Precious Children of God

This morning, while at the hospital, I received an email with this picture on it ... 

Oh how I miss these sweet faces. Thank you all so much for the prayers and encouragement! Keep working hard and be sweet for Mrs. Koon. One day soon, I will be able to bring Julianna and Gardner to meet you!! 

I LOVE YOU!
Mrs. Fields :)

Lots of Baby Steps!

Hello Friends and Family! 

My busy days are taking away from blog time and I apologize for the delay in updates.  Here is what has been going on for the last 3 days...

On Tuesday:
Julianna attempted to drink a second bottle and was able to get down about 4 ccs. I was able to take her out of the bed and feed it to her which was such a special moment for me. Gardner was also fed a bottle by the nurse, which came as a surprise to me! I didn't realize they would let her try this soon as well! She ended up taking about 5 ccs on that feeding and I couldn't have been prouder.  Both girls are just experimenting with the bottles so they have not mastered suck, swallow, and breath all at one time, but that is the ultimate goal.

On Wednesday:
Gardner's feeds were bumped up to 10 ccs through her feeding tube, with just a few spit up here and there, so she is moving right along.
Both girls are now trying bottles once a day. (along with their normal feed through tube) Once they get the hang of suck, swallow, and breathe the bottle intake will increase by one more bottle each day, until they are finally having a bottle for every meal. This of course is a long ways away and we are still in the experimental phase.
Both girls are also still doing well breathing room air (with no oxygen support).
They have both reached their birth weight and now we are just trying to pack on more weight. With that will eventually come the ability to maintain their own body temperatures and hopefully one day be in "open cribs" instead of the incubators. It's a step by step process but there is no time frame set. Each baby sets their own pace depending on several factors and we just have to be patient and trusting.

We are still kangaroo-ing the girls every single night which is extremely beneficial for both babies and us!


Today (Thursday):
We are learning and growing every second of the day!

Our nurses say we grow most in our sleep :)

Big Girl!!!

Never thought my babies would be brunette! 

These beautiful girls might look like their Daddy after all. :)

Snug as a bug in a rug... Goodnight!

A Morning of Smiles

                                                                       Gardner

                                                                      Julianna

Oh Christmas Tree

We thank God for Angel Friends who help to make the season a little "brighter."

Claire Slade, Jean Jones, and Sheila Kiggins put up this beautiful tree for our family today! We thank you guys so much for all your hard work. This is going to be a special Christmas season. We love you!

Happy Sunday

Both girls are off Nasal cannulas!! (this is the tube that provided supplemental oxygen to the babies). Gardner got hers of this morning and has been breathing fine on her own all day- so we are excited for this accomplishment and for both girls being a whole lot more comfortable! I can also see their faces so much better and am starting to see similarities in our identical little girls! Please continue to pray for Gardner as she is still having a few issues with her digestion and a little reflux. She is still trying to develop those little parts and functions. I know she will get there but am just praying for an easier road for her soon and so we can start to fatten her up! :) Julianna tasted some milk through a syringe into her mouth (actually swallowing for the first time in addition to the regular tube feeding) and she loved it! Hopefully this means we can think about feeding her a bottle in the next few days... We will see what the doctor says. We are trying not to push anything to quickly but are also getting excited to see rapid growth in certain areas. Our girls send their love out to you and we all have big grateful hearts for all that you do!!!  It certainly does "take a village" and we are blessed.

WE LOVE YOU!
The Fields

Encouragement from GiGi :)

A passage that Mama texted to me the other day... reading this many times over the last few days has been encouraging and reminds me to be still, patient, and trusting...

Looking back you will see that every step was planned. Leave all to Me. Each stone in the mosaic fits into the perfect pattern, designed by the Master Artist. It is all so wonderful! But the colors are of Heaven's hues, so that your eyes could not bear to gaze on the whole, until you are beyond the veil. So, stone by stone, you see, and trust the pattern to the Designer.

                                               (Julianna on the top, Gardner on bottom)

Update

   

 Friday was a happy day in the NiCU for our family. Gardner was able to hold down all of her feedings with minimal spit up and seems to be digesting a lot better. Our prayer is that we can increase her feedings soon and that her little intestines will tolerate it just fine. She is also starting to suck on a binky a little more, responding to our voices by opening her eyes, and showing several other signs of growth. Julianna is doing great as well. Her feedings just keep increasing and best news yet- she has been off of oxygen support for almost 24 hours! So much more of her sweet little face can be seen now that that big tube is out of  her nose and we are enjoying staring at this beautiful girl.  It is apparent to is that she is also SO much more comfortable.  She seems to be sleeping better and is very relaxed.  

      Both girls are connecting with us more and more as the days go by.  They respond when we touch and talk and it is so nice to see them opening their eyes and staring at us so frequently. My pounding heart can be heard around the world when I lock eyes with theirs.

     Another exciting event: Brandon and I were able to hold both girls at the same time last night. It was the closest they have been together since birth! We all four sat together for about an hour. Both girls slept like a log on our chests the whole time. I can't wait until the day that they do not have to be hooked to all the cords on their incubators and can lie side by side once again! I know it will do wonders for them physically and emotionally. 

   Thanks so much for staying in touch, praying hard, and being so supportive of this family. We are counting our blessings day by day and you are all part of that! 

We love you,

Caroline, Brandon, Julianna, and Gardner

Thankful for Kangaroo Care

Kangaroo Care has just recently been introduced to Caroline and Brandon. It seeks to provide restored closeness of the newborn with mother or father by placing the infant in direct skin-to-skin contact with one of them. This began in Colombia, where pre-term infants did not have incubators and this was the only way to keep their body temperature normal and able to thrive. Julianna got to be "Kangaroo'd" yesterday and Gardner today. Caroline absolutely loved this and said that both babies responded well to it! There is lots of information online about Kangaroo Care if you want to research it some more. It is very interesting and such a good therapeutic experience all four of them!

Julianna getting "Kangaroo'd"

Gardner getting "Kangaroo'd"

 Thanksgiving cards from our nurses!! These girls have been the most important people in our children's lives. They are so encouraging, uplifting, and tireless! They are truly chosen for this job and are sent from Heaven! Thank you to every one of Julianna's and Gardner's nurses. We love you!!!

Thankful

We are Thankful today for two beautiful baby girls. They are here, they are our little angels, and we are blessed with each moment God allows us to be with them. 

Here is an update on the girls from the past couple days:

Gardner has now had a pick line threaded through her arm over the shoulder. This is a permanent IV access that will stay in for weeks, as opposed to having to stick her every time try do lab work, etc. so it is a good thing to have this in place and also poses less risk of infection as well.  She is still having trouble with her feedings - her tummy is not digesting like we hoped and is on a little antibiotic so pray for her to get her nutritional intake mastered soon- the main thing is she just needs to put on weight.

  We got some head ultrasound results yesterday and Julianna's results were not what we had hoped so doctors are monitoring  her and we are praying for better results next week... While that was difficult to hear, later in the afternoon, I was able to kangaroo (hold skin to skin) with her for about an hour. It was such a  wonderful feeling holding her little body next to mine and i know it did wonders for her.. She slept so peacefully and would occasionally pop her eyes open when she heard her Daddy's voice. Hopefully, this will become more frequent and Brandon and I can start holding the babies more consistently.  

As most of you know it is a roller coaster in the NICU and Tuesday night and Wednesday  were kind of on the lower point for both babies and us- we are praying that Thanksgiving and the rest of the weekend brings good news and we can get back up on top. Either way, we just need to pray for patience as we watch Gods plan unfold.

Thank you for lifting us up every day.  Keep up the prayers. We love you all.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Fields four! 

Present

This is a prayer my Aunt sent me that has continued to help me through the dificult times... To rely on God's timing and plan, and to have patience to take things day by day. After all, today is all we are promised. Thank you Aunt Julie for this beautiful prayer:

Present

O God,

Our past is behind us; our future is ahead of us.  So in a very real sense, today is the only day we have; in fact, this moment is all that we really and truly have.

Help us, then, to live fully in the present, to live fully in the moment that we have.  Help us to be grateful for each breath that we take, for each thought that we think, for each blink that our eyes blink, for each beat that our heart beats, and for each insight that our mind has.

Help us to live fully in the present, to live fully in the moment that we have.  Help us to listen carefully to the person talking with us, to work attentively on the task in front of us, to think clearly about the situation confronting us, and to care deeply about the people around us.

Help us, in other words, to be fully present in the present.

And keep us ever mindful that you are also fully present in our present.

Amen.

Please continue to pray for our "little" family.  Pray that we will see progress and appreciate the "baby steps" we have to take. It is so hard to walk out of that hospital every night without my children in my arms, to rely on others to nurture them into the world while I am not there, and to go a second without them by my side.  Brandon is such an incredible source of strength for me but I know he needs prayers also. Thank you for being there for us and each and everyone of you encouraging us along the way. We are constantly saying to each other, " where in the world would we be without our family, our friends, our God."

Together, through prayer and love, you are ALL helping us through our "present" and for that I am eternally grateful.

We love you!!

Caroline and Brandon

B and C both held Gardner!

Brandon and Caroline headed to the hospital around 8 this morning on the way to Brandon's work and to their surprise, they were both able to hold Gardner!! This was so special to them and it was one of the things they have been waiting to do ever since Caroline held Julianna. Caroline is resting while they do Gardner's pic line and plans on going back for their nighttime feeding. Gardner is also off of photo therapy (for jaundice) and looks much better. She is going to be swaddled in her bed just like her sister in no time. :) Gardner is also going up on her feeding tomorrow and the amount will increase everyday. 

Proud Daddy and Gardner!

Brandon, Caroline, and Gardner this morning!

                                  Can't forget about this sweet girl! Julianna holding on to her daddy!

Sunday Update

Sunday was another good day. Caroline and Brandon got home at about 5:00 today and have really enjoyed being able to relax in their house. Caroline went back to the hospital at 8:00 tonight for feeding time and got to change diapers, take temps, and help them eat! Julianna is now eating 12 CCs and the number keeps growing. Gardner's big news is that she is off the ventilator! The nurses said she has done really well off the vent and is looking stable for now. Gardner will be getting a pic line tomorrow, which is normal for premies and is going to be the main way she gets nutrition until her GI tract matures. Gardner is still under the light for jaundice, but the nurses said she will more than likely come off of that tomorrow or the next day. Each day they are making progress and Caroline is looking forward to holding little Gardner for the first time in the next couple of days. The nurses have fallen in love with both babies and they are getting extra special attention. One of the nurses even made bows especially for the twins to put on their caps tonight. Caroline's plans so far are to spend most of her days in the unit sitting in between the two girls and doing whatever needs to be done for them. Please continue praying for the four of them. Brandon and Caroline also want to thank everyone so much for their thoughts and prayers. The whole family is so grateful for the wonderful community we have around us and are so overwhelmed by the love and support! Thank you all!

(more pictures are coming soon)

Sleeping Peacefully

Here is a picture of Julianna sleeping on her side last night. She even sucked a binky for some of the time... getting to be a big girl. :)

Saturday 11/16/12- UPDATE

After 5 days in the NICU, the twins are slowly progressing.  It’s hard not to get our hopes up on the progress because each day we’ve heard positive news.  However, we are reminded daily that the NICU is a roller coaster ride.  There will be good days and there will be bad days. Today was a good day.   Julianna's jaundice has  improved which allowed the overhead light and her eye mask to be removed as well.  She’s now swaddled with a blanket in the incubator, an oxygen tube in her nose, and continues to be monitored.

            Gardner received her second blood transfusion this morning and her color is beginning to come back.  The past few days she has been very pale as compared to her sister.  Due to the multiple transfusions and her undeveloped stomach, she hasn't been able to eat consistently either.  The staff upgraded her breathing machine to a volume-based assistance that provides oxygen on an as-needed basis.  She was previously on a machine that forced continuous sequential breaths that was a little more evasive than the one she is on now.  She continues to be treated for Jaundice through light therapy.  She is scheduled to consume 1cc of milk at 5pm this evening.  She has calmed down a lot since the first few days and seems to be sleeping more easily.

            Caroline and I were able to listen during afternoon rounds today while the doctor described the progress of the twins.  He provided orders of the events mentioned above and answered our questions and concerns.  He also reminded us that the Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome can cause unforeseen consequences throughout their recovery and there may be complications down the road; however, he was encouraged due to the progress he’s seen so far.  

My Cup Runeth Over!

To our amazing family and friends... I don't know how we could have gotten through the last few days without your love, support, and PRAYERS!! Our beautiful little girls are fighting their hearts out and have proven to be amazing survivors so far. Every day will continue to bring ups and downs and we have to continue to trust God's plan for these angels he has blessed us with. Thank you so much to my sister Anna for setting up the blog - as most of you know I am not the most "tech-savvy" person but Brandon and I will do our best to keep you posted through one of us or a family member via this blog.  I am not surprised, yet remain overwhelmed, by the continuing love and support we are receiving from each and everyone of you daily. Julianna and Gardner are so lucky to have such a strong support system already, and for that, we will always be grateful to you all. This holiday season will be one we will never forget. WE LOVE YOU!

Caroline and Brandon

Julianna- Our Bigger Angel

Julianna Sharpe Fields was also born exactly at 9:12 am! She was 3 lbs 7 oz and 15 inches tall. She is receiving milk through a tube and is doing well on it. Caroline has also changed her diapers and finally got to hold her TODAY! She was in there for about one hour changing diapers, taking temperatures, and loving those precious babies. Brandon actually got to feed Gardner through the feeding tube. The main issue right now with both of the babies is to keep them stable and away from infection. The NICU is doing an awesome job of taking care of them and we are so grateful to have a facility like this in Columbus. It is critical that all the babies in the unit stay free of infection, therefore, there are very strict rules about visitation in this sterile environment. Caroline and Brandon are looking forward to the day that they can bring these babies home to meet all of their wonderful friends and family. Please continue to keep Brandon, Caroline, Julianna, and Gardner in your prayers!!!! We know your prayers are working!

This is the video of Caroline holding Julianna today!

Here is one with Brandon, Caroline, and Julianna!

Gardner- Our Littlest Angel

Gardner Elizabeth Fields was born at 9:12 am on Wednesday, November 14. She weighed 2 lb 6 oz and 14 1/2 inches tall. She is doing well and has received blood transfusions because she is anemic. She is also on a breathing tube so she doesn't have to work so hard to breathe. Caroline has already changed a few of her diapers and she has also received a little bit of breast milk through swabbing around the mouth. She is in the NICU with her sister with fabulous nursing care! They are the darlings of the unit! Mama bear is incredibly strong and Papa bear (aka the milk man) has been the perfect support for Caroline and these precious babies. Caroline and Brandon are expecting to go home on Sunday.  The twins will be here a long while. Please continue to pray for little Gardner. She is so strong already and such a fighter!

This photo was taken on Thursday- when Caroline could touch Gardner for the first time!

Gardner graduated from this size to the next size diaper TODAY! Isn't this tiny thing adorable?