We read a cute story to Grace and William called Puppies. It is a story of a boy who wants to purchase a Golden Retriever who is missing a hip socket and a pet store owner who does not want to sell the puppy until the owner learns of the boy's similar disability. While the story is short (perfect for the babes' short attention span), it is heartwarming. Thanks to Anne (a great Realtor at Remax by the Bay)!

Having these babies has been a continual learning experience. We were meant to learn of all that is going on a daily basis, giving us time to comprehend the progress and issues. It just dawned to us that prematurity, itself, is a diagnosis. We have passed several preemie tests -- brain scans, blood tests, etc. -- and we count our blessings. Both Grace and William have exaggerated movements, from being very easily startled, hands/fingers extended out or clenched, and jerky motions. These should go away as their systems continue to develop and move from being preemies to full-termers.

As we wrote earlier, the babes are due to have eye exams in the next two weeks, to monitor for detached retinas. Because of being preemies, the doctor must aid the babies move his/her eyes. The testing method used may not be recommended for either William or Grace and we are appreciative to the CCN nurses (especially Terri and Lee) for thinking ahead and creatively about how the babes can be tested yet not putting their health in danger, in light of their blood clotting issues. The Portland area and all of Maine is very fortunate to have such wonderful staff and facilities at MMC's NICU and CCN wards. We are told that the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital is in the top 10 in the USA!

Today was a day to focus primarily on William's feedings. We decided to forgo the supplemental nursing system (the bottle/tube/shield method we wrote about yesterday) during the morning and dinner feedings for both babes, as this system should not be used at each breastfeeding session. William, on his own, sucked for 4cc, which was great for him. At the dinner feedings (5 and 6pm), Grace got her all-time high, 12cc. William acted very hungry and sucked 8cc. At their 8 and 9pm feedings, both rooted around quite a bit but neither was awake enough to use the supplemental nursing system so they had their feedings the old fashioned way (for them, via gavage or their nose tube).

Ellen, our day nurse, let us know that William, over the past four days, has taken the full amount (39-40cc) in the Avent bottle in his 3:00 am (overnight) feedings, so he is learning well. The nurses, though, have greater control with getting William's tongue down so he can suck and swallow. So Debbie, the babes' overnight nurse tonight, will try to bottle feed the babes twice overnight. This should continue to help with babes developing their mouth and throat muscles and learning how to breastfeed.

We decided to run a few errands today in between hospital visits, including the grocery store, arranging for the babes' cups to be engraved, replacing watch batteries, etc. -- things we have not been able to get to. And we enjoyed a lunch out and wondered what it will be like to have lunch out with the babies with us sometime soon.
We cannot write enough to express our gratitude to our family and friends. Victoria's cousin, Mary, has called a number of times (we keep missing her) to check in and share the progress of her son, Joshua, in his hospitalization. And we learned that her husband's brother has recently passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Also two of Victoria's colleagues from New Hampshire have sent cards with very personal thoughts and stories. We continue to hope and pray for Nancy's Mom and want her to not experience any pain during her illness. And Lindsay's card is very sweet, with a dog (Harry Potter) and cat (Sarah Wendy) waiting and wishing for the babies to come home. Her letter to us is very heartwarming and reminds us to that wishes came true for her and will be so for us too soon. While we are a broken record, we continue to be so touched by what are going in others' lives and how focused people are in our lives and with wanting Grace and William to get bigger so they can come home.

We wish for many things, among them patience, and good health for all.

Love,

David, Victoria, Grace and William

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