Eat eat eat all day long (4 weeks, 1 day old)

The boys are still eating well. Corbin is at 25 mL's and Quinn is at 23 mL's, still every 3 hours. Everything else seems to be just as it has been for the past few days.

Here is Corbin all sprawled out under a warm blanket after his bath, and here is Quinn sucking on his thumb while he was getting fed and Mom was holding him. She could even hear him because he was sucking so vigorously!

Eat 'em up (4 weeks old)

Corbin and Quinn continue to work on digesting food. Corbin is still getting 22 mL's of food through his NG tube with 4 extra calories added in. Quinn is getting 18 mL's with 2 calories added and will move up to 20 mL's at midnight if all goes as planned. Quinn has now had his picc line removed as well. Both boys are starting to suck on pacifiers while getting fed more often, and doing better with it (remembering to breathe at the same time).

Sunday fun day (3 weeks, 6 days old)

No changes today...still working on eating and breathing. Below are pictures from today and tonight's activities, which included some pacifier action.

Breathing is important (3 weeks, 5 days old)

The boys had a decent day in the eating department, but they both had a few spells where they forgot to breathe (typical for preemies, difficult to take for Mom and Dad). Quinn also spit up a few times and the nurses thought it was reflux. They did an x-ray on his abdomen, and everything looked normal. The doctors decided to hold the amount of his feedings at 16 mL's (still 2 more than yesterday). He is also off of TPN, but due to his spells today he is getting a little extra oxygen. Corbin's feeds are at 22 mL's and they are adding calories to his feedings rather than increasing the amount.

Hopefully Corbin and Quinn have a quiet and relaxing night.

Yum yum (3 weeks, 4 days old)

More eating today. At last check, Corbin was up to 20 mL's and Quinn was at 14 mL's, both with the chance to move up more at midnight. Corbin's picc line (long term IV) was removed as they decided that he's getting enough nutrients in his feedings (consisting of vitamins and breast milk). Quinn will keep getting some TPN until he gets larger feeds. Other than that, it was a fairly calm day.

Corbin is showing off his dimple and Quinn is checking out the scenery.

Packing on the pounds (3 weeks, 3 days old)

Both Brunin boys are now tipping the scales at three pounds! They also continue to move up on their feeds. Corbin is up to 16 mL's every three hours and off the TPN (baby Gatorade) and Quinn is up to10 mL's . If they continue to tolerate their feeds, they will move up two more mL's at midnight. Hopefully they will keep packing on the pounds!

Below are pictures of the boys (Corbin, then Quinn) in positions that they wiggled themselves into. All of the nurses in the unit know the boys for their wiggling and how they manage to roll out of the positions they are put in. There have been several occasions when the nurses have found them in the corner or pushed up against the glass. Corbin and Quinn (and Mom and Dad) are still loving their awesome nurses!

Back up the mountain (3 weeks, 2 days old)

Just as quickly as things can take a step backwards in the NICU, they can also take a positive jump...

Corbin had his heart scan today, which revealed that his PDA is closed! He remains on the cannula tonight, but is doing well breathing on room air. His feeds are up to 14 mL's and he hasn't spit up anymore since yesterday. He overall seems more stable than yesterday.

Quinn is up to 6.5 mL's of food. If he continues to tolerate this amount, he'll start moving up again on his feeds as well. He is now also on room air with his cannula a majority of the time.

Here are two pictures of Corbin followed by two of Quinn.

Long day (3 weeks, 1 day old)

The crazy, unpredictable NICU ride took another turn today. Corbin was not breathing like himself - there were several times when his oxygen rate dropped, and this is not typical for him. The nurse and doctor decided to put him on a nasal cannula (like what Quinn has) to help him breath more easily, and it seemed to be doing it's job. The doctor said it could be caused by reflux (since he is going up on feeds) or he could be getting sick. Mom was worried about his PDA having something to do with it, so they are giving him another heart scan tomorrow. The doctor and nurses said they do not believe it is playing a part, but the doctor wanted the scan to "put a rest to the PDA"...Mom and Dad liked that idea. They are also keeping his feeds at 12 mL's for now. On a lighter, brighter note - Corbin got a bath last night and had a great, fuzzy, Billy Idol-inspired hair-do today! Unfortunately Mom forgot the camera for pictures.

Quinn had a fairly quiet day. They are keeping his feedings at 5 mL's until he begins digesting it more consistently. He did get quality time with Mom, which did everyone some good.

Both little guys are still missing their Daddy, who continues to try his hardest to get well. More pictures tomorrow...

The feeding continues... (3 weeks old)

Both boys are still getting feedings. Corbin is up to 12 mL's and Quinn is at 5 every three hours. If both boys continue to tolerate their food, they will continue to move on up - cross your fingers! The doctors are watching their bellies very closely to make sure everything is being digested properly. Everytime the nurses check their tummies for residuals, Mom and Dad are very nervous!

Mom got some one-on-one time with each little man again today. Dad had to stay away from the hospital because of a cold, so Mom had to deliver messages from him to Corbin and Quinn. It seemed to be much harder on Daddy than the boys.

Here were Corbin and Quinn's mid-afternoon napping positions for today.

Little bit by little bit (2 weeks, 6 days old)

Corbin and Quinn are still working on digesting more food. Corbin is getting 10 mL's and tolerating it for now. Quinn, on the other hand, is getting 3 mL's and not having the same luck digesting it. Hopefully both boys' tummies will cooperate and they can start putting on more weight. Speaking of weight, both little guys are now above their birth weights! Corbin is up to 2 lb 13 oz and Quinn is 2 lb 12 oz. Every little bit counts!

Not much else to report today and, of course, there will be more pictures of the guys tomorrow!

Comfy cozy (2 weeks, 5 days)

It was a lazy Saturday for the boys. Corbin is still getting his feedings, and they were increased to 9 mL's (almost 2 teaspoons) every 3 hours. Quinn's tummy had another day of rest. They hope to try to start feeding him again tomorrow.

Mom and Dad got to hold the boys this evening and they were both completely relaxed while they were being cuddled. They both fussed when they got put back in their beds, which made Mom and Dad sad. They were quick to settle down once they both got tucked back in, though.

In the pictures below, Corbin just had to have a leg out to get more comfortable, and Quinn was playing peek-a-boo.

Feels like slow motion (2 weeks, 4 days)

The boys are still taking their time digesting their feedings. They are both still getting fed, but not increasing the amount very much. Corbin was held by Mommy today, but Quinn wasn't behaving so he was kept inside. Both little guys overall had decent days.

Corbin was sucking on his arm during this picture, and Quinn was zonked out in his.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Heim family. We love you guys.

Rub down (2 weeks, 3 days)

This morning Quinn decided to grab all of the attention again. He was acting out of character (aka - he was calm), and he didn't take his feeding well. So, after stoppiong his feedings to let his tummy calm down and giving him a blood transfusion, he looked better and was acting more like himself. The rest of the day was quiet for him. Hopefully he will start feedings again tomorrow morning.

Corbin got his food all day, but they stopped increasing the amount of his feedings because he was having residuals (leftovers in his tummy). He had a quiet day otherwise.

Both guys got their first baby lotion rub down today, but neither one enjoyed it. Corbin didn't seem to care one way or the other when the nurse slicked his hair back afterwards.

Mom and Dad brought in the other pair of KU caps tonight, courtesy of Melanie. They'll eventually grow into them!

Slow and steady wins the race (2 weeks, 2 days old)

More of the same today. Quinn is going up on his feedings faster than Corbin. Corbin did have a good blowout in his diaper, which helped him digest more food today. They turned the pressure down again on Quinn's cannula and he was still doing ok tonight. Both guys spent time out of their beds being held, which is becoming a daily occurance.

More pictures tomorrow!

Hello brother (2 weeks, 1 day old)

Today was the first time that the boys have been side by side since they were born. Mom got to cuddle with both of them at the same time this afternoon - it was enjoyed by all!

Corbin and Quinn continue to get feedings and increase them little by little. Quinn is still taking them better than Corbin, but both are making progress. The doctor decided not to check Corbin's PDA today due to the fact that even if it's still there, it's not causing any problems. They turned down the pressure on Quinn's cannula and will continue to do so as he gets closer to breathing on his own.

Tonight was bath time for both boys and Mom and Dad got to help out. Neither boys enjoyed the sponge baths too terribly much, but they both liked being held by Mom and Dad afterwards. They were pretty tuckered out and were still snoozing when Mom and Dad said their goodnights.

Baby steps (2 weeks old)

Not much news today. Both little guys kept getting feedings and gained a little weight. Quinn seemed to take them better than Corbin, which could be because he is burning more calories fussing around. Corbin had another day under the lights, and he should be off of them tomorrow.

This definitely feels like Monday to the folks, so they're off to bed.

Feeding frenzy (1 week, 6 days old)

Corbin and Quinn are both eating again!

Quinn is also back on the nasal cannula so his mouth is free. He used that freedom to be very vocal today, like he was prior to being sick. Besides his tantrums and little wails, he had a good day. It was nice for Mom and Dad to be able to hear him again.

Corbin got another day under the lights because he was jaundiced again. They said that regular bowel movements and feedings will help with this. He was calm and relaxed when Mom and Dad were visiting today.

Both boys have added about 3/4 of an inch to their height since birth. Their weights are still a few ounces under their birth weight, but they're working on bulking up. Here are both boys catching some Z's, Corbin then Quinn.

Don't forget Annie (1 week, 5 days old)

When Mom and Dad arrived today both boys were snoozing. The twins had a good day, and Quinn has begun feedings again. The doctors hope to take him off of the breathing tube tomorrow if he remains stable. It's obvious by his flailing and pulling at the tubes that he's ready for a change, too.

Corbin is still just on IV fluids, but they hope to start feedings tomorrow if he has a good night. He caused a ruckus today by managing to actually pee out of a window of his bed onto a doctor's face! Luckily she has a sense of humor, but she did say that it was a first for her in the NICU.

These photos were both taken when the boys were making the most of the rainy weather. Also, Annie has been whining about how attention has been shifted from her to the boys, so a picture of her is included today.

No news is good news sometimes (1 week, 4 days old)

Today was uneventful, which is not a bad thing. Both boys continued to hang out and remain stable. Mom and Dad got to sit beside each other and hold the boys at the same time, which is the closest the boys have been since they were in Mommy's tummy. Not much more to report today - they hope to start feedings for both guys tomorrow. Until next time...

Team spirit (1 week, 3 days old)

Quinn remained stable today. They turned down the pressure on his breathing tube a little and he took it well. All of his test results still haven't came back, so he is still on antibiotics. The nurse said that he got fiesty when she changed his diaper this evening, which to Mom and Dad sounds like the Quinn of last week.

Corbin was getting feedings all day, but decided to steal all of the attention this evening by spitting up quite a bit. They decided to stop his feedings until morning and see how he acts the rest of the night. He is still breathing on his own and looked peaceful once his tummy was empty. His heart scan today still showed a PDA, but it is still shrinking so they will check on it again in a few days.

Both boys wanted some KU gear for the football game Friday night. Luckily, Mom and Dad had 2 colors of KU stocking caps to choose from, and these white ones are from Grandma and Grandpa Martin. Corbin, then Quinn.

Two steps forward, one step back (1 week, 2 days old)

Today a phone call came from the NICU at 6 AM, so Mom and Dad were wide awake in a second. The doctor decided that Quinn needed more of a break after a tough night of breathing, so he was put back on the breathing tube (no extra oxygen though). He has been stable all day and continues to receive antibiotics while they wait for more lab results. The nurses said that not all setbacks ever have a conclusive reason to them, and the doctor said that the average premature baby has 4 infections before they go home. Whatever this may be, they caught it early and are doing everything they can so that Quinn can put all of his energy to getting over this speedbump. Dad was still able to hold him tonight for about an hour, which made everyone feel better.

Corbin started getting feedings in his tummy today and he seems to be taking them well so far. He is still breathing on his own and with everything off of his face he seems to be experimenting with facial expressions and opening his eyes. All else went smoothly for him today. He gets another heart scan tomorrow to recheck the PDA. Mom was able to snuggle with Corbin this afternoon and got to hear lots of little squeaks from him.

Hopefully more pictures tomorrow!

Ups and downs (1 week, 1 day old)

The rollercoaster took some turns today.

Mom and Dad walked into the NICU this afternoon to find Corbin snoozing all by himself, with no breathing aids at all. For the first time, his head was free of tubes and tape. Mom and Dad were both nervous but excited at the change. The doctors warned that he may lapse back to some type of nasal tube if he gets tired, but they felt he was ready to breath on his own. As of 10 PM, so far so good.

Quinn, on the other hand, decided to act up today. He had a pattern of spitting up after his feeding within the last 24 hours, which included a lowered pulse and acting out of the norm. So, although these are common symptoms for preemies, they immediately started antibiotics, ran tests, took x-rays, and stopped his feedings. The x-rays were normal, labs are still being processed, he is back on IV fluids, and he's still using the same nose tube. His night nurse from the last few nights said that tonight he has a better color to him than last night. If everything turns out ok with tests and if he remains stable, they'll start feeding him again in a few days.

Here's two pictures of Corbin, but Quinn said no pics today - he was worn out.

Lucky 7 (7 days old)

By the end of today, the boys were worn out. Corbin had a heart scan and a head ultrasound while Quinn only had a head ultrasound. They both acted pretty well for having cold ultrasound gel all over their hair (Quinn still had a gel-mohawk when Daddy got there after work). Both ultrasounds showed no signs of brain bleeding, which is great news! Corbin's heart scan showed that the PDA has gotten much smaller. The doctor is hopeful that it will close up the rest of the way on its own, so they are going to start treating him like it's gone now. They will do another scan in a few days to see if it's changed.

Quinn's feedings keep going up, and he may soon be off of all IV fluids. Corbin will keep getting all of his nutrients from his IV until the PDA is gone. The nurse calls their IV fluids "baby Gatorade" with all of the electrolytes and vitamins it has.

As things keep moving along, the Brunin family would like to again thank everyone for all of their support, thoughts, and prayers. More pictures tomorrow!

Cuddle time (6 days old)

Today Dad and Mom got to cuddle with the boys. The nurses said they were doing well enough to be held for an hour each. This was a big event and Dad and Mom didn't want to let them go.

Corbin gets his heart checked tomorrow to see if the PDA has gotten smaller or has gone away. Both boys are also getting a routine ultrasound done on their brain (this is typical at one week for preemies). The doctor says that Corbin is doing very well, especially considering his PDA and that Quinn is "flying and not waiting on anyone" with his increased feedings.

The first two pictures are of Corbin, the last two of Quinn.

Diaper duty (5 days old)

Today Mom and Dad were visting just in time to help out with some of the nurses' chores. Mom took both the boys' temperatures under their arms and also changed their little diapers. Corbin didn't mind it too much, but Quinn still just doesn't like to be messed with.

Quinn is getting more food during each feeding in his tummy and Corbin got his last dose of medicine for the PDA around 8:00 tonight. They'll re-scan his heart in the next day or two to see if the meds did their job. Corbin also stopped his tanning sessions today around noon because his bilirubin was down.

Here's pictures of Corbin holding Mommy's finger and of Quinn fussing during his changing.

TGIF (4 days old)

Today, both little guys remained stable. Corbin had another heart scan, and they discovered that the hole in his heart (called a PDA) has gotten larger. So, they are starting him on meds to help shrink it. The doctor still wasn't concerned, and told Mom and Dad that their worry level should be at a "2" on a scale of 1 to 10. They said that for the size of the PDA, he is doing very well, and it helps that they discovered it early. If not for the PDA, they said that Corbin would be on the same breathing system as Quinn.

Quinn was taken off of phototherapy this morning, and his feedings were increased. He is showing signs of being more independent than Corbin...Dad held Quinn and he cried and cried, but when Mom held Corbin he stopped crying.

Overall things are still good, and Mom and Dad are settling back into life at home rather than the hospital. The NICU is quickly becoming their second home, though. Corbin is pictured first, Quinn second.

On their own (3 days old)

Today was another big day for the twins. The tanning process continued throughout the day, but more importantly, for the first day of their young lives, their folks weren't right next door thinking about them. Mom and Dad headed home around 3:30 PM with mixed feelings - elated to be finally heading home after a solid month in the hospital, but at the same time heart-broken to be leaving the boys behind. Thankfully, they are in the constant care of the NICU nurses and doctors, who have already proved just how awesome they all are!

Quinn was upgraded to a cannula nasal tube, which is about the smallest nasal tube there is before breathing on your own. Corbin still has on the more nose-piecey breathing apparatus. Everything is still very stable with both little guys. Corbin was placed stomach-down for part of his tan, and the nurses even had the gall to take off his diaper to get a tan on his mini rear end (no pictures of that!).

Mom still has quite the head and back ache from delivery, but it is getting better with each day. A month of bedrest does horrible things to muscle mass! Hopefully a few days or R&R at home will help to ease the pain and tension in her back.

Getting a tan (2 days old)

Today marked more milestones for both guys. Up until today, the twins have been receiving nutrients through IVs attached to their umbilical chords. Around noon, they removed these IVs and added 'picc lines' to their ankles, which are basically more sanitary, long-term IV placements. Corbin had an ultrasound scan on his heart in the afternoon because they suspected a heart murmur, and wanted to check it out right away. The ultrasound verified their suspicions, and the doc said that he has a hole between the chambers of his heart that is present early on in every little baby. Some holes just seem to close up faster than others (usually within 24 hours of birth for full-term babies), but it's nothing that they are concerned about. They said that if it doesn't close on its own over time, they can give him meds for it, or ultimately perform surgery if necessary. But again, they aren't worried about it.

Lastly, both little guys had a chance to work on their tans this evening, because they were both jaundiced (yellowish color) with elevated bilirubin levels. Another normal condition, especially in preemies, that isn't of any real concern. So, they had ultraviolet lights shining down on them, which meant that they got to wear their first pairs of little sunglasses. The colors are true, the lights are bluish colored. They both look pretty relaxed!

Breathe in, breathe out (1 day old)

Today was a good day of breathing for the boys. Both Corbin and Quinn had their breathing tubes removed from their mouths, and a breathing nose-piece was added. This is the first step to breathing on their own, and a good step for two little boys at this age. Corbin had a blood transfusion to help with low blood pressure, as well as some extra meds in his IV. Everything else is still stable with both boys, and the docs say that they see nothing out of the ordinary that we should be worried about.

They're here!

At 7:03 and 7:17 AM on September 1, 2008 (Labor Day for good measure) Corbin and Quinn Brunin joined us, weighing 2 lbs 12 oz and 2 lbs 10 oz, respectively. Corbin was 15.75" long while Quinn was 15.25" long, and they were 28 weeks old at birth. They were brisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at KUMed, which is where they'll be for the next couple months. Both boys had quite a bit of bruising (normal for preemies), with Corbin's little head being almost totally bruised, from him curling up on Mommy's hip bone. They were both placed on ventilators to help stimulate breathing and were both considered in critical but stable condition. Below are pictures from their first afternoon in the NICU, Corbin first and Quinn second (Corbin will always be first in their pictures - we'll try to take them every few days).