to nurse tonight. Trey took 3 cc's of breast milk from Mommy and Bella took 34 cc's of breast milk from Mommy! Trey weighs 4 pounds 4.3 ounces! Bella weighs 3 pounds 10.0 ounces!
September 28, 2005	Trey and Bella are doing very well today! Mommy stopped at the NICU this morning to peak in at the babies. She couldn't stay with them since she woke up with a sore throat and a runny nose today. Mommy dropped of some milk for the babies and said hello to them. They were sleeping, so it wasn't too bad leaving them. Isabella graduated from her isolette today and joined her "big brother" Gerald in a crib! They were moved into a special double crib for twins! Daddy took some pictures of their first time together outside Mommy's womb! Trey weighs 4 pounds 3 ounces! Bella weighs 3 pounds 9 ounces!
September 27, 2005	At their first nursing session today, both babies did great once again! Trey took 20 cc's of breast milk from Mommy, which is more than 1/2 of his needed 34 cc's! Bella took 34 cc's of breast milk from Mommy, which is 4 more cc's than she usually gets in her feeding tube! In the afternoon when the Doctor checked Trey and Bella, they both had their feeding amount increased! Trey now eats 36 cc's of breast milk per feeding and Bella now eats 32 cc's of breast milk per feeding. Trey graduated from an isolette to a crib today! He's a "big boy" now! Bella's temperature in her isolette was turned down to 27 degree's Celsius, which is where it needs to be for her to move into a crib! She will be joining her brother soon! At their second nursing session today, Trey took 18 cc's of breast milk and Bella took 22 cc's of breast milk!
September 26, 2005	Bella and Trey look great today! Trey ate 18 cc's of breast milk from Mommy and Bella ate 10 cc's of breast milk from Mommy! Tomorrow Mommy will get to nurse each baby twice! Both babies had blood work done this morning and it all came back normal! Trey and Bella now have tiny Mickey Mouse Band-Aids on their feet where they were pricked. Trey now weighs 4 pounds 1.3 ounces! Bella now weighs 3 pounds 7.3 ounces! New photos added to the Baby Photos page and the Nursery page!
September 25, 2005	Gerald and Isabella are three weeks old today!!! Both babies did well with their nursing again today! Trey took 14 cc's of breast milk from Mommy and Bella took 18 cc's of breast milk from Mommy! Bella is now getting 30 cc's of breast milk at each feeding. Both babies had several dips in their heart beats today, but they resolved them on their own. Trey weighs 3 pounds 15.7 ounces and is 17.5 inches in length! Bella is 3 pounds 6 ounces and is 16 inches in length!
September 24, 2005	Trey and Bella are doing great today! Both babies had the amount of breast milk they eat at each feeding increased. Trey is now eating 34 cc's per feeding and Bella is now eating 28 cc's per feeding! Aunt Danielle held Bella and Trey for the first time today and Bobby held Trey for the first time! New photos posted today!
September 23, 2005	Trey and Bella were weaned completely off their feeding pumps last night and are now using only the breast or their feeding tubes free-flowing by gravity. Trey and Bella both did great with nursing today! Trey took 16 cc's of breast milk from Mommy and Bella took 30 cc's (which is 4 cc's more than her usual feedings!). Trey and Bella were moved upstairs today, which shows how well they are doing! Mom Mom and Pop Pop both held Trey and Bella for the first time today!
September 22, 2005	Both babies did great with their nursing today! Trey took 16 cc's of breast milk from Mommy and Bella took 15 cc's of breast milk from Mommy! That is more than half of each of their feeding! Trey was feeling warm this morning, so his isolette was turned down 1 full degree! This is definite progress and will help when its time for him to move into a crib. Bella usually takes her cues from her "big brother" so Mommy will not be surprised if hers gets turned down by the time Mommy and Daddy get to the hospital this evening! Both babies are still having some Brady episodes, where they let their heart rates dip (usually no lower than 80). This is happening since they are so small, but both Trey and Bella always bring their heart rates right back to where they are supposed to be own their own. Trey was weighed this evening and he is now 3 pounds 11.8 ounces! Bella was also weighed this evening and she is now 3 pounds 3 ounces!
September 21, 2005	Mommy spent the entire day at the NICU today with Gerald and Isabella while Daddy had to go to work. The Doctors and Nurses said that it was okay to start putting the babies to breast to see what they would do, so the lactation consultant came to help Mommy, who was very nervous! The nurse had Mommy pump her milk just before our trial so that the babies would not get any milk since this was supposed to be a "non-nutritional feeding". However, when the consultant arrived, both babies were showing signs that they were ready to actually breast feed, so she said that Mommy does not have to pump in advance next time. Even though Mommy pumped today, both babies worked very hard and still got milk out when Mommy thought she was empty! Hopefully tomorrow while Mommy is full, they will get and take much more! Trey took 10 cc's of breast milk directly from Mommy today! It was his first time and he did great! Bella took 2 cc's of breast milk directly from Mommy today! It was her first time and we woke up to to try this, so she did great too! Trey was weighed tonight and he is now 3 pounds 10.4 ounces! Bella was also weighed tonight and she is now 3 pounds 2.1 ounces!
September 20, 2005	Both Trey and Bella had a pretty good day today! Trey's eye looks much better, so the warm compresses are helping to heal his clogged tear duct. Bella is now getting two packages of fortifier added to her breast milk, so hopefully this will help her gain weight quicker. Trey and Bella were both upgraded today to the "intermediate" nursery in the NICU! Good job babies! Our favorite night nurse, Sue is back on and taking care of the twins tonight! Mommy and Daddy sleep much better when Sue is caring for the babies since she treats them like her own babies!
September 19, 2005	Both babies are doing well today. Each had one episode during the night, but neither had any spit up from feedings! Both babies were very awake today while Mommy was holding them! Trey now weighs 3 pounds 7.3 ounces and is 17 1/2 inches long! His head is 29 centimeters around! Bella now weighs 3 pounds 1.6 ounces and is 16 inches long! Her head is 28 centimeters around! Trey's food intake was increased today to 30 cc's or one full ounce! Bella is now getting one pack of fortifier added to her breast milk, so she will be gaining quickly now. Trey has a clogged tear duct in his left eye. They are using warm compresses to help it go away.
September 18, 2005	Gerald and Isabella are 2 weeks old today! They have both been "promoted" to the next level room in the NICU since they are both off breathing machines and IVs! Trey had a few apnea episodes this morning, so he got some caffeine and it stopped! Bella got her IV taken out this morning! Bella joined her "big brother" wearing clothes today! Today was a big day for the babies! Grandmom and Aunt Kimberly held Gerald and Isabella both for the first time today! Aunt Tracy also got to hold Gerald!
September 17, 2005	Trey wore his own clothes today!!! (Mommy took some outfits, pajamas and blankets to the hospital for both babies since Trey is allowed to be dressed now.) Bella is now up to her maximum feeding of 26 cc's of breast milk per feeding! Bella had her last dose of her antibiotic tonight. Her night nurse believes that her IV will be taken out sometime during the night. Both babies got weighed tonight. Trey weighs 3 pounds 5.7 ounces and Bella weighs 3 pounds 1.6 ounces!
September 16, 2005	Mommy called the NICU at 6 a.m. and was told that both babies had a great night. Trey's feeding pump is making his reflux much less that it was before. He is going to keep using it until he can eat from Mommy instead of a feeding tube. Isabella feeding was increased several times today. She is now eating 19 cc's per feeding. Since she is eating so well, her IV fluid was turned off today. Trey's skin temperature is no longer being monitored. Instead, the air temperature inside his incubator is being monitored. This means that he can wear clothes!!!!
September 15, 2005	Mommy called the NICU in the morning and heard that both babies are doing well. Trey is now using a feeding pump to slow the length of time it takes for his milk to get into his belly. This should help with his acid reflux. They want to lessen it as much as possible so that he doesn't associate his throwing up with eating and then stop eating. Bella's feeding was increased several times today. By midnight she was eating 15 cc's with no residuals! Trey weighs 3 pounds 4 ounces and Bella weighs 3 pounds!!! Isabella's infection is GONE!
September 14, 2005	Mommy called the NICU when she woke up to pump at 6am. Both babies are doing well and both took all of their feeding throughout the night with no residuals! Trey is also doing well and somehow managed to flip himself over! He then got stuck and cried for his nurse to help him. By 3pm, Bella was taking 9 cc's of breast milk per feeding and the plan is to up her amount by 1 cc every other feeding (every 6 hours). Bella also decided that she did not like her nasal canular, and kept taking it out today. She she had no problems breathing with out, the Doctor decided to leave it out! Bella is now breathing with no assistance, just like her "big" brother! Trey is doing extremely well with his eating and is now getting two packs of fortifier with each feeding, which will help him gain weight quicker since it adds more calories.
September 13, 2005	The babies both looked good today. Trey's Vapotherm was removed so he is no longer on any kind of breathing assistance. Trey started getting a fortifier mixed in with his breast milk to help him grow now that his is eating all of his cc's. Bella is doing very well for all she is going through. Her IV needs to be changed constantly due to her infection and her medications. She may get a pic line later this week. Her blood culture is being taken tonight, so we are hoping to get a negative result, which would be followed by seven days of antibiotics from today. When Mommy called the NICU at 11:30pm, both babies were doing well. They had just been weighed and both are almost up to their birth weights. Trey is 3 pounds 3.3 ounces and Bella is 2 pounds 12.3 ounces! Bella kept taking her Vapotherm out, so they decided to leave it out and give her a nasal canular which gives her a little bit of air to help her while she has the infection and antibiotics.
September 12, 2005	Bella does have an infection. We are not sure of the exact type yet, but it is a skin infection, likely from her IV site, so she is on the correct antibiotics. They will be taking a blood culture tomorrow to see if the antibiotics have gotten rid of it yet. Once she gets a negative culture, they will keep her on her medications for seven full days to make sure all of the bug is gone from her system. The nurse said that Bella could probably stop using her Vapotherm today, but they wanted to leave it in until they are sure the infection is gone so that she can use all of her energy to fight it off. Trey moved up in the world. His IV was taken out of his arm and his Vapotherm was turned down.
September 11, 2005	Trey and Bella are one week old today! Bella might have an infection, possibly from her IV site, so she was put on antibiotics today. The blood culture will be back on Tuesday. Trey is now eating 20 cc's of breast milk and his IV fluid is scheduled to be turned off today. Bella is now eating 8 cc's of breast milk! By midnight when Daddy called the NICU, Trey was up to the maximum feeding for his age - 25 cc's! Bella's nurse Sue said she is doing much better and she is not worried about her, as Bella has returned to her normal complaining self! Bella likes to whine if she is moved from a comfortable position to a new one!
September 10, 2005	Trey and Bella are doing well! When Mommy and Daddy left yesterday, Trey was already eating 16 cc's of breast milk and Bella was eating 6 cc's of breast milk! I hope Mommy can keep up! Trey Christening Mommy for the first time yesterday - he peed on me while I was changing his diaper!
September 9, 2005	Gerald and Isabella are doing great today! Both babies had their Vapotherm turned down by half! Both babies were taken off their Phototherapy lights, as their billiruben levels have decreased! Both babies are getting one additional cc of breast milk at every other feeding. By midnight, Trey was up to 10 cc's and Bella was up to 4 cc's.
September 8, 2005	Mommy held Isabella for the first time today! Daddy held Gerald and Isabella for the first time today! Both babies were taken off the C-Pap and are now on Vapotherm with room air only. Trey's breast milk intake was increased twice today, first to 3 cc's and then to 4 cc's. Isabella was started on breast milk again today at 1 cc. Both babies had ultrasounds done on their heads to check for any brain bleeds or other preterm complications. Both babies got perfect results! Isabella's murmur could not be heard today. Mommy went home from the hospital today after 69 days! Of course, we stayed with the babies until midnight! Mommy was asked to start freezing her breast milk at home since there is enough at the hospital right now for the babies.
September 7, 2005	Mommy held Gerald today for the first time! Both babies are still using C-Pap, but neither is getting any oxygen. Isabella has a heart murmur, so the Doctor's checked the ductus of her heart to see if it is still open. It is slightly to moderately open. The Doctors are watching her closely, and expect that this will resolve itself. If not, medication or surgery may be needed. Gerald is now eating 2 cc's of breast milk at each feeding. Isabella is taking a break from breast milk. Mommy had an epidural blood patch tonight to get rid of her spinal headache. It worked!!!!
September 6, 2005	Gerald and Isabella were both taken off their respirators today!!!!! Both babies are now using a C-Pap, which puts pressure and air into their lungs. It can also give them oxygen if needed. Bella is getting a minimal amount of oxygen; Trey does not need any at this time. Both babies had high billiruben levels today and were placed under phototherapy lights. Daddy's changed his first diaper today!
September 5, 2005	Gerald and Isabella are both doing very well! Both babies are still on respirators, but neither has needed any oxygen. Trey's sugar level was high today and he was given insulin. It returned to normal before the insulin had a change to work, so it may have been caused by the IV in his belly button. Both Trey and Bella have an occasional episode of apnea, where they forget to take a breath, but this is expected at their gestation. Caffeine helps! Both babies lost a few ounces, which is normal for all babies Mommy is told. Mommy has a spinal headache, but had chosen not to get an epidural blood patch at this time.
September 4, 2005	Mommy and Daddy welcomed their new babies into the world today! They were born at 30 weeks and 4 days gestation. Gerald Charles Damico, III came into the world at 1:47 am. He weighed 3 pounds and 4 1/2 ounces. He was 16 inches long. Mommy and Daddy have decided to call him Trey (which is three in Italian since he is the third). Isabella Christine Damico came into the work at 1:49 am. She weighed 2 pounds and 14 1/2 ounces. She was 14 1/2 inches long. Mommy and Daddy have decided to call her Bella. Both babies were taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and put on respirators to help them breath. Neither baby needed oxygen, which is fantastic! By late afternoon, Trey and Bella both began eating 1 cc of Mommy's breast milk through their feeding tubes.