Baby Kangaroos

I've now been able to hold all of my babies at least once. The NICU is big on skin-to-skin contact, otherwise known as Kangaroo care (appropriate considering my name). Each baby has enjoyed the contact, but the differences in their personalities have begun to shine through.

The first time, I held Gordon. He kicked up a huge fit when they moved him and messed with his wires. At the time, he was still on the CPAP machine (this is to help with apnea otherwise known as forgetting to breathe). But once he was on my chest and covered with blankets, he settled down, snuggling against my heart.

Jeff was holding Adele at the same time, but unfortunately, we don't have an electronic copy of the photo yet. Dad was beaming at his little girl!

The next time I went up, I was able to hold Walter. He fussed a little as they move him from bassinet to my chest, but the second he was against me, he just melted. He was so relaxed, he kept trying to let his head hang back like a kid sleeping in class. In fact, the nurse and I kept checking his stats to make sure he kept breathing and didn't have any heart rate drops because he was so out of it! I was in heaven.

The next time I went up to the NICU, I finally held my little girl. She's a feisty one! She fussed and fussed as we moved her and even up against my chest, she took a few minutes to settle. Then when she did sleep, she moved and 'talked' the whole time. This is good to know for when they come home. The nurse fed Adele (via feeding tube) while she was in my arms and it took both the nurse and I to settle Adele back down. I told Adele this wasn't a good sign! Oh, and before she fell asleep, Adele had her eyes wide open, looking around and taking in the world.

Meanwhile, Jeff was at the NICU with me and he was able to hold one of his boys. A swaddled Walter settled right into Jeff's arms and fell right asleep. Have you ever seen Jeff look so awed and so proud? He's practically beaming!


I know we have many days ahead of us when we'll wish we could just put the babies down or when changing a diaper becomes the last thing we want to do, but for now, I'm enjoying these 'first moments' which will never come again.