Bringing Brody Home!!

Yesterday we went to do the 11 am feeding with Brody and were told he was going to finally be discharged! We knew it would be coming any time but were so excited for the time our family could all be together at home was finally here. Brody has been a perfect baby since he has been home. We thought Hudson was really good until Brody got here. They are both sleeping great together in their crib. Today is the first day we don't have to go up to the NICU...what a treat!! We took some pics of the boys together to show all of you. We will post pics on our blog as time goes on but we won't have as many updates...things should get to be a little more normal around here...whatever our new 'normal' is.

Thanks for all of your interest, thoughts and prayers along the way.

Until next time,

Ryon, Paula, Hudson and Brody

Family time in the Family Room at the NICU

Last night we loaded up Hudson and all went to see Brody in the NICU. They have a room there with a couple of sofas where we can all go and spend some private time relaxing together. We had a great time laying the boys next to each other and snapping pics. Hudson is on the left and Brody on the right. As you can see Brody no longer has the feeding tube or any tape on his face. We are counting down the days until we are all having family time in our own family room.

Ryon, Paula, Hudson and Brody

Headed Home with Hudson

Okay, it's taken us a few days to get this post up...we are busy, busy as all of you knew we would be. Last Saturday afternoon we found out Hudson would graduate from the NICU to the regular nursery and then be put in our room after being evaluated. We were so excited to get to have him with us all the time. He has been an absolute jewel every since then. He hardly cries at all, sleeps a lot, eats well and entertains us with all the faces he'll make at us...we just can't get enough!!

Sunday, Hudson and I were both discharged to go home but were allowed to stay at the hospital until late that evening so we could have easier access to Brody. We left the hospital at 10 pm happy to have Hudson and sad to be leaving Brody behind.

Since then we have gone to see Brody for the 11 am feeding and the 8 pm feeding. We are usually there for 1-2 hours each time so these outings take quite a bit of the day. We are trying to keep them both on the same feeding schedule so we are strictly following the every 3 hour pattern...as all of you parents know it comes around really quickly each time. Sleep is hard to come by these days but we have been lucky enough to have some overnight help the last couple of nights.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is Hudson's first doctors appointment.

Brody's progress has been really good the last few days. His nasal cannula was removed yesterday morning and he was placed in a new room in the NICU called the 'big stepdown'. It's for babies only being fed. He is breathing room air and doing good. He was having a bit of trouble eating from the bottle and at times his oxygen saturation would drop and his heart rate would suddenly drop. This morning he sucked down the contents of his bottle without a problem!! Great progress! The nurse said he had two bradycardic episodes today (heart rate suddenly dropping) and that he needs to have two days without any to be sent home. We are so excited for him to be maturing so that he can join us at home.

As for the pics above: the first two were us about to leave the hospital with Hudson. The third and fourth are from this morning when we went to feed. We got to go into the 'family room' so we had a little more room to play with the boys. We layed them on the sofa side by side. As you can see Brody (on the left) was hungry. He does still have a feeding tube in his nose, so that is what the tape is that you see on his face. They also still have some adhesive patches on his cheeks left over from the CPAP. I got to hold them together for the first time...quite a handful, but what a great handful!! We are so blessed!!!

Until next time,

Ryon, Paula, Hudson and Brody

Delivery + two and a half days

Today was a very good day. Although the two of us are tired, we are enjoying every minute of it (except the pumping). Today Hudson continued to take his bottle every 3 hours and has a great appetite. He drank a full ounce at his last feeding and the nurse seems to think if he continues at this rate, he should be able to go home on Sunday. The only concern with him at this point, is his ability to hold his temperature high enough. He continues to check in at borderline temps, and the nurses are doing everything they can to keep from having to put him back under the heater. Hopefully, his new clothes and hat from home will keep him warm.

On the other hand, we're beginning to think Brody may be a bit of a slacker, and will begin to progress when HE is ready. They did have to take a step up today and place him on a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). This essentially makes the oxygen go directly into his lungs, but he is breathing it in on his own. It is not a breathing machine. They will then try to wean him off of this, just as they were before. In fact, when we left at 9:00 tonight, they had taken him down to 24% oxygen and he was doing very well at this level. The goal is to get him to 21% (not sure if I mentioned that last night). The doctor said today, that she prefers to take this route over administering surfactant, as that procedure is much more invasive. Also, they have begun giving him formula through his feeding tube and he is getting about 1/4oz every 3 hours and is holding it down very nicely. As soon as he can get to 21% and breathe easily on his own, then we can begin feeding him from a bottle. As for now the only sucking he does in on his passy, which he seems to really like. We can't wait to be able to hold him, but for now we just get the joy of having him grasp our finger as we stand by his side.

That's all for now, we will post again tomorrow.

Paula, Ryon, Brody, and Hudson

Brody and Hudson at 36 Hours

Hello all,

Just wanted to give a quick update and post a couple of pics. Hudson (the top pic) is progressing rapidly, and is taking a bottle at his scheduled feedings every 3 hours. He is getting 15mL's at each feeding and is eating it all, I expect them to increase the volume tomorrow. He is doing very well.

Brody is doing about the same. They are trying to get him weaned off of the supplemental oxygen, but they can't seem to get him down to the level which we breath. However, he is still breathing on his own, and I feel as long as he continues to do that, his lungs will strengthen and he will begin to progress. He has not eaten yet, but is receiving fluids via IV, and is maintaining his weight.

As for us, I have jumped right in to changing poopie diapers (a first for me), and paula is thinking of starting her own milk factory (and absolutely loves it......NOT). We are both pretty tired, but realize that is just part of our future lives, and are learning to deal with it. We are really enjoying every second we get to spend with the boys, and have had a blast feeding and holding Hudson. We hope to be able to have the same bonding experience with Brody in the very near future.

Please know we appreciate all the support, but don't hold it against us for not getting back to everyone directly. We are not sure where all the time goes, we just know it goes fast.

Hope to see everyone soon,

Paula, Ryon, Brody and Hudson

They're Here

Well, they've made it. Paula gave birth to Hudson Arrington and Brody Kameron this morning at 7:58 and 7:59 respectively. Everything went great and the boys are doing well. Hudson weighed in at a whopping 5 pounds and 0.2 ounces, and was 17 1/4 inches long. Brody on the other hand, who we expected was the larger of the two, weighed in at 4 pounds 13.8 ounces but was an inch longer at 18 1/4.

Both boys initially went to the regular nursery to be checked out. After a little monitoring, we were advised that Brody would need to be moved to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) because of low oxygen levels. He is breathing on his own, but has been placed in a dome to provide a higher level of oxygen for him to breathe. He will continue to be monitored, and if he cannot be weaned off of the oxygen and continue to breathe easily on his own, he may need to have surfactant to help his lungs open up a little more.

Hudson was breathing very well, however had low glucose levels. To help fix this they tried feeding him, and he actually took a bottle right away, and did great. However, his glucose levels still did not increase enough, so he was also moved to the NICU to be placed on an IV which will hopefully bring his glucose levels up. Once the level comes up the where it needs to be, he will be weaned off of the iv, and will be ready to go.

We appreciate everyones support through everything we've been through, and look forward to having you all meet the boys soon.

Paula, Ryon, Brody, and Hudson.

Tomorrow is the big day!!

Well, the time is finally here to have these babies! We really appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers!! The c-section is scheduled for 7:30 tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. We are to arrive at the hospital at 5:30 am and the procedure is expected to take 30-45 minutes. I will then have to go to a recovery room for 1-2 hours while Ryon goes with the boys to the nursery. They will be checking the boys out to make sure they can do all the normal things...swallow, maintain their body temperature, etc. We will find out if they will be in the NICU or regular nursery...from what I understand twins usually go into the NICU even if they seem to be doing great. We will get to see if they'll get to go home with us (most likely Friday or Saturday).
Ryon will post whatever news we have on the blog as soon as he has time tomorrow. We are so excited for you to all meet to boys but we are going to limit visitors on Wednesday to immediate family only. After that we are open to whoever would like to stop by...just please call and let us know your plans. We will also get a picture on the blog as soon as possible...who knows....they could look alike or completely different!
Talk to you all soon,
Ryon, Paula and the Boys