Check out our new cribs!

We have been moved to the the level 2 B nursery and we are in open cribs!!!! No more changing diapers through little holes! They have done great maintaining their temperature and are even elevated/propped up on one side. We'll be testing out those car seats soon we hope! They are all bottle/breast fed, no more tube feedings! (Unless they get lazy and don't eat then they push the rest of their bottle through the tube.) Their vitamins are also pushed through the tube since those don't taste very good. Momma has been very busy going back and forth for one breastfeeding per shift. Cohen is a breastfeeding machine! Meagan... well she does good once she gets going, but she sleeps (we're trying to teach her it's dinner time and not just a pacifier, lol!) I have been dealing with some clogged ducts= ouch! Hot showers and warm compresses is what I've read to try to help, along with lots of pumping and feeding. On a brighter note, Cohen has now christened both mommy and daddy and has quite the aim! I need to find one of those pee pee tee pees! He still has that diaper rash. It isn't any worse, but is only a little better, so we're continuing with the prescription ointment. Both babies have gained weight too! Cohen is 4lbs. 10oz., Meagan is 4lbs. 2oz. They just gotta keep gaining! We aren't sure when they will be coming home but Mommy and Daddy are anxious to have the family home all together. Thank you all so much for your continued thoughts and prayers for our little ones! <3 

(Don't forget click on the picture to enlarge)

 Check out our new cribs!

 Wide eyed boys! Sleepy girl!

 Take me out the ball game! Burrito baby! 

 Buddy checking out these new little clothes. Baylee... not so interested. 

2 Weeks Old!

I can't believe our babies are 2 weeks old today!! They have come so far in those two weeks!When I called last night to check on them their weights were: Cohen 4lbs. 6oz, Meagan 3lbs. 15oz. They now get 6 out of 8 bottle feedings, that's only 2 feedings on the tube per day (one per shift!) Breastfeeding is going better and better each time. They both know exactly what to do! My milk supply is doing pretty good too, in fact I was told I could freeze the next couple of days! Both of their umbilical chords fell off, and they have cute little belly buttons now! Another positive event was I got to drive today, it's been so long, I'm glad I didn't forget, lol! The morning shift nurse thinks they will be coming home soon! She was very impressed with their progress and told us to make sure we have the car seats ready, they may ask us to bring them up and start getting them used to sitting in the upright position. :) Don't want to get too excited yet but this is definitely a step in the right direction. This evening, Cohen weighed 4lbs.8oz and Meagan weighed 3lbs. 14oz. She lost a little.  Both babies got some vitamins, Meagan didn't care for them and spit them all up! :( I need her to eat, keep it down and gain some weight! Our favorite nurses aren't there tonight...both babies did not enjoy their bath and cried quite a bit, hoping our babies get some good rest tonight. Here's some pics from the last few days. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for our little ones. <3

 Look at me holding it all by myself!  I love my hairbows, just like Mommy!

 Mommy and Daddy love us so much!

 I'm all wrapped up like a burrito! Meagan making bubbles!

Thanks for your help Aunt Cheyenne! 

A blessing in disguise...

Well this being a mom stuff just keeps getting better the more I get to interact and do with my sweet little ones! Last night was an amazing experience. I got to breastfeed both babies (not at the same time yet) and I can't explain the feeling of closeness I felt with each one of them. Today I got to breastfeed them both tandem style (both at the same time!) Really neat experience! I guess one "good" thing about them being in the NICU is that I get "training" lol! I am so thankful that they have showed us how to check their temperature and hold their little arm down, how to bottle feed and hold them with your finger under their little chin to help them get a better grip, how to put a clean diaper under the old one before you change it, (this has saved some linens a few times already let me tell ya!), how to make sure they get a good latch, how to swaddle them up like a burrito... all of this in small doses but still I love not feeling clueless and these nurses have really helped ease me into motherhood.

Health Update

We are gaining weight! Yesterday Meagan was 3lbs, 13oz and Cohen was 4lbs. 4oz! Today Meagan was still at 3.13 and Cohen went down to 4.3. Still good though. They are up to 3 bottle feeds and one breastfeed per day. Cohen's little bottom looks a lot better. 

We meet again! And Our First Family of 4 Picture! 

Sweet Sleeping Meagan! 

(She does this a lot)

Daddy Time! 

Back to Birth Weight!!!!!!

Sorry it's been a few days since my last post, I've been one busy mama! I am looking forward to Wednesday when I get my driving privileges back and can start doing more things around the house to prepare for their homecoming (which is yet to be determined, probably a few weeks). Still monitoring my blood pressure. I have good news... I have my ankles back! So long kankles and sausage toes!! Enough about me, let's talk babies!

Health Update

Meagan is completely off oxygen and is breathing great on her own and has been since Wednesday!!!!Both babies are now getting 2 bottles a day and are getting weened off of their feeding tubes! They are supposed to be able to finish a bottle within 30 minutes. Meagan did it 11 minutes last night! She has been spitting up a bit but, when I talked to her nurse this evening she hadn't had any spit  up. Cohen seems to be tolerating his feedings too. He has a pretty severe diaper rash that is being treated with  a prescription ointment. Ouch! Both babies are back to their birth weights: Cohen 4lbs 1oz, Meagan 3lbs 11oz!!!!! Both babies need to be able to gain weight, independently feed without tube while showing no strain or saturation of breathing or decrease in pulse. Since they only have a feeding tube and monitors, they get to wear clothes now. :) Here's some pics from the past few days.
(P.S. you can click on the picture to enlarge)

Meagan and Cohen 

 We love Grandma Time!!

Thanks Aunt Cheyenne for bringing Mommy for a late night milk run and snuggle! 

Check out our cool clothes! 

One week old!

Another great day being a mommy!! Not only did I get to hold Meagan for the first time today, I also got to hold them both together! They have been separated from each other since they were born (tomorrow they will be a week old... already!) They were so snuggly with each other! I held them for 3 hours and could have done it all day!

Health Update

Cohen and Meagan both had their IV removed today! They will both keep their feeding tubes and will get breast milk with added fortifiers (formula if needed to supplement). Their amounts per feedings has increased:Cohen to 25ml and Meagan to 23ml. Cohen only had 1ml of residual out of 20 ml of food! We need them to keep gaining weight, today Meagan was 3.10 and Cohen was 3.14. Meagan was taken off of the Vaportherm but will continue with oxygen. She will slowly be weened off of this next. Cohen had a little explosion and his daddy got to clean it up! :) Gotta love these nurses! 

Looking forward to seeing what these little miracles will accomplish tomorrow! Here's some more pics from today. 

Cohen before they took the IV out of his sweet little head...

Cohen after the IV was taken out, our poor baby boy!

Our twins reunite! <3

Cohen sleeping soundly, Meagan sucking on his ear! 

Meagan sleeping like a princess! 

Meet Cohen and Meagan Hoppe

Born on May 9th, 2012

(33 weeks 5 days)

Cohen Charles Hoppe was born at 1:06 pm, weighing in at 4lbs.1oz, 16 3/4 inches long. 

Meagan Grace Hoppe was born at 1:07pm, weighing in at 3lbs.11 oz, 16 1/2 inches long. 

Our Health Update

Being born premie both babies were sent right away to the level 2 NICU. Everything they are experiencing is "normal" for being born at their gestational time. 

Cohen has been working on his digestion system. At the beginning Cohen would have up to 10 ml of residual after each feedings, as of yesterday he only had 1 and 1/2 ml. He is making progress and is tolerating his food much better now. He also spent a day on a bili light for jaundice. 

Meagan has been working on strengthening her respiratory system. She is on oxygen and Vaportherm (humidifier/oxygen). At the beginning she was at a pressure of 6 and a level 40 flow. Last night when we left the nurse said if she continued to do as well as she has been she'd be moving her pressure down to 3 and her flow is at a 21 (the lowest setting)! They are keeping her on this low setting to help her build up strength, so she can breath more easily. 

Some of our important events:

May 10- We got to hold you Cohen! 

May 11- Mommy's first diaper change and Kangaroo Care with Cohen!

May 12- Daddy's 30th Birthday! He got to do Kangaroo Care with Cohen! Daddy changed Meagan's diaper! Discharged from the hospital around 9:30. Mommy and Daddy were glad to be sleeping in their own bed but cried the whole way home because we had to leave you. 

May 13- Mommy's First Mother's Day! You both were the best gifts in the world! It was a busy day in the NICU so we only got to spend a few minutes with you today. 

May 14- Daddy got to hold Meagan for the first time and did Kangaroo Care for over an hour, he also got to change your diaper again! Mommy got to try breastfeeding with Cohen and also did Kangaroo Care.  I read you our first book, Green Eggs and Ham until you fell asleep. Mommy also got to take your temperature and change your diaper!

Ready or not, here they come!

What an amazing week it has been! Here's a recap of all the excitement. Monday evening my blood pressure was extremely high. We had an appointment Tuesday afternoon so we thought we'd just take it easy and call the doc in the morning. Without even getting out of bed my blood pressure was at it's highest it has been this whole pregnancy. The doctor sent us over to Labor and Delivery again for fetal monitoring and to check things out. Thank goodness Valerie was here to help, we decided to go ahead and bring the hospital bag and everything we needed just as a precaution. After a few hours in a triage room and an unsettling ultrasound, (babies weren't showing much movement), Dr. Mullin arrived and said we'd be staying over night for further monitoring. The next morning, it was time for another ultrasound. Cohen wasn't moving.  I ordered pancakes and bacon and was about to eat when my AMAZING nurse Robin ran in and told me to put the fork down... "Your doctor is on her way in to tell you some exciting news about something that is going to happen at 12:30 today!" My jaw dropped and I replied, "Like 2 things that might happen today, like babies??!!" At this point my legs have started shaking! Dr. Mullin came in and told us we were going to be delivery our sweet babies at 12:30! Along with my high blood pressure and signs of preeclampsia, Cohen was not showing movement and his fluid was low. Thank goodness for my amazing husband, family, friends and my sweet nurse. I couldn't have gotten through it without them. 

Robin quickly started prepping me for surgery. The whole thing really wasn't nearly as bad as I pictured in my head. Before this, I had never had surgery, so I of course, expected the worst. The iv and numbing for the spinal block were the worst parts as far as pain is concerned. I was nervous at the beginning because they wouldn't let Chris, my rock, come with me. But thank goodness I had such a kind, loving nurse. Robin kept me very calm through it all. Once I was in the OR, the overwhelming smell of alcohol made me very nauseous. My legs felt like they had pop rocks inside them, they were so tingly. Once it was time, my honey was able to join me. Whew! Having him there made me feel like everything was ok. The first thing I told him was that I was going to need a Chick-fil-a sweet tea stat after this! Before I knew it they put a lot of pressure and pushed out Cohen. He cried immediately! Amazing sound! Then a minute later, that strong pressure of pushing on my belly and out came Miss Meagan, just as I was starting to panic, she let out her cries. And then I started balling tears of joy too! Our babies were really here! Chris went with our sweeties and they worked on putting me back together. Here's where it got bad again. I couldn't control the nausea this time and made quite a mess all over my face. The few minutes it took putting me back together, seemed like forever. Robin took me off to recovery and they started me on Magnesium for the next 24 hours because of my blood pressure and preeclampsia. I have never felt so weird in my life. It makes you feel very loopy and hot and itchy. I was finally able to get some ice chips, they were delicious!!!!!! Then clear liquids for dinner, even though all I wanted was those pancakes from this morning and my sweet tea! Thanks Matt for saving the day with that tea and Candace for the gallon for refills! And just in case you were wondering, I had my headband on the whole time, except during the surgery. But don't worry Robin had it for me to put right back on in the recovery room! :)

Robin went home and my night nurse came in. We didn't like her as much... I really wanted to go and see my babies!!! She didn't think I could handle it, but I showed her otherwise! They wheeled me down and there were my precious babies!!!!!! I had no idea being a mommy felt this wonderful!!!! We got back to the room and there I went again... vomiting. Maybe that night nurse was right, it was a little much, but there wasn't going to be anything or anyone standing in the way of me seeing them! Talk about an exciting and eventful day! I was able to get a sleeping pill and Chris and I had just settled in and had just fallen asleep when we got a knock on the door telling us we had to change rooms... I was so loopy it didn't bother me so much, but poor Chris had just gotten all settled in, talk about inconvenient! Once we got resettled we were finally able to get some sleep after the best day of our lives!