Visitation Update / Information

I know many of you are very eager to see the girls just as Emily and I are excited to introduce them both to everyone, but I just wanted to give everyone an update on visitation for the time being.

Unfortunately for the girls, their premature births occurred during the cold/flu season. Because of the increased risk of passing on any type of infection to them, the hospital has asked us to limit visitation as much as we possibly can. Although the girls are allowed visitors during certain times of the day, the hospital cannot insist we limit visitation; they can only make suggestions based on their years of experience.

Their little lungs and immune systems are so fragile that exposure to even a common cold could be devastating to their progress. Because of this we have been extremely cautious with them. As Emily, Evelyn and I are taking vitamins and washing our hands religiously, we are limiting visitation to just our parents for the time being. They have also stressed the importance of limiting visitation even after they come home until Spring/Summer-time. We have been told that the girls will likely have respiratory issues until they are older toddlers and so during infancy we should avoid public places (malls, grocery stores, church, etc.)

Below are some excerpts from the visitation pamphlet all visitors get, and as you can see, they take it pretty seriously:

- Before coming to the hospital, ask yourself - do you feel sick today? If you say yes, it would be better that you did not come.

- If you have a cold sore or open sore around your mouth or nose, then you must wear a mask before entering.

- ALWAYS wash your hands with soap and water for 15 seconds before entering.

- ALWAYS use waterless hand sanitizer at the bedside before and after touching your baby.

- Remember if you change your baby's diaper or clean spit up, wash your hands again and use hand sanitizer.

- If you leave the room, you MUST wash your hands before you reenter.

- It is suggested that you wash your hands when you leave the NICU, even if you don't plan on returning the same day.

Because Kathryn has been fighting a bacterial eye infection, the girls are in what they call “isolation”, which means that we have to take added measures not to pass this bacteria on. When we care for the girls we have to wear gowns and gloves in addition to hand washing and sanitizing. Sophia does not have the infection, but they ask us to treat her as if she is in isolation also so we do not pass it from Kathryn to Sophia.

Only 2 people are allowed at the bedside at one time, including Emily or I. Visitors must be 13 years or older, so this means Evelyn has not even met her sisters yet. The time at the bedside is also limited to a couple of minutes and only the parents are able to hold them.

I know everyone understands the seriousness and importance of the guidelines the hospital has asked us to put into place. We want our baby girls to come home as soon as they can. As soon as we get the OK from the Doctors to allow more visitors, we will pass on the word so we can schedule times for family and friends to meet them.

Thank you all for understanding, and I promise, I will post more updates and pics this weekend, got some really cute ones of them WIDE awake.