Day 53 Update

Good Morning! Wow, I can't believe it's still morning and I am sitting here, especially this morning!

Last night we decided that Harry was really really bored and feeling like a second class citizen and needed some big boy time out so we took him to the Fun Zone on Route 110. He was very happy with the whole idea as you can imagine. First we stopped at the hospital to visit Golda. I went up while the rest of the crew waited in the minivan. Jon fed the babies while they waited - well mostly just Leah since Micah couldn't bring himself to eat a cold bottle and spit out immediately most of what he was offered!

My visit to Golda was really great. It was the first time that I have seen her so alert and content, although apparently Jon often sees her this way. She was pissed off when I first got there and disturbed her sleep by picking her up, but then she calmed down and just laid there looking at me and all around while I was having a conversation with one of the nurses. She was completely calm and content. It was really nice to see. Then when I put her back down she started crying so I unwrapped her to make sure no wires or tubes were pulling and she calmed right back down. The best part was seeing her laying there in her clothes, eyes fully open, looking around and waving her arms and legs like Leah does all the time! As I said, I haven't gotten to see this side of her since she usually just passes out in my arms and I was kind of confused when the doctors and administrators said they would be doing different therapies with her when she went to the intermediate care facilities. I couldn't' figure out how they would wake her up let alone get her to focus on anything since I never really saw her looking that cognizant before. Now that I have seen it, I am doubly glad that things are falling into place for her to go to St. Mary's since I realize how much she really does need to be out of there.

Anyway, on to her stats. Yesterday Golda weighed 1771 g (3 lbs. 14.47 oz.) and today she dropped a little to 1765 g (3 lbs. 14.25 oz.). She is still eating 35 ml of milk and otherwise doing very well. Her g-tube site looks so much better - there is only a little pinkness left.

Okay, so after the hospital we headed out to Fun Zone and had Nathan's first. Harry gobbled down his corn dogs and fries and wanted to head over to the rides before Jon and I had even finished our hot dogs! We finished up, changed babies and headed to the rides. The way the pricing scheme worked out, if Harry rode 8 rides it was cheaper to do the pay one price, so we decided to get that. At first he didn't realize that was what he had and was only picking his favorite rides and only once. Then I explained that his bracelet meant he could go on as many rides as he wanted. He looked at me and said "oh", then proceeded to ride the "roller coaster" three times in a row! By the time we finished up the night we were afraid he was going to fall asleep on a ride! He and Daddy played Bowlingo (a smaller version of bowling) then we got babies changed and headed home. Harry was asleep before we hit the highway! He was disappointed that he didn't get to play more games, but we explained that we would do this again when we thought he needed big brother time and that this was because he was such a good big brother for letting the babies always go first (for dinner and attention) that this was a thank you to him for it. He was okay with it then and started planning the next big brother night already!

Last night though with all the messed up feedings the babies were all out of sorts. Jon took the early shift so I could get some sleep, but the babies were very crabby. I got up for the 3 am feeding and took them out to the living room after their bottles. They didn't stop moaning and groaning so I kept them out there, trying to give Jon a chance to get some uninterrupted sleep (his eyes have become permanently bloodshot these days). Micah slept in the bassinet and Leah in my arms while we dozed on the couch. It's amazing how quickly three hours go by when it takes and hour and a half to feed them and you sleep through most of it! Jon and Harry woke up around 7:30 am and came out to find us in the living room. Jon took over the end of Leah's feeding and I went to crash for bit while Jon finished up and got Harry ready for Sunday School. Micah let me know when they had left and I went out to calm him. Jon returned soon after, made me some breakfast and then fed Micah. I fed Leah when I had finished eating and Jon left shortly after to go on a much needed shopping trip to Costco. Micah chose that time to completely fountain most of his bottle - straight out of the bassinet and over to get me sitting on the couch! While I tended to him, Leah spit up too. Such fun! After changing them, cleaning up and trying out different spots for them to rest I wound up swaddling them and putting them in their bed in our bedroom. Finally some quiet! I loaded the dishwasher with bottles, then sat down to pump and write this. Well, so much for getting to this in the morning - it's now one o'clock and Micah has eaten again! Jon is back and will feed Leah now. And I wonder why we get seem to get out of the house before noon!!!

Okay, enough complaining. I am off to take a much (much, much) needed shower, then attempt to make it out of the house. Oh, I almost forgot, I spoke to the surgeon on Friday and he said that he is going to order a "button" for Golda (it's a device that sits flush against her skin for feeding instead of the g-tube which sticks straight out) on Monday or Tuesday. I asked what the actual name of the "button" is and the medical fellow gave me material on two kinds, but didn't know which would be used - the mic-key or the bard (see www.mic-key.com if you want to see what it looks like). I will let you know which one it is when I find out! The button will make life much better for Golda since she will then be able to lay on her tummy and wear regular clothes and eventually, to learn to crawl. Okay, okay, now I am really off to the shower!