Annie & Stewart Allen

"Weight" and see ...

We heard rumors it might happen and it was a wonderful surprise to come in Wednesday night and find Stewart and Annie conspicously absent from their usual spot in the ICN. As a reward for good behavior they were moved to the Level 2 ICN, a step down from Level 3. Level 3 is the most intense care where one nurse is assigned each baby. In Level 2 there is a 2 to 3 baby per nurse ratio. We celebrated the big move with a prime time victory cuddle.




Our routine is to kangaroo in the evenings (above). We can increase the frequency as they become more mature and there are fewer tubes and cords to manage. More than one move in and out of the isolette in a day is too stressful for Stewart and Annie right now.


Nevertheless, during the day there is plenty of opportunity to help Stewart and Annie out if they get agitated or too cranked up over things. Placing one's hands around premature infants provides a sense of boundary that is soothing and calming (a feeling they would more naturally experience in utero).

Otherwise we are delighted that Annie and Stewart are experiencing what we are told are rather typical "premie issues" at this point. Among those would be "A's & B's", or periods of Apnea and Bradycardia, a complication of prematurity. Annie has had more frequent episodes, but thankfully only a handful per day. As a result Annie is still on a hi-flow heated cannula while Stewart is on an oxygen only 'regular' cannula.


Perhaps the best news is that with the breathing issues currently stable we can now focus wholly on feed and grow issues for Annie and Stewart. Annie decided that she would catch up with her brother in that department earlier today as she had a diaper that might best be described as "full". We were elated as Annie had been struggling in that department over the past week.

As of midnight Annie's weight is 2 pounds 15 ounces. Stewart's is 2 pounds 13 ounces. They are gaining weight! The goal is 30 grams (1.05 ounces) per day. From what we are told the weight will pour on once they are able to breast and bottle feed. We can begin that when each of them develops a suck response, usually around 34 weeks (2 weeks from this Thursday).

Thank you all again for the thoughts, prayers, and support!

Love,

Annie, Stewart, Aimee, and Carl