It's all about the babies now!!

Many of you have asked why there hasn't been a new post on the blog lately.  Well . . . it's all about the babies now!  Since the moment Etta and Elsie arrived, Becky and Pete have been fully immersed in their care, so I, Grandma Sue, will once again attempt to capture the essence of the latest events in the Slabiak family. 

Since her last posts on the blog, Becky was discharged from Abbot-Northwestern, but the babies remained  at Children's Hospital under the awesome care of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) staff.  Though it was very hard to go home without the girls, Becky and Pete felt grateful for the awesome care the girls were receiving at Children's.  Becky has done amazing job conquering the challenge of producing enough milk to feed two babies, though this means she spends a huge majority of her day hooked up to a hospital grade breast pump (she says she feels like a "cow" on a milking machine!!)  Pete has managed to put in a full day of work, get down to the hospital each night so that he can spend time with his girls and even help Becky keep up with the "pumping" by washing supplies, etc.  They make an amazing team!

By August 24th, the girls were gaining weight and doing so well they were able to move out of the intensive support of the NICU to the ICC (Infant Care Center).  In this unit, the girls were able to be in one room rather than two (much better for Becky and Pete).  Though she is the smaller one, Etta has led the way in getting them off IV's by persisting in pulling her IV out until staff said she no longer needed one.  Her latest feat was was to pull her feeding tube out and even though she can't quite go without that yet, it probably won't be long.  Both girls are making wonderful progress.  They are now in "cribs" rather than "isolettes" - (aka "incuabtors") are continuing to gain weight!  Elsie now weighs 5 lbs. 15 oz. and Etta is 5 lbs. 6 oz.  Though they are "identical', they have unique looks and personalities that charm and delight all who lay eyes on them. 

Over the past few days, the girls have begun making the transition to nursing and bottles.  Becky is "on call" for feeding most of the day and night, so it is getting trickier to figure out good times for visitors and time to answer emails, phone calls, etc. is limited.  Tonight Becky will sleep at the hospital so that she can be available to feed as the babies and Becky work to transition the girls off their feeding tubes and on to regular nursing and bottle feeding.  Becky and Pete love hearing from everyone, but hope all of their friends and family know that it may be a little tough to communicate over the next few weeks. 

Thank you everyone for all of the wonderful support you have given Becky and Pete!