More Big Steps

Another great day today. First of all, there's this - sleeping beauties in bed together.

The nurse last night decided that since they were now dressed in clothes and had been good at maintaining their own temperatures, it was time to say farewell to the isolettes. Not only does this mean they are permanently back together as they should be, we have a lot easier access to them. Taking them out for a cuddle is no longer the big production it once was!

Equally as exciting, Asher tried to breast feed this afternoon. Really it was more of a practice than anything but we were very pleased with his attempt. I got to hold both boys and give them their tube feeds and am hoping that tomorrow I can be there for both a breast feed and a bottle feed for Asher. If Nolan finally makes it on low flow prongs tomorrow (in a planned 3rd attempt) I will try to bottle feed him too. He doesn't suck as vigorously on his soother as Asher (who seriously looks like Maggie Simpson) but he does like it, so hopefully he will take to the bottle easily too.

Our nurse today told us that the doctor is astounded by Asher's progress of late. "This is the one with the bleed? The one that had all the problems? He's bottle feeding and the first on prongs?" Yup, that's him, and yes, he's incredible. Not to take away from Nolan, who is incredible in his own right. Skinny little Asher (4 lbs 3) has had his milk intake increased in an attempt to help him catch up to his monstrous brother (4 lbs 11) so Nolan is definitely doing something right in the weight gain department, especially considering he started as the smaller of the two.

Tomorrow they are 36 weeks gestation. Contrary to popular belief, 36 weeks is actually considered full term so no more excuses for poor behaviour, you're big boys now!  With the progress they have made over the past few days we finally feel like they are coming home. Not any time in the next days, weeks, or  even month, but FINALLY the end, no matter how far away it still is, is in sight. Happy almost 36 weeks boys, we couldn't be more proud of you.