Whew...

John and I had a "whew" moment in the NICU today.
First, the obvious - Parker is in a BIG BOY CRIB! See pics below. We knew it was only a matter of time and with extubation, the decision would come down to putting him in an isolette or crib. We were happy to see another crib in the Koala Room when we entered today and even happier to see Parker laying in it, looking like a big boy!
Parker had another change with his new CPAP - look familiar? Yes, it's the same CPAP that Tyler was moved to last night after his nose began breaking down again from the "rhino" CPAP. Nurse Cathy recognized that Parker was just fighting his CPAP this morning and noticed that his nose was looking red and sore. She summoned the doctor and talked to him about putting Parker the on the same device as brother. Whew...they did it! Parker immediately started doing better and by the time we got to the NICU, both boys were satting well, sleeping soundly, and looking happy. Can't ask for more than that!
Tyler is doing well - all FIVE pounds of him! Yes, he is now officially five pounds - way to go buddy! Tyler had quite a BLAST today as he projectile pooped all over mommy and his crib! If only John had taken a picture of this moment because no one can imagine HOW much army colored, wet and stinky stuff can come out of such a little bundle. It was ALL over my arm, shot onto my clothes, his mattress, the floor, trash can below, in between the crib bars...I mean it was EVERYWHERE! And mister cranky "don't change my pants" Tyler looked VERY content after, making it one of the funniest things we've experienced in the NICU. UGH!
So oxygen levels are great for both boys, actually Parker is requiring less oxygen then Tyler right now! Go figure. I'm not sure if this was mentioned in an earlier blog (sorry, I swear I read what my husband writes - ha ha), but Parker has had some issues with reflux. I noticed a while ago that his clothes were always dirty near the collar area, while Tyler's were not. Shortly after, I noticed Parker spitting up and mentioned this to the nurses and doctors. We also noticed that Parker has REALLY bad gas and seems to be bothered by it. John mentioned it to the doctors and they finally put him on Zantac. We've seen such improvement in Parker's agitation level and he seems so much more at peace. And according to nurse Cathy his reflux doesn't seem to be as bad either. Today Tyler was put on Zantac as well.
Whew...to the health of both boys right now!
I think it's the first time John and I have seen a little light shining at the end of the tunnel. As we watched each other on either side of the Koala Room, sitting in rocking chairs and cuddling a happy baby, it happened. We had our first "serious" talk with nurse Cathy about when the boys will come home. It will more than likely be sometime in October and because of Parker's two hernias, he will probably stay a little longer. Knowing how fast the past ten weeks have flown by, five or six more seem almost reachable! As we left the NICU tonight, both of us felt a flood of "whew". "Whew...the boys seemed so healthy tonight, so happy tonight, so content tonight, so loving tonight, so absolutely wonderful!"