Exceeding Expecatations!

After making it through the first three days (we don't know if it was harder for the twins or us!) things just keep getting better. We find ourselves repeating to the nurses, "That is good news!" at every visit. The best thing we overheard was on Thursday evening, El's first night out of the ward, when one of the maternity sisters came to the ward and asked after the twins, the PICU sister said that they were exceeding all expectations - an awesome thing to hear! And it's all because of GOD's amazing hand in their lives.

Grace developed jaundice on Wednesday and had to spend two days with her 'spa eye protection' on and lay in front of the blue light as if she was on the beach... hopefully a sign of things to come! They took her off the light on Friday morning and were so pleased that she kept up her feeds so well.



On Friday our doctor wanted to try turning off their heaters and see whether or not they could maintain their own body heat. This was the first time that they were able try out their new clothes and they looked absolutely adorable in the 'large' prem vests and babygros!! Grace was not impressed with hers, though, she has issues with pink clothes... so she's now in yellow :). Eli on the other hand was so chilled and content to be in his little outfit. Since then, they've been wrapped in blankets and oversized socks and maintained their own heat! The nurse takes their temperatures regularly - Thank you Lord!!!


They have both been feeding from a bottle, a little more each day. By Sunday morning, Eli was on 30ml per feed, (bottle-tube-bottle) whilst Grace was on 25ml per feed, (tube-tube-bottle). Ella and I have changed their nappies and given them top and tails almost every time we visit (3 times a day). We have also started to give them their bottles and hold their tubes during feeds, primarily because they're in our arms at the time :).



We have held them so much since Friday and are feeling far more positive about their stay in PICU. The first few days were a constant silent battle between us and the PICU sisters, where unspoken gestures made us feel like we were in the way. On Wednesday evening I had a chat with the staff and explained our needs and they have since been far more accommodating - which has made all the difference for us. For a while I was thinking that a new parent's worst nightmare is a Peads ICU sister but then I realised that their worst nightmare is a new parent... things improved thereafter.

On Saturday evening they removed a drip from Grace's head, she screamed so much but I stuck by her as Ella was holding Eli at the time. We were both talking her through it and I was rubbing her tummy and kissing her hands, after a few sobs (which are really tiny) she fell asleep from the exertion of crying so much. I held her for the rest of the evening and sat next to Ella, who was cuddling Eli all evening.

Our prayer is that they will continue to exceed expectations, that GOD would protect and guide them and that soon the drips will be out and they will be able to feed on their own! Grace is just under 1.8kg and Eli has put on a little and is 1.957kg!