Three-Oh!

Rodney's birthday was right around the corner. It's his Big Three Oh...in the hospital. I needed to be resourceful somehow. I was racking my brain about how to make it special. Going shopping was pretty much out of the question. I sent out an SOS to my Facebook friends. I talked to a few of the nurses. Nothing really said the kind of "special" I was looking for. I finally just ordered a few "twin dad" items online and prayed that they would make it in by the 23rd. I reminded myself that no matter what, this would be a special birthday he could never forget. And after all, I did just give him a miracle boy and a miracle girl.

When Rodney and I came back from our dinner date, one of the nurses told us that Emma had pulled out her feeding tube. Instead of replacing it right away, she was going to wait to see how her feeding went. I love you, Nurse. At that moment, my chest swelled with excitement because I knew a Higher Power was at work. I was not going to beg God for a rush on Emma's progress. He knows what I'm hoping for. He needs no interruptions, no distractions right now from me. God, You know what You're doing.

Emma took her whole bottle at the next feeding. I talked to her while she was eating, kept shifting her position, anything to keep her awake. I gave her a little extra time when she needed it...which kind of felt like cheating. I felt like I needed a look-out. The nurses would frown on a feeding taking longer than 30 minutes. I felt Emma's sweet little soul fighting so hard to catch up. Her spirit seemed to know it was time to work: "Okay, I've had enough of this tube. Bring it on! I need to be with Brother and Mom and Dad." She took her next six bottles like a champion. Her seventh bottle, however, was too much for her. She was too tired. I felt somewhat defeated. The doctor will want to see "24 hours on the bottle" when she comes to read the chart.  I tried to push out any negative thoughts I was having, let them out in deep breaths and remember how far she'd come and how amazing she was, this gorgeous child. She looked so relaxed. She had no idea she was such a strong little warrior princess.

You know what You're doing.

Ethan was going strong without his feeding tube. He made short work of every bottle. His little face was starting to fill out. I was so proud of our little boy and head over heels in love with that little face. He always made the cutest little expression with his little furrowed brow. He looked like he was thinking very hard about something very serious. I found myself calling him "brother," the nurses' nickname for him.
None of the nurses were talking about Ethan's upcoming release, and I wasn't asking. The only thing I thought we could cling to, to keep him admitted until Emma was ready, was the incline of his crib. Both babies had some reflux issues. I think I remember hearing that the beds would be gradually leveled over time. Maybe they'll let us wait just a little longer for her.

The doctor came in to our room every morning to evaluate the charts and make new assessments. On this day, she didn't come as usual. I asked the nurse if I'd missed her. "No, she hasn't made it here yet." I waited there instead of going to get breakfast. I could feel that things were about to happen. Would she say Ethan is ready for release? What would she think about Emma missing a few mls of her feedings? Would she re-order the feeding tube?

I cannot take this. After an hour, I decided to go ahead and go get breakfast. When I came back, of course, the doctor had come and gone. Where is our nurse??
The nurse finally came in and reported that our doctor ordered both babies to undergo a 24 hour apnea test. The nurse told me that this meant the doctor was considering releasing both babies if the tests went well! After the apnea tests were finished, they both had to take a 4 hour car seat test. Then, the doctor called me on the nurse's phone to give me her evaluation of the tests:

"Ethan had a few minor events on the apnea test. He will be released tomorrow with an apnea monitor." She explained her recommendation and the monitor we would be taking home.

My heart was beating out of my chest....

"Emma had several minor events on the apnea test...but she will also be released tomorrow with an apnea monitor."
I could not help but scream out down the hallway, "YAY!!!"
"And I hear that tomorrow is Dad's birthday. Happy birthday to him."

This is the most amazing birthday present I could ever have imagined!
"Rodney, guess what?" :)