2 Months Old!

The twins are 2 months old as of yesterday, March 12th. The babies have gotten so strong and big in the past month. I could not be any more proud of everything they have accomplished. 

Mason Dallas Rimini: 

At Birth: 2 pounds 6 ounces, 14 inches long

1 month: 3 pounds 10 ounces, 16 1/2 inches long

2 month: 6 pounds 1ounce, 17.9 inches long

Madeline Sophia Rimini:

At Birth: 2 pounds 7 ounces, 14 1/2 inches long

1 month: 3 pounds 4 ounces, 16 inches long

2 month: 5 pounds 13.5 ounces, 18 inches long

So much has happened in the past month.  Monday they tried both babies off oxygen. They were on 1.5 liters previously and were planning to switch them both to low flow oxygen at .1 liters. However, before they did that they decided to try them completely off oxygen to see how they would do. Mason did fabulous and is still off the oxygen! Madeline couldn't quite make it work and her oxygen levels wouldn't stay quite as high as they needed to be. So she is now on .1 liters of oxygen. It's crazy how that just tiny little bit is what she needs to keep her oxygen levels up. But if we have learned anything from Madeline it's that she only does things on her own time. When she is ready to be completely off she will let us know, probably by ripping it out herself like she did the ventilator! The doctor said this is the lowest form of oxygen they give and it's actually an amount that they will send babies home on. So it's good to know that if we get to the point where she is ready to go home from a feeding and growing standpoint, and still needs this tiny puff of oxygen, that's ok...it won't stop her from being released home. Hopefully she will be off of it before then, but if not, that's ok too. 

Speaking of feeding the little ones are still getting their feeds from the NG tube (in their nose) but we have been working on breastfeeding and bottles! Breastfeeding these two probably requires a post in and of itself....but lets just say it's going pretty well. Some days better than others. One time they will take a full feed from nursing, the next time they seem to want nothing to do with it, then the next time they make take a fourth of a feed. It can get pretty frustrating that they seem to not have any consistency with it, but the doctors assure me this is normal. They also occasionally choke themselves up while eating. Blue is not a color you want to see your baby turn. Especially when they are in your arms trying to nurse. They have given me many a heart attack when they turn that nasty color and send their alarms off. Ugh. Scares the crap out of me. Thank God for the nurses around that can help bring that nice pink color back to their faces when they get choked up like that. Today was the first day we tried a bottle. The doctors put the order in as only Jason (not me, not the nurses, not the therapists were allowed to try first). I thought that was sweet. He was pretty excited to finally get to feed them himself. At the first trial Mason was not interested. Madeline finished 3/4 of the bottle her first time. Later that day Mason was able to finish 3/4 of his bottle and Madeline did the same. They just seem to get a little tired during feeds and can't quite finish, so the remainder is given to them through their NG tube. We will keep practicing though! I know they will get it eventually. It's just a little frustrating when you want so badly for them to catch on quickly so that it's one last obstacle in our way to going home. 

Mason,

You continue to be the most animated little guy. You always have either a little grin or a worried scowl on your face. You also grunt and groan during any sort of activity. You are such a noisy little thing! You have also gotten so big!! You gain so much weight every single day. You take 54 milliliters (about 1 1/2 ounces) of milk every 3 hours. Your preemie clothes no longer even fit and you are now wearing newborn size sleepers (even though they are still a little big). Over the past week you have pretty much stopped spitting up with every feed and you seem to be much less fussy now. 

I am so proud of how well you have done this past month. Since birth it amazes me how I have never known anyone as small you and your sister and at the same time I have never met any two people as incredibly strong. You amaze me every single day and I love you so much!

Love you to the moon,

Your Mommy

Madeline,

My baby girl. You continue to be so laid back and never seem to get too upset. Your Daddy and I have only heard you give a real cry once! You have found your voice in other ways though. You give little grunts and squeals sometimes, but most often you like to snort! You sound like a little piggy sometimes! Speaking of piggy you have gotten so big! I love to kiss your chubby little cheeks! Even though you have always weighed less than your brother, you sometimes look as though you are bigger because of those adorable cheeks! 

You are proving to continue to be very independent. Sometimes we will walk over to your crib and you will be wide awake just looking around. We never know when you are awake because you never make a peep! You are happy to just look up at the lights on the ceiling. 

We love you so much Miss Maddie Moo. I could spend all day giving you little kisses and watching you. Keep growing big and strong and overcoming all the obstacles that being born so early has unfairly put in your way. I have no doubt you will.

Love you to the moon,

Your Mommy 

Mason and Daddy trying a bottle for the first time

Mommy and Madeline trying a bottle 3/13/13