Sponge Baths

Those of you who are like Cylynn and I and have always thought that babies smelled like baby lotion and other such products are, I am sorry to say, woefully ignorant. For the past month, Cylynn convinced herself that it was the saran wrap and hospital that smelled each day. Unfortunately, it was the boys. Babies stink just like the rest of us without baths and soap. However, since our boys are still on ventilation for breathing, they cannot yet bathe in the tub. Therefore, this past week we gave both boys sponge baths. We used cotton or gauze pads with water and soap to wipe the boys clean. Here are some pictures:

K. Sheffield's Sponge Bath

M. Sheffield's Sponge Bath

Both boys did not like a lot of the sponge baths. Makaio was his typical self squirming and wanting us to leave him alone during the whole thing. Kekoa made his typical displeased faces when he was not enjoying it. Both boys enjoyed a couple of key parts of the bath. The head massage/scrubbing was a hit. It was all that Makaio enjoyed. See his sigh of pleasure below. Kekoa loved the lotion afterwards. We really enjoyed giving them sponge baths and cannot wait until they are ready for some "tub time".

M. Sheffield's Head Massage

K. Sheffield's Lotion

Facelifts Aren't Always a Bad Thing

As you can see, the look of our blog has changed and perhaps you are wondering why?. Well I will tell you three reasons why we needed a blogger facelift.

Reason #1

Do not be confused! The blog didn't need a facelift because Sterling is a cowboy and can ride a mean bail of hay. It needed changed because real men don't enjoy pink and red stripes with ribbons on the side. Let the picture speak for itself...Sterling is a real man!

Reason #2

Do not be confused! The blog didn't need a facelift because the background was so boring it put Kekoa to sleep. It needed changed because tough little boys enjoying things that make them look tough like catching frogs or even better, the scar that he will have to show off when he gets older. Let the picture speak for itself...Kekoa is one tough little boy.

Reason #3

Do not be confused! The blog didn't need a facelift because Makaio put his fist down and demanded that it be that way. It needed changed because as you can see there are now three boys in our family and only one girl. Let the picture speak for itself...Makaio was the first to put down his fist and the others followed close behind and as a result our page has been changed!

There's a First Time for Everything

One nervous daddy + one tiny baby = One memorable moment.

The day that I got to hold Makaio was a day filled with excitement and anticipation. Sterling's day was a little different. He was nervous and a little unsure about the whole thing but I think he enjoyed it in the end. I know that Makaio enjoyed it or at least his vital signs said that he did!

Sterling and Makaio

The Natural

3/4 of the family (Dad, Mom and Makaio)

Contact Isolation

One of the things that generally happens when babies are intubated is that bacteria starts to grow in that tube. It doesn't necessarily mean that the bacteria is going to harm the baby or that the doctors are going to do anything to try and treat the bacteria. They just tell you that things are growing in the trachea tube, that they are going to leave the bacteria alone and that now you have to wear gloves plus gowns whenever you want to touch your child.

My thoughts are, "If I have to wear a gown and gloves to touch my own child then it sounds a little more serious that what you are implying." It turns out that I am the mother and not the doctor so if they tell me the bacteria isn't harmful, I will believe them. If they tell me to wear a gown, I'll wear a gown.

Much to my mother's dismay, it's almost to the point that I could actually answer YES to the often asked childhood question of "If so-and-so told you to go jump off a bridge, would you?" I've come to the realization that the statement, "Because I'm the mother and I said so" gets you nowhere in the NICU. I haven't actually tried it out yet but sometimes when things seem stagnant, I really want to.

Since our camera is usually pointed at the boys and all you ever see is pictures of them, I thought I would take the opportunity to post a picture of Sterling. Here is Sterling dawning the new garb that is required if we want to touch Makaio.

One Month Older and Wiser Too

Happy one month birthday to our two little boys. We were planning on making brownies and bringing them to share with the nurses, while we sang happy birthday. However, we took a nap instead. We still sang happy birthday, but ate some brownies that evening at home.

After one month Kekoa is nine ounces larger than his birth weight and two inches longer than he was at birth. He is still the easy going guy he was at birth. He sleeps through most of his cares and seems to accept anything we or the nurses do with him with complete contentment. He is eating less than one ounce per day, but still growing. Kekoa to treat food with apathy. I don't know whom he inherited this trait from, but it wasn't his father or mother.

Makaio is one pound larger than his birth weight and one and a half inches longer than at birth. He still hates anyone touching him or doing his cares. He prefers to be left alone, other than the fact that he loves having his head rubbed. He is eating over two ounces now and digesting well. He loves his food.

Here are some before and after pictures of the boys at birth and on their one month birthdays:

M. Sheffield-Day 1

M. Sheffield-1 Month

K. Sheffield-Day 1

K. Sheffield-1 Month

It is amazing to see their growth after just one month. The pictures don't do it justice, but you can see some weight gain. We will see what the next month will bring.