Tuesday PM - It's getting close to midnight and we're finishing our nightly routine after visiting the boys. The nurses have shift change several times during the day for about an hour, which means that all visitation is stopped. One of those times is from 10:45 PM til 11:30 PM, so we try to get a good bonding session with both before getting kicked out. Then it's home to rest and start the day over. Tonight we dropped in on Adam first. He was sleeping very soundly so we decided not to disturb him. Sleeping means growing and he needs all he can get before the 21st. When we don't hold or touch them we stare a lot. So that's what we did tonight with Adam - stared. It's amazing how long you can stare at a newborn, especially when they're so small. He moves every now and then and opens his eyes, but we're glad he's conserving his calories for growth. He's still getting antibiotics for the possible infection, but so far all cultures are negative.

Mom's temptation was getting to be too much to handle so we said goodnight and went to visit Grant. For what we believe was no extra charge, his nurse was not only competent but very entertaining. She has taken on the daunting task of ensuring that Grant does not develop "toaster head." We learned tonight that toaster-head is what babies get when they don't lie on their backs for a certain amount of time. For tonight he is to lie on his back for 3 hours every 3 hours so as to "round things out." He doesn't particularly care for it, and lets his feelings be known. But it's music to our ears after seeing him so lethargic when he was sick last week. Heidi was able to calm him with a pacifier, and his manners leave something to be desired as you can hear him sucking outside the isolette. He seems to be getting stronger every day, and I thoroughly enjoyed holding him for an hour this morning.

We're looking forward to the day when we don't have to look at these guys through portholes any longer. If you've seen the isolettes (I think people used to call them incubators, but to me that's what chickens are hatched in), they have these doors on the sides that when opened are just big enough to stick your arm through. When we don't hold the kids, the portholes are what we stare through. We probably shouldn't complain though, as being in the isolette means the medical staff aren't as concerned with having to get to them right away, and that the kids are able to better regulate their body temperature. The next move up is the "bucket", which is nothing more than the clear plastic rectangular thing that healthy babies get.

I've written before about the staff in the NICU and what amazing people they are. There is another group of people who also deserve some space in our blog. Heidi's doctor and the nurses in the antepartum unit of The Woman's Hospital share just as much credit for getting our guys here. Dr. Adam (yes, her last name was part, but not all, of the influence for Adam's name) is...well, it's impossible to find adequate words to describe her skill and compassion. We were told that she was the only doctor for us, and she proved this to be true every day. We truly believe that if it were not for her, our boys would not be here, and Heidi would not be recovering the way she has been.

Some of the blog readers may not be aware that Heidi was on bedrest from the middle of May until delivery on August 25th. On July 8th she was admitted to the hospital where she stayed, on bedrest, until August 29th. The medication given to her had horrible side effects, and this was probably one of the most difficult times of her life. There were several nurses in the antepartum unit who did so much more than basic care, taking time to listen to her and let her cry on their shoulder, and encouraging her all the way to the end. Without them and their kindness, her stay would have been more difficult than it was. I'll close tonight by giving Dr. Adam and these nurses our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for all that they did up until Adam and Grant's arrival.

Good night for now...