On the road...again

Well, Abby's eyes were checked again on Friday. (I must say I've been very pleased with how they are keeping on top of it.) Her left eye was still fine, but her right eye showed more advancement into stage 3 ROP. So - back to Duke. This time Dr. Tang (at DRH) wants them to stay until they go home. She is also very concerned about their lack of oral feeding. She wants Natalie to go to Duke as well for her feeding issues, and since it may be two more weeks, to make life easier on us.

They've been trying various things at DRH with the feeds: breast milk with progestimil (which supposedly tastes yucky); then breast milk with Elecare (supposedly no taste). Today they are trying just breast milk trying to determine if there's something about the taste they don't like. They are also adding "simply thick", a Vaseline-like substance that thickens the milk so they don't choke so much. We are also holding off on breastfeeding this weekend in case that's causing them confusion. In any case, they are about out of ideas. Their best guess is that the girls suffer from reflux - very common in preemies. They don't spit up often, but it can still enter their throats causing burning and irritation. There is a doctor at Duke that does research in reflux and Dr. Tang think he may have some ideas. That's why she wants them to go - and stay - at Duke.

Do, they will move over Sunday or Monday morning. Probably Sunday. Hopefully they will take Natalie too. Although parking is a pain at Duke, we are looking forward to going "home". I'm looking forward to the cotton (and not nylon) short-sleeved gowns and the comfy recliner chairs for holding and breastfeeding. Ahhhh.

In other news...
Weights
Abby
Fri - 2515g
Sat - 2530g (5.9lbs)

Natalie
Fri - 2080g
Sat - 2130g (4.11lb- shortening the gap!)

Just a run down of their sporadic feeds...
Natalie
fri
2am - 8ml
11am - 6ml
8pm - 25ml
Sat
5:30am - 6ml
11am - 11ml
5pm - 30ml

Abby
fri
12am - 5ml
9am - 6ml
9pm - 21ml
sat
6:30am - 12ml
11am - 20ml
6 pm - 17ml

As you can see there's no pattern or progression. It's completely random. Hopefully Duke will have some eyes, or as Dr. Tang said, maybe they don't like Durham Hospital and will like it better at Duke.