It is hard to believe how much has changed in these past few weeks. From being very large and uncomfortable to now being relatively mobile and comfortable considering I have recently had a fairly major surgical procedure. We have also gone from being a cosy family of 3 to a much larger family of 6. It is also incredible the changes that we have seen in Addison, Spencer and Hudson. To see them all on oxygen in isolettes and at times on CPAP and under lights and looking so skinny after they lost 10ish% of their birth weights - Hudson was a bit more than this. To now seeing them all breathing on their own and now having the ability to regulate their own body temperature.
When I arrived at the hospital I was very pleased to see all three in an open cot, Spencer and Hudson had been in an open cot for a few days, but Addison has now joined her brothers. All that has been holding her back is she was that bit smaller from the start.
Addison now weighs 1740 grams
Spencer now weighs 1935 grams
Hudson now weighs 2020 grams
The two boys (again because they are a bit bigger) have been graded on to 3 hourly feeds, and Addison is still on 2 hourly but I imagine hers will change this week. They are tolerating their feeds really well and are not spilling at all. Now that they are beginning to get the sensation of being hungry they are starting to wake up when they are due for a feed so we are lucky enough to see them with their eyes open more often. Now when I go into the hospital I spend most of my time trying to teach the babies to breast feed. I manage to get them to attach and depending on how awake and hungry they are they do manage to have a bit of a feed but do tire quickly. So considering they are not meant to be born yet and are still only 33 weeks gestation they are doing really well. They had their routine follow up brain scans this week which didn't show up anything, thankfully. They were checking for bleeding on the brain which is quite common in premature babies.
We are still exclusively breastfeeding and are keeping up just fine. The hospital has enough for at least 24 hours in case we are not able to make it one day for whatever reason. The time I am spending expressing at home gives me a chance to sit quietly and read, 50 Shades of Grey is on the list currently and who knows when I will get a chance to start and finish a book again. I also read recently how many calories are burnt by breastfeeding and based on that it worked out to a huge 800+ calories per day.
This has also seen the first full week of me driving to the hospital and back every day. Luckily Ollie hasn't had to come with me this week as his beautiful Grandma Jen and Poppy have been able to help out and keep him entertained. But he will be coming down with me most days from now on and playing in the creche at the hospital. So far I have been going down every day and limiting myself to 2 hours as I am really tired from both still recovering and expressing during the night.
Oliver has made the transition out into his new bedroom and his 'big boy bed' very easily since I have been home and has been asking to go to the hospital to see "Huds, Spence and Addie" but due to his illness he hasn't been in the past week but will come in for a visit this week with me. I have also really enjoyed spending some one on one time with him this past week as I really feel like I have missed out on some beautiful time with him these past few months and he is at such a beautiful age.
Lastly here are some photos in order of Addison, Spencer and Hudson
