Names! Kangaroo Care and 1st baths

Meet
A) Nadine Elise
B) Denver Paige
C) Iyla Dinn

MDM and Denver Paige - skin to skin

I got to see the girls up close for the first time at 2am in the NICU! They are a good motivator for getting rid of an IV and catheter! MDM and I then went at a more normal time -9am to name the girls Tuesday morning. We agreed quickly who should be who. We both were elated and felt very parental!
I am pumping liquid gold every 2 hours now and it is going well so far. ACD has been a HUGE help in pumping!! The babies are fed through nasal gastric tubes with my milk and IV fluids. We are holding off on formula for now.

At 2:15pm MDM and I got to do kangaroo care with Denver Paige and Nadine respectively. I love the picture below of MDM and Denver Paige! Having Nadine on my chest was so wonderful!!

Another special part of the day was when I got to introduce my maternal grandmother to her 1st great grandchildren! My dad brought her up for Thanksgiving. She was so happy! I cannot wait till they come home she will be able to hold them when she visits San Antonio again. I wish I could have everyone meet the babies right now, but I know there will be plenty of time to do that. Right now it is important for them to sleep and grow.

Tonight we got to help bathe Nadine and Iyla which meant I got to hold Iyla for the first time. Nadine was toweled off and comforted by MDM. I love how they respond to our voices and close embrace. Such a wonderful feeling of bonding! I am looking forward to breastfeeding once the girls are ready to continue this closeness.

Thank you for all the texts, calls, emails, and comments on the blog. I will be in the hospital till probably Friday. The girls will be here till they reach 35 weeks (minimum) and have met the NICU goals of regulating own body temp, taking regular feedings, gaining weight, and sufficient in/output (I think that is the 4th, not sure).

Toweling off Iyla after her first bath

Denver Paige

Iyla Dinn

Nadine Elise