Another Day of Progress

Another progressive day gone by, but everyday day feels like a progressive day when we see those boys chest moving up and down. It’s so hard to keep going up there knowing that we can’t take them with us when we leave. Those boys just keep on bringing smiles to our face, and have more heart than their little bodies can hold. They are getting closer and closer to us being able to hold them. They have started to alternate Braylon from the c-pap to a nasal cannula. This allows him to breathe on his own with just a little extra oxygen. They are hoping to start Kaden on this soon. We have been lucky with the nurses that we have been having. Today, I found out that one of our nurses (Kathy) graduated from St. Maries. I didn’t know who she was but she knew some of my family whom she went to school with and graduated with. She was very nice and extremely helpful. She was giving us straight forward answers to all our questions and not making us wait on results. She says the boys were progressing well, and Kaden has been giving her a fuss.
Today I got more practice with changing diapers. Braylon had yet another wet diaper, and Kaden gave me the first dirty diaper, pictures will be up soon. Just kidding about the pictures, but I’ll give ya visual image. It was black, dark black and was described to me as a TARRY substance, sticky enough to hold down shingles on a roof. I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t the brightest time of my day. I thought it was just going to be another wet diaper, and surprise to me the boy made me go to work. It was all over his diaper but didn’t make all the way up his back. When I saw my surprise I instantly called for the nurse and was asking what to do. Now don’t get ahead of yourselves and say “you stupid idiot, clean it up.” I was already looking for something and they had forgotten to put the wipes in his dungeon. As anyone from work would let you know, I took my sweet time and needed some help. I didn’t time myself but I know it wasn’t a speed record for being the quickest. I was just glad it didn’t smell. Ashley hasn’t been able to change any diapers yet, because of her IV and lack of height. I must not have been too gentle because Kaden was screaming bloody murder. I hope this will work out like doing laundry and cleaning house, mess up a couple times and she won’t let me do it anymore.
We took a bunch more photos and have been trying our best to make them movie stars; I just need to learn how to download the videos. We are getting closer to our first family portrait, the boys made it to the same room today. Ashley and I posed by both of the boys beds and had our pictures taken. We started filling out the paper work to get their S.S.C and birth certificates and received their foot prints. That was a sight.
I started to follow through with getting the wounded animal off my face and head. I went and got a hair cut today and shaved yesterday. It’s a lot different feeling and Ash just laughs. She has been calling me the breast pump Nazi, because I’ve been getting on her about getting those boys some food. Today was the first day they were able to taste it and she swabbed it into their mouths. To keep her motivated I played a song for her. It was a 90’s hit by Technotronic, “Pump up the Jam.” Here’s a link so you can help Ash “Pump out the Jam” and get those boys some strong bones, I hope it works Play song from Lala.com.
It has been very exhausting but well worth it. We have been seeing the boys a ton and I’m sure the nurses are getting sick of us getting in the way and are just too nice to tell us to give them some rest. Tonight we decided to give them some rest and will hang out in the room, talking about what the day will be like when we can hold them in our arms and take them home with us. They’re our little troopers and have been through a lot the last couple of days and we need to get some rest too, so we can keep up with all the changes going on.
Some are asking how long they were, and when I looked back I see that I forgot. When you read over their measurements, you have to read them like Michael Buffer, he is the most famous ring announcer, “Rolling in at a whopping 3lbs 5oz and measuring a lanky 16in Braylon “too tall” Howland. Not far behind is Kaden “the tank” Howland measuring in at 15 ½ in and weighing a heavy 2lbs 7 oz!” Yes, he went down from the previous but is just as strong as before. Some of the nurses were thinking they messed up the weight before and it should have been closer to his 2nd weight.