Things are going well in "Care By Parent." It has been quite a learning experience. By the time we have given both girls their food and then pumping and sterilizing everything, it is time to start over again! The first couple of days were very tiring. We are starting to get a routine going now and I know better about what needs to be done when. We are starting to "read" the girls and their cues better. Everyday, the nurses teach us another part of their care so that we are prepared when we go home and are not overwhelmed by all the information at once. There is still a lot to take in - we will learn how to give Lucy her blood thinner medication by needle, practice Lucy's physio for her arm, learn how to properly fortify their milk and give their vitamins, and figure out their feedings.

Lots of people are wondering what it will take for us to go home. The girls need to take all of their feeds orally - either by breastfeeding or bottling - and still be gaining weight. There is eight feeds over twenty-four hours. Both girls need to develop some stamina and efficiency around the oral feeding. They need to be doing this for forty-eight hours and then they are able to be released. We expect this to take a couple more weeks.

At the moment, Ella is taking an average of 5 feeds by mouth in a day. Lucy is at about 4. It is a slow process because if we give them too many bottles, they are tired out and sleep through the next feed or two. They do need to be challenged at times though to see what they can do. They are both still gaining weight and Lucy is almost six pounds and Ella is almost eight pounds.

Lucy is still on the low-flow oxygen at a fairly low rate - a flow of 30. Ella continues to do well without any extra oxygen.

Both girls are getting cuter everyday. It is wonderful to finally be able to take care of them full time and get to know them even better. They continue to be very good natured.