Three weeks old!

My boys are 3 weeks today! They are getting bigger and bigger each day. Landon has hit 5 lbs and Jalen is just a few ounces away from him. They have pretty much out grown the preemie outfits with feet because of their length. We have received news from the Dr that they are going to try and push for next week for them to come home!!! We are excited and anxious to get them home, but we don’t want to get our hopes up too high and be disappointed. They have been moved in the NICU where they keep the more stable babies and the ones who are getting ready to be sent home. I asked the nurse if the real reason why they are on the other side is because of their gas they didn’t want a stinky nurse’s station anymore. Landon and Jalen have been showing to mommy and daddy that they are true boys!

Everything has been going well with all of us. Every day we are spending a few hours at NICU to do their feedings and diaper changes. They have their checks every 3 hours. Jordan just celebrated his 7th birthday and he has been busy with baseball. The last few weeks he has been playing 3 games in a row because of make-up games. Next week it should all go back to normal and only have 2 games. My little sister has graduated from High School and right now, her and my mom is on a plane heading to Cancun for her graduation present. I could use a nice vacation right now. Jeremy and I are going to make little trips out this summer though. There are a lot of people who want to meet the babies, so we are going to travel to Chicago and Tennessee to show them off. For home, I think we are going to have a “meet the babies” bbq since there are so many friends/family who wants to see them. I think it would be much easier for us instead of having someone over everyday for a couple of weeks. Hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend and enjoying the spring/summer weather! Below are some pics I took yesterday of the boys.

Jalen

Landon

Everything is going so well...

Both Landon and Jalen are doing so well! We visit them in NICU every day, few times a day for a couple of hours. I always hate leaving them. We have started on feedings and now we just see if they can manage the whole breath, suck, swallow with no problems. They both have latched on and done really well. In order for them to come home, one of the things they must be able to do is take all 8 feedings. They have started with one and then they will try 2, 3, and so on. They should also be out of their incubators and be placed in a crib any day now. The nurses are so surprised how well they both have been doing and believe they will be home before their due date. We can't wait to take them home! I have been on their feeding schedules here at home since I pump every 2-3 hours. It is very exhausting at night, but all I do is think about them and being tired is the last thing on my mind. I hope I can keep everything up when they are home. I think I am going to buy this nursing pillow for them, since I have heard so much about it and how much of a huge help it has been to other moms with multiples.

After delivery, I was having blood pressure problems and they ended up putting me on medication. I went in today for a check-up and everything is looking good. Though, the nurse wants me to still take the meds until I come back for my 6 week appointment. It has been a week and a half and I have already lost 22 lbs. I am hoping to be back to my normal weight soon, though right now I have to maintain more calories since I am breastfeeding. They say to wait after 6 weeks to start exercising and dieting after delivering.

Congratulations to my sister for graduating HS! And an early Happy Birthday to Jordan! He is turning 7 tomorrow!!!

Landon and Jalen are a week old!

I know I was suppose to update you all a few days ago, but we have been busy and exhausted! It is so nice to finally sleep in my own bed! Landon and Jalen are now a week old and they have been growing since day one! They keep moving foward and progressing each day. Both have been completely off oxygen and IV's! The only thing they have are their feeding tubes and monitors. The past 2 days their monitors have been quiet and have not gone off for anything. Feeding is the last thing that is keeping them from coming home. We are going to try feedings without the tubes either tomorrow or here in a couple of days. Nurses told us that Jalen has begun to show signs that he is ready for nipple/bottle feeding. They will start with 1 bottle/day then work their way up. In order to come home, they must take all 8 bottles all day.

Breastfeeding is going well. I have been pumping and then sending the milk to NICU each time we visit. My body is still trying to adjust waking up every 2-3 hours to pump, but I manage it well. I always hate leaving them their. I can't wait to bring them both home! Jordan finally met his brothers and he loved every second of it! He is going to be a great big brother to Jalen and Landon.

The other day we also received news from the head Dr. of NICU that our boys may be identical! This surprised me because I had 2 different placenta sacs and he said that does not matter. I read MANY sources about twin pregnancies and they all say that 2 sacs= fraternal. He went all medical lingo on me and I was not comprehending on why they could be identical. All I got out of it were cells splitting. So when he gets back from Riley hospital next week, I am hoping he can explain this so Jeremy and I can understand more. Jeremy and I can see a difference in them, but they are different weights and that could all change. I still think they are fraternal, but we will see when time comes. Here are some pictures...

Landon


Jalen


Jordan playing baseball

Update to come...

I will post an update later on this evening or so about the boys. I can tell you that they are doing great since they have been in the NICU and the nurses and Dr's have been wonderful.

Landon and Jalen have arrived!

Thursday afternoon on May 7th, I was checked into labor and delivery for watery discharge. I was then hooked up to the non stress tested and it was showing I was having contractions every 6-7 minutes; however I was not feeling them at all. The nurse gave me a shot called Terbutaline to stop the contractions. They also did a strip test to see if any amniotic fluid has been leaking and the result was negative. After about 3 hours, they released me. They said the babies are doing fine and not showing any signs of stress. Overnight the watery discharge became worst and I called my Dr. Friday morning. He then sent me back to L & D to get checked out. Dr did a speculum test to see if my membrane has ruptured. Sure enough it did and I was about 1 cm dilated. He said my water has broken and his goal was to have me stay pregnant as long as he can. He told me it could be less than 24 hours, a few days, or even a few weeks, but I was not leaving until the babies were born.

I then called Jeremy to tell him what the Dr said. He was actually turkey hunting that morning and had to stop and rush back to Indy to be with me. However, I had him go home at first and pack my hospital bag. The Dr. gave me a steroid shot to help the babies lungs mature faster since they will be coming pre-term. Soon the nurses hooked me up to IV’s, non stress test monitors, gave me all the hospital bands to wear, and it was all becoming real that I am going to be having my babies soon. The nurses would check on me every hour and everything was going well with me and the babies. There were still no painful contractions all morning or early afternoon. Things did change around 3pm. I was starting to feel contractions and the pain that went along with it. One of the Drs came in and said I was having contractions every 5 minutes now, though I was not feeling them all. She also checked my cervix and I became 2 cm dilated. Dr. then proceeded to tell me that I was in active labor and if I do become 3 cm dilated within the next few hours, the c-section will be performed. Around 5pm, the Dr. came back to check me and I was now 3cm. She then told me it was time. All these thoughts were going through my head. I am actually having these babies! Dr. told me it will be within 30min to an hour and the surgery will be performed. It was about 15 minutes and the nurses came in to get Jeremy and I ready. Around 5:45pm they rolled me out to perform the c-section. It was go time!

At 6:46 on May 9th, Jalen Lee was born weighing 4lbs 4 oz, 17 inches long. Then at 6:48, Landon Ross was born weighing 4lbs 10 oz, 18 inches long. Both had healthy cries and they looked beautiful! It was such a moment seeing them for the first time! I couldn’t keep my eyes off of them and just wanted to hold them, but I couldn’t. I am glad Jeremy got some pictures of them up to me, so I can see their beautiful faces. This was the best Mother’s Day gift I could have received!

Jalen Lee


Landon Ross