A one-week update

Well it's been one amazing, beautiful and exhausting week since the babies entered our lives. We also decided we'd better capture a summary of this first week's events, as they seem so vivid now, but the details will fade quickly once they all come home and life really begins! So, here is a brief overview of what has happened with each baby. In general, at their gestational age (just a little over a month premature), they initially assess them for respiratory issues, how well they regulate their own body temperature, and then work on graduating them to "feeder/growers" that can take all feedings by mouth and consistently gain weight. Sean Daniel Burke Born 8/31/06 at 10:26 a.m. 5 lbs 8 ounces, 18 3/4 inches From the beginning, Sean was the leader of sorts (although someone is catching up quickly, as you'll read below!) Because of his size, temperature regulation was never really a problem. He also required very little respiratory assitance and only for a short time. By Day 3 he was off all oxygen and other breathing assitance and in a crib. He is still monitored for respiration, heart rate, etc. but doing well. We're now working on feeding by mouth. He seemed to take to it okay, but is turning out to be a lazy eater! Some of his feedings are still delivered via NG tube. We have also attempted breastfeeding a couple of times, and he does latch on, but doesn't really take any volume that way. Sean is our only "blondie" and seems to be our sort of laid-back, relaxed one. Luke Victor Burke Born 8/31/06 at 10:27 a.m. 4 lbs 15 ounces, 18 inches Luke is our little fighter. He has had the most respiratory issues to battle, and unfortunately now has a little cold to complicate things. Both he and Charlotte required a dose of surfactant at birth, something that is normally present in a term baby to kick start their lungs. His progress is the slowest, but as I said he is a little fighter. He did graduate off his IV and is taking his feedings by tube. He is still on oxygen, but they're trying to slowly wean him down on the amount. As you'll see in the pictures he spends most of his time on his belly, which at this stage actually helps him breath and is safe while in the NICU where he is constantly monitored. Before he is released they transition him to back sleeping which is the safe way for them to sleep when they come home. Today when we were in for a visit the doctor said she also heard a slight heart murmur, but it was slight and irregular and while they'll monitor it, she expects it will probably resolve on its own. Charlotte Isabelle Burke Born 8/31/06 at 10:28 a.m. 4 lbs 12 ounces, 18 1/2 inches Charlotte is coming on strong. For several days she and Luke were sort following the same pattern of progress, and all of the sudden she's challenging Sean for the lead and has pretty much surpassed him! She came off oxygen to room air a few days after Sean. She then quickly graduated to her crib, starting taking most feedings by bottle, and then made quite a statement by pulling out her feeding tube! So, she is taking all feedings by bottle now, and they'll only put the tube back in if she doesn't get enough by bottle to gain weight and continue her forward progression. When this girl is awake, she is amazing and so alert! The nurses call her "blueberry eyes" because she has these wide, dark blue eyes that dart all over the room. They have all lost weight since birth, which is normal. Sean is now right at 5 pounds, Luke has lost the most and is at 4 lbs, 3 ounces, and Charlotte is 4 lbs, 6 ounces. As they improve with their eating, they'll progress their way back to their birth weight and beyond. It's a ton of work for them to learn to eat, and to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing. We've been told to expect that the weight gain will begin about 10 days after birth, so we should start seeing it soon. These days our schedule is generally that Jeff and I make one visit to the hospital together, and then Jeff makes a separate trip on his own while I rest and try to recover. My recovery has been slower than I'd like, but I know that I have to be patient. There's a very good chance that the babies will come home one or two at a time, which will be a bit more challenging logistically, but we'll deal with that as it comes. Jeff has another week off work and will go back on the 18th. We've got all our help lined up and ready to go, and our church is delivering meals every night through the end of the month! There is also a woman from our church that has been a huge support to me - I was introduced to her through the Elizabeth Ministry for new moms. She coordinated all the meals, calls regularly to check on us, and is a former NICU nurse herself so she provides lots of good insight and information. I've probably said this in every single blog entry, but we are SO blessed! Each one of our children is wonderous and beautiful in their own way. I know it will be exhausting, but I can't wait until they're all home and we can begin our life together on a daily basis. While we ask for prayers for all of them to continue their progress, we'd especially like to request prayers for Luke to get stronger and overcome his respiratory issues so he can get into the "feeder/grower" stage like his brother and sister.