Party in the NICU!

All of the babies got to hang out together for the first time this week!  Just before Colin's 2 a.m. feeding, the babies had a little party and the nurses decided to do a photoshoot.  Grace showed off a few of her moves...

Cash, Grace, and Colin - 24 days old

Check out our weekly pictures to see who hit 4 lbs!

Colin & Cash - Together Again

Prior to June 27th, Colin & Cash were roommates in the plush residence otherwise known as Erin's womb. Then, out of the blue, Colin decided that he was ready to move out, and they haven't spoken since.

In an effort to resolve their differences and put the past behind them (and because their feeding schedules finally lined up...) the boys got back together today.

Colin & Cash (22 days old)

The reunion was icy at first, but Colin finally won Cash over, and the boys decided to commemorate the historic event by wearing matching hats.

Colin & Cash (22 days old)

And, now, for your viewing pleasure...

And not to be outdone by her older brothers, it's Grace!

Grace (22 days old)

Who is that other baby??

On Wednesday, I was able to hold Cash and Grace at the same time!

Cash and Grace - 13 days old

When I moved them so that they were side-by-side, Cash cut his eyes over at Grace -- which I interpreted as Cash saying, "Who is that other baby and what is she doing here??"  But, really, none of them has any control over their eyes at this point.  When the babies are awake, their eyeballs roll all over the place!

Grace and Cash - 13 days old

Spotlight on Grace

Grace had a rough first week of life, but by ten days old, she was finally stable enough to be held!  

On her first day of life, Grace proved to be very vocal.  Grace's nurse said she was a "pistol"!  All of her crying probably didn't help her preemie lungs, which are stiffer than the lungs of a full-term newborn.  By day two, Grace had a collapsed lung.  She was intubated and put on a jet ventilator.  Later on day two, Grace needed a chest tube to help get rid of the air that had collected around her lung.  At 10:30 on the night I was discharged from the hospital, we got a call from the neonatologist advising us that there was air at the bottom of Grace's lung that the initial chest tube wasn't reaching.  Grace needed a second chest tube to get rid of that air.  

Like both of the boys, Grace had jaundice and needed to be under the phototherapy light.  Those lights make it hard to take pictures of the baby, so we have a lot of pictures of the babies under the "spotlight", wearing little masks to protect their eyes from the light.  

Grace (4 days old)

After a day with two chest tubes, Grace was able to have the first chest tube removed.  In the picture below, the little gauze pad on her chest is where the first chest tube used to be.

Grace (6 days old)

Grace was very busy on her one-week "birthday"!  Her second chest tube was removed and her umbilical cord IV was replaced with a PICC line in her arm.  She was also extubated and put on a high-flow nasal cannula.  Thanks to her nurse, Grace also got her first hair bow!  We loved being able to finally see her sweet little face!

Grace (1 week old)

Yesterday, Grace's breathing and heart rate were stable enough for me to hold her.  I'm so thankful she was finally able to take this big step!  She fusses when she gets messed with, so she wasn't too happy to be picked up at first.  She settled down pretty quickly after I rested my hand on her head.  She's a tough little lady -- the boys let you move their arms around without a fight, but she initially resisted me trying to move her hand away from her face!

Grace's first kangaroo care (10 days old)

The NICU provides preemie onesies for the babies to wear once they don't need phototherapy.  Grace got to wear her first outfit yesterday too.

Grace (10 days old)

Thank you for your extra-special prayers for Grace.  We are so encouraged by her progress!

Kangaroo Care

We were not able to hold Cash or Colin until they were three days old.  They needed to be stable and had to have their umbilical cord IVs removed before we could hold them.  We are still waiting to hold Grace.

Preemies are very sensitive to touch and the nurses explained that patting or stroking the babies' skin is uncomfortable for them.  Initially, we were only able to lay our hands on the babies' heads or hold their feet.

I was so excited when the nurses said Cash and Colin were ready to be held!  The nurses let you choose whether you want to hold the baby wrapped in a blanket or do "kangaroo care" with the baby.  When doing kangaroo care, the baby lays against your chest, skin-to-skin.  The March of Dimes has provided the NICU with handheld mirrors so that you can look at the baby's face while he is laying on you.  Having a mirror handy also helps you make sure the baby hasn't smushed his nose into your chest or pulled out a tube.

Our smallest baby, Cash, was ready to be held first.  We loved watching him wring his little hands!  

Cash's first kangaroo care (3 days old)

I was able to hold Colin for the first time on the same afternoon that I held Cash.  Colin waited very patiently for his turn!

Colin's first kangaroo care (3 days old)

Colin was wide awake when it was time for him to go back into his bed.

The following day, Jon held Cash for the first time.  Cash slept soundly the whole time!

Cash (4 days old) and Daddy 

Jon said Colin was much more wiggly than Cash when it was Colin's turn to hang out with Daddy.  Colin even got the hiccups while Jon was holding him!

Colin (5 days old) and Daddy

The lights are really low in the NICU, so it's difficult to get very clear pictures right now.  

We are so appreciative of all of your prayers, encouragement, and support!  Happy Fourth of July from the Williams!