Riley is up to 6cc’s of milk and is tolerating her feeds– woo hooooo!!  Even though she’s only been back on feeds due to her infection (but still has been on her nutrients) since yesterday afternoon, she’s gained some weight… she is 2 lbs 13 oz!!  She’s now able to be swaddled just like her sister in her isolette as she is maintaining her body temperature well.  Which means… SHE, TOO, CAN WEAR CLOTHES!!!  Tonight we brought her a blanket from home (thanks to “aunt” Jessica!) and a onsie (thanks to her other “aunts” KAtie, Cristin, Haley, and Mary Ann) that says “Party at my Crib 2:00 AM”!!  Not sure that her night nurse thought it was funny… ha ha.  I will post pics tomorrow.  It swallows her of course, but precious none the less!  Her blood culture is still showing no signs of bacteria which means the antibiotics are doing their thing, but they’ll give it one more day to see.  Pray that the bacteria is gone, she continues to tolerate her feeds, and increases them, and that her breathing matures.  Riley Grace spent all evening staring at Daddy and cooing and squeaking at him until she fell asleep in his arms…. SOOOOO sweet.

Reese is still tolerating 32cc’s of milk and getting 2 bottles a day.  She’s doing well with her bottles!  I fed her her afternoon bottle and she took over half, then just fell asleep… it’s hard work!  She also has an adorable blanket from home in her bed from “aunt” Jessica and after I gave her a “bath” (just in her isolette), I dressed up my baby doll in her SASSY pink leopard outfit (the picture was on the last post!).  Her nurse thought she was so cute, she showed her off to every nurse!  Riley will have to wear it next!  C-U-T-E!!!  Pray that she continues to tolerate her feeds and she continues to mature with her breathing.  Reese Abigail spent her evening in Mommy’s arms staring at me, cooing, then enjoying her paci while she fell asleep.

We are SO in love with these girls and are can’t wait until they’re home with us.  We are so blessed to have the wonderful nurses and doctors taking care of them– the nurses love them so much!  Thank you so much for your prayers.  Words cannot express how grateful we are for them.  God is so good.  We cannot stop praising him!

Give thanks to the Lord, for HE IS GOOD. 1 Chron 16:34

Reese is really loving being swaddled like a “big” baby… and she’s ADORABLE in her pink camo outfit (you will see in pic below)!  She’s been eating (and tolerating) 32cc’s of milk– yea!! and getting it in a bottle still 2 times a day.  Reese is doing pretty well with the bottle!!  She no longer has an IV or PICC line– just her “leads”- what a big girl!  Pray for continued health and that she continue to tolerate her feeds.  Lately when we’re holding Riley or talking to Riley, Reese begins to cry… we think she’s telling us to pay attention to her too.  ha!

Riley is doing/acting much better.  The blood culture did in fact grow bacteria and we’re praying that the second test-taken today- shows that it is gone.  Riley started on feeds again- starting very low- 3cc’s, but has been tolerating them– yea!!  She’s not on her nasal cannula (in hopes that that helps with her poochy tummy) and is kicking, screaming, “talking,” and looking all around lots.  She’s loving her paci more everyday, so I’m excited to try her on her bottle again (not sure when yet).  Pray for her continued healing and protection against other infection, that her tummy full of air goes down, and that her feeds continue to be tolerated and increased.  

We are so thankful and overwhelmed with how good God is- how he has faithfully answered our prayers and continues to do so, how he’s encouraged us through so many of you with her precious words, and how he promises us that he will not give us something we cannot handle.

And now for some pictures!…….I have so many, I’ll put some in a separate post above.

Riley is feeling better today since she’s on her antibiotics.  She’s squirming and SCREAMING which equals… getting back to her norm!  We are so glad.  She still has her cannula, but it’s just blowing ‘room air’ not any oxygen anymore which is good.  She will pick back up on her feeds tomorrow!!  Riley’s just been sleeping and relaxing as she’s trying to get better, but I held her today and she was so sweet- making little noises and stretching and yawning every other second!  She’s up to 2lbs 9.4oz.  We pray that she make great strides as she gets over her infection and continues feeds again.  She’s got to catch up with her sis!

Reese is making great strides– she is still a little baby, but she’s getting a double chin and we’re pretty sure it’s the cutest thing we’ve ever seen!!  She’s no longer wrapped up in her “bed” with the straps, but is swaddled like a big girl now.  She even has a shirt on today!!!  It’s just the white hospital shirt, but no worries:  I’m going to bring something PINK for her to wear tomorrow.  :)  As soon as she reaches 1800 grams, and her temp is regulated, she will be in a little crib instead of her isolette and just work on breathing and eating.  We are so excited about our Reese’s progress!  Today she took ALL of her bottle (28 oz)– she’s getting better and better at it.  She’s 3 lbs 11 oz now.

All the pics of the weekend are on mom’s camera, so I’ll get them and add them soon.  Thank you for praying..pray that Riley continues to get well and her little body fights the infection, pray that she can gain weight as she starts back on her feeds, and that her and Reese’s breathing regulates (which comes with maturity).  Pray that Reese continues to do so well and keeps moving forward with her feeds and weight.

My mom and dad (Nan and Pop) have been here this weekend and it’s been sooooooo fun!  It’s great to hear from them how much they think the girls have grown since they haven’t seen them in a couple weeks.  Reese and Riley were very excited to see them!  Mom and I even did some shopping and got them a few new outfits… can’t wait until they can wear cute clothes– when they can, we’re ready!

Since Riley hasn’t been feeling well which was making it harder for her to breathe (she was getting tired), they decided to move the Owen girls out of their “suite” back out in the more open where more and more nurses would be walking by etc. to keep an eye on Riley.   Since she’s still so small (and Reese too) they decided they’d give them a little more time, but assured us they’d be better candidates for the “suite life” soon.  It looks as though Riley does have an infection– she got her cannula back in for some air flow, but they decided to go ahead and blow a bit of oxygen to give her little body a rest since it’s trying to fight off this infection.  She’s started antibiotics (started Friday night) and by tonight (Saturday) she was moving around a bit more and will open her eyes to respond to mommy and daddy’s voice, but still not back to her totally active self.  As the dr has told us many times before: it’s common for preemies to get infections– they’re just so tiny and their bodies are still trying to figure everything out and since she’s so small, it will take a bit to get over, but– after he was trying to listen to her heart with the stethoscope and she pushed it off her, he said, “If a baby is pushing this away, it (the infection) can’t be too bad!”  He also said she must just be “copying her sister– they are twins you know.”  Everything is very similar to Reese’s infection a couple weeks ago.  PRAY that our littlest sweet baby girl is HEALED quickly.  That God’s hand is on her and her “spunk” is back soon and she is back on feeds asap (she’s still on her nutrients).  Riley Grace is weighing 2 lbs 9 oz… she’s getting closer to 3 lbs!!

Reese is doing very well and we praying she continues to!  She’s still bottle feeding 2 times a day (the other times she gets her milk thru the feeding tube) and is getting better at it!!  It’s so fun to watch- her expressions crack us up and it just wears her out to suck on the bottle- ha!  Tonight she took 20cc’s out of 26 and got the rest thru her tube!!!  We have some ADORABLE pictures, but their on my mom’s camera, so as soon as I get them from her, I’ll post them.  Pray she continues to do well.  She even has some “baby fat” growing on her… cute!!!!!!!  She weighs 3 lbs 10 oz… 4 lbs is just around the corner!

The girls were spoiled rotten today– they not only got to see Nan and Pop, but saw Nini and Abueloito too!  They are SOOOO loved!  They LOVED seeing their grandparents!  AND Nini delivered some precious clothes for the girls– thank you!!  We LOVE them and are counting down the days to cute outfits and BIG BOWS! 

Thank you for your prayers.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. –Phillippians 4:6

Today we had a few downs which is how it goes, but it’s a bit discouraging to say the least.  Riley is acting a little puny today– breathing has been a lot of work for her today, so they put her back on the cannula while we were there at 5:30.  She’s been less active which either means: infection or that she’s just tired from working so hard breathing.  We’re praying the cannula helps and they took blood labs to check for infection.  PLEASE PRAY that she’s free form infection and acting her normal sweet self soon– moving around and fussing!  Pray too for us (especially me… you know, the one who’s hormones are CRAZY since she just had (TWO) babies… ) that we not worry- that we put our whole hearted trust in the Lord that they will be okay.  Reese is doing pretty well today– she’s had a couple bradies though.  PRAY that she breathe without those hold her breath moments.  She also has been spitting up today- pray that she tolerates her feeds better (she’s up to 22cc’s!).  We tried the bottle with her again today (not Riley since her temp was low and she was acting so sleepy) and she didn’t really want to wake up for it!  Richey fed her today and I got the funniest picture!  It pretty much sums it up: it looks as if she’s saying, “what is this? and WHY are you trying to put it in my mouth?!” ha!  Thank you for your prayers.  Pray that we not become discouraged but focus on the wonderful strides our teeny tiny preemie girls have made in these 3 weeks.  Thank you!

Weight updates:

Reese Abigail 3 lbs 9 oz

Riley Grace 2 lbs 7 oz

well… not quite, but Reese and Riley got moved to a little private room in the NICU!  We can’t figure out why exactly… here’s the possible reasons were thinking– Either:

A. The food briberies and compliments really paid off,

B. Reese and Riley’s Mommy and Daddy ask WAY TOO many questions, OR

C. The Owen girls are a bit too noisy to be out among the others…

I’m kidding!  They were actually moved because there were new preemie twins born today and the nurses gave R and R’s spot to them (because they were in two beds right by each other) and put our girls in the little room where the nurse told me only “stable babies” get to stay in.  Sounds good to me!  I like the sound of “stable”, I like the privacy, and it’s WAY quieter.  For the record, the nurse assured me our girls were not put in the room due to their being too loud. ha!  They’re perfect.  

Other exciting news: our girls got to trial nipple feed today with a bottle!!  And I got to do it!!  It was hilarious and the girls did so well… little Riley was more interested than Reese though.  Riley almost immediately licked her lips where I’d put a drop of milk and would smack her little lips.  She’d stick out her tounge and open her mouth– as soon as she’d open it enough, I’d sneak it in and she sucked on it and ended up drinking 5 cc’s (ml’s)!!  That’s GREAT for her first time!  She didn’t even have any bradies (holding her breath/ forgetting to breathe) while sucking and swallowing.  We’re so proud!  

Reese perched those lips together for about 10 minutes and could care less milk was resting on her lips and then dripping down her chin.  It was so funny.  She finally started sticking out her tongue and I got the nipple in her mouth.  Once it was there, she was sucking SO LOUD!!  She drank 10 cc’s and no bradies while eating- YEA!  We’re so proud of Reese too!

The blood transfusion went well- the girls are nice and pink- no longer pale.  They’re tolerating their feeds and continue to increase on them.  Please pray that they continue to tolerate their feeds, do well bottle feeding, and stay free from infection.  Also pray that the nurse practitioner can get Riley’s PICC line in again.  That way she won’t have to get “stuck” so much.  The past 2 times, they haven’t gotten it to go in. Thank you, thank you!!  Here’s a couple pictures of Reese Abigail and Riley Grace enjoying their “luxury suite.”  They both “escaped” their legs from their beds and it made me laugh!

“Ahhh… nothing beats a view! I can see trees out my window in this room! I’m SO relaxed (look at my legs).”–Riley

“I love lounging in my new room! I’m now a little closer to my sister and I’m so relaxed (look at my legs too).” — Reese

That’s what I said to the doctor today when he said the girls need blood transfusions, but… thankfully it sounds A LOT worse than it really is!  It’s common for preemies (and even some newborns) to be anemic, which the girls are.  The girls are so tiny and the nurses and doctors take blood from the girls often (to check blood sugar, check of infections, etc. etc.), and their little bodies have trouble replenishing all the blood… remember that they should be in mommy where they would be receiving blood from me.  The doc said it’s obvious they’re anemic, but they aren’t in desperate need of the transfusion right now, but didn’t want to wait to when they needed it (since the time would come)- he wanted to go ahead and do it– to get ahead of the game.  So anyway, they both are getting some extra blood through IVs today- it will give them 1-3 drops per minute for about 4 hours.  The doctor and nurses say that it should instantly improve their coloring and I bet it will make them EVEN MORE active… do you think they’ll regret this??  Little feisty girls!  Just kidding!  

Reese, our big girl, is up to 11cc’s of milk and digesting ALL OF IT!!!!!!!  YEA!!!!!!!!!  She’s been as happy and feisty as can be– loving her paci and staring at mommy and daddy WIDE eyed!

Riley has been through a lot lately, poor girl.  Last night right when we got there, they were about to try to put in her new PICC line. (what timing…)   She was screaming!!  Not fun for mom and dad to hear.  But- they didn’t get it in because her blood vessels weren’t ready for it– the vessel wasn’t open enough or something, so they’ll try it again another day.  She’s had an IV in her foot for her nutrients, but unfortunately, it went out today so they had to put a new one in her scalp- bless her heart.  BUT… she got her tube out of her throat to her tummy (the one pulling air out) because her tummy is looking a lot better- yea!!  Her cannula is out too.  After the transfusion (so later tonight) she’ll get her feeding tube back in and start on 3 cc’s of milk– yea!!  I held her today and she just stared at me and was sucking on her tube in her mouth.  What a cutie!!

Please pray that the blood transfusion goes well and that it benefits Riley and Reese, that they tolerate their feeds and continue increasing them, and that they stay free from infection.

**A lot of people have asked about when we get to take our girls home– the NICU says typically it’s around the original due date or so, so the end of October beginning of November probably.  They have lots of growing to do!

Riley’s blood culture still shows no infection- which is GREAT, but her tummy is still really swollen and full of air.  She is still off feeds (minus the nutrients in her IV).  PRAY it goes down.  It’s discouraging when something doesn’t get better after 3 days… pray that the Lord will reveal to the dr how to best help our little girl so she is able to get her feeds again and feel better.  She’s acting more active though and had her eyes wide open this morning!  I unwrapped her from her snuggly bed to change her diaper and she looked at me like… really?  Must you, Mom?  Not the first time I’ll get that look, I’m sure…

Reese is tolerating some feeds and not others, but they have slowly increased them a bit.  She’s at 8 cc’s of milk and we’re praying it will continue to increase.  She’s been SO ACTIVE!  She’s a strong little girl- she’ll squeeze your finger, lift up her head and turn it, and try to get out of her bedding… the nurse had to had a little “bumper” pillow around her head to keep her in… ha!  

So, no real new update right now- which is good.  And… I took some updated pics yesterday!!  They’re pretty cute if I do say so myself… I’m not bias or anything…

I called this morning to check on the girls and Riley’s tummy was still really swollen.  They put in a different tube in her mouth to her stomach to “suck” some of that air out, but it’s still swollen.  Pray for my sweet baby’s tummy, that her gut starts working better to get rid of air and digest her food, so she can start her feeds again.  Reese didn’t tolerate her feeds last night, but this morning she has been- thank you, Lord!  Pray for that she continues to.  I’m pretty exhausted… I woke up thinking, can I really do this today?  I feel defeated, but know that is not of the Lord. Pray that Richey and I are rejuvenated today- that we can go and love on those girls and rejoice in every tiny celebration, and focus on those instead of the “downs.”  

“Let the morning bring me the word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” –Psalm 143:8

I’m going to go up there at 11:30, so more to come… check back.