Tipton Family: When the Bubbas were born

When the boys were first born I kept a Journal in the form of a calendar. One of the nurses told me how much it would mean to me one day if I would just jot down a couple of details each day. She told me how hard the next chapter of our lives was going to be and that I would most likely not remember little details. Here is what I wrote:

Monday(Labor day) September 3, 2001
Carter and Riley are born. Riley is 3lbs 15oz. 16 inches long
Carter is 4lbs 7oz 17inches long

Tuesday September 4
Carter is on a ventilator, Riley is on oxygen. Both boys have I.V.'s

Wednesday September 5
Babies are good, I am discharged from the hospital today. The boys will remain in the NICU

Friday September 7
BillyRubin is high on both. U.V. light is turned on

Monday September 10
Billy lights were turned off. Both boys are nippling and doing Awesome. Feeding tube is last thing to go

Wednesday September 12
Babies put in the same crib. They LOVE it!

Thursday September 13
Carter has a Bellyache. Riley is doing great.

Friday September 14
Boys are separated Carter is sick. At 10p.m. he is transferred to primary children's hospital with N.E.C.
*special thanks to the amazing nurse who caught this so early.

Saturday September 15
Riley is doing good. Carter is taken in for surgery at 9:30 p.m. It's a success, now it is time to heal.

Sunday September 16
Didn't see Riley today. Carter doesn't look so hot. Nurses say he is "hanging in there". Erik and I are both emotional.

Monday September 17(2 weeks old)
Went with my mom to see Riley, he is doing awesome. Saw Carter two times, his color is better, he is still in pain.

Tuesday September 18
Riley is doing awesome. He weighs 4lbs 13oz. My Mom saw Carter, he opened his eyes. She said he looked good.

Wednesday September 19
Riley is doing good, Carter is hanging in there. I wish they were at the same hospital.

Thursday September 20
Happy Day! I got to breast feed Riley today. Carter got his ventilator out. Both babies are doing awesome.

Saturday September 22
Carter got his ART line out, his anderson tube is looking good, it might come out soon. Riley weighs 5lbs 3oz. He loves to breast feed.

Sunday September 23
Riley got his N.G. tube out. Carter got his anderson tube out and is starting breast milk tonight. AWESOME DAY!

Monday September 24( 3 weeks old)
Carter had an echo. His P.D.A. looks smaller. Riley will come home on Wednesday. Both boys weigh 5lbs.1oz.

Tuesday September 25
Spent the night at Ogden Regional Medical Center

Wednesday September 26
Riley came home today! Carter could come home in 1-2 weeks.

Thursday September 27
Carter's PIC line came out. I put him to breast for the first time, he latched on well. Riley was left with my Mom for the first time.

Friday September 28
37 weeks gestation. Riley went to the Dr. he weighed 5lbs 8oz

Tuesday October 2(4 weeks old)
Carter comes home with a colostomy bag.

Friday November 2(5 1/2 weeks after leaving primarys)
Carter goes in for his takedown. Couldn't feed him since midnight. He was starving.

Saturday November3
He looks so cute and chubby, he must have gained a pound. I didn't even recognize him after surgery.

Wednesday November 7(5 days later 10 1/2 weeks old)
Carter is sent home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!