Look mom, no incubator!!!

Welcome back to our little world. We have some great news for all to report this evening. The Graf quads all continue to thrive at the NICU in Phoenix Children's Hospital at Good Samaritan. Monica and I were very pleasantly surprised to walk into what seemed like two brand new rooms this afternoon. We have all kinds of space to move around in with Pius and Forrest both being moved to open cribs. We saw Pius first, and he was all burritoed up in his crib. He was sleeping well and we got a great report from his nurse. We went over and saw big Forrest in his big crib. What a pair they are in their big boy beds! The doctor even said we may be able to start co-bedding shortly.

As for individual updates, here goes:

Pius James: He now weighs 2150 grams which is 4 pounds, 12 0unces. He still needs the nasal cannula for a little help, but is being weaned off as tolerated. He continues to eat well, and takes 40 mL of fortified breast milk every three hours. He will probably start trying to bottle feed tomorrow.

Pius showing off in his open crib.

Forrest Michael: He now weighs 2110 grams which is 4 pounds, 10 ounces. He was a little anemic yesterday and lost 30 grams, but it was all fluid from his swelling. So actually it was a good thing that he lost those grams. He still needs the cannula as well, but like Pius, is being weaned off as tolerated. He also continues to eat well and is taking 39 mL of fortified breast milk every three hours. He tried the bottle feeding yesterday and was great at it. He took half of the bottle, did wonderfully, and the rest he took through his feeding tube.

Forrest sleeping...as usual.

Forrest sleeping...in Miss Becky's arms.

Danna Lynn: She is doing a great job with her weight gain. She is up 20 grams from yesterday and weighs 925 grams, which is 2 pounds, 1 ounce. She is on room air, but still using the nasal cannula for the high flow. She keeps getting bigger and bigger. We are so proud of her fight.

Sweet Danna...Sweet Dreams.

Laine Ryan: He is up to 1360 grams which is 3 pounds even. He is on the cannula still, but like his brothers, is being weaned off. He still loses his temper from time to time, but really remains pretty calm throughout the day. He tried the non-nutritive breast feeding yesterday with mom and did very well until he fell asleep. We will probably start the bottle feeding and non-nutritive more often now that they have hit the 34 week mark.

Laine in big boy clothes and worn out after his bath.

You guys are all being too good to us, and it is hard to keep up with the thank yous, but we will try. Thanks to NICU Nurse Emily for the Broncos pacifiers. She noticed the quads needed some team spirit, and as she attended the Chiefs slaughter this past weekend, she picked them up for us. Also thank you to great-aunt Mary Odette for the "pee pee teepee Santa hats." They have been a hit with the nurses, and gave us a good chuckle. You put these hats over their tally-whackers when you are changing them so you don't get squirted. Too bad they have already outgrown them. No big deal. They are such studs.

The pee-pee teepees. Told you they weren't big enough.

Love,

Billy, Moni, Pius, Forrest, Danna, and Laine

P.S. Congrats to my car man, Curtis, and his wife Megan. The world needed more Lubbers.

P.S. #2 Great job the past couple days with all the comments. We've enjoyed them. You guys earned a video. Keep it up!

Forrest getting a bath.