Our Boys

Here are some of the first pictures of the boys, they were less than an hour old. I will spare you the pictures of me during the same hour...you would just see one pale, tired, mama who was totally overwhelmed with the pace of the day.

I will tell you that the boys look much more critical than they really are. It's just that when you are that little, everything is so big. But as an update, the boys are doing REALLY well considering all they have been through and how early they were born. Zac was on the ventilator for less than 24 hours and is now receiving a little help from the CPAP (little prongs that go in his nose to give him extra oxygen). He is breathing on his own and is very relaxed in doing so. Grant is making making the same strides as Zac, just a few steps behind. He came off his ventilator soon after Zac and is also receiving a little help from the CPAP. He is having to work harder at breathing, but he is doing a wonderful job! It won't be long before they will be given some milk to try and see how they tolerate it, if they do well, then they will be transitioned to being fed milk through a tube that goes from their mouth down to their stomachs. Sloan and I both changed diapers last night (you can do that when you have two!) quite a feat for most new parents...quite a bigger feat when you have to do it amongst all the monitors and with a diaper that could cover them up to their nipples.

We are both so proud of our little guys and the effort they are making to do well and stay well. We thank you all for your thought and especially your prayers as our little guys aren't quite out of the woods yet. We will try to keep you updated with pictures...especially in the upcoming days as we might just get the chance to hold them soon.

I will most likely be getting to go home Thursday. My infection is being treated aggressively with two forms of IV antibiotics, and is virtually gone at this point. I haven't had a fever since Sunday after delivery and thankfully my infection is not one that can be passed to the boys through skin to skin contact. I am recovering wonderfully and am actually able to walk over to the adjoining hospital where the boys are with little discomfort.

We signed birth certificates today so here they are officially:

Zachary James Youngblood

Grant Curry Youngblood