Pictures are here, but I've gotta wait until I'm well rested to try to type out an update! I'm sure pictures are what you all are looking for anyway! I'll update this post once I have the energy!
Brennan Nicholas 1lb 15.5oz (birth weight 1lb 4oz)
Landon James 2lbs 5oz (birth weight 1lb 7oz)
Brooklyn Danielle 1lb 15oz (birth weight 1lb 3.5oz)
I couldn't think of a clever name for this post! Here's lots of pictures of the kiddo's, each are captioned so you know who's who! The last couple days have been filled with excitement!
Nich caught this great photo of Hailey! She's off before you know it! 
Miss Priss herself! We braided her hair so it'd be curly the next day like Mommy's! 
Daddy's first time feeding and holding Brennan!
Brennan on nasal canula. He's trying it...3 hours on, 6 hours on CPAP. Way to go Brennan!
Big eyed Landon :)
Daddy holding Landon for the first time!
Mommy holding Landon, first time too!
Landon's having a fit! :) Rocky's a swingin!
Mommy holding Brooklyn for the first time!
Brooklyn sucking on a pacifier!
It's Brooklyn!!! You probably couldn't tell since they look so much alike! :) That's right though, we have 2 beautiful babies on CPAP! This time it was intentional. She's so good at pulling out her tubes that last week she extubated herself (pulled her own breathing tube out), that they decided to try CPAP. She just wasn't ready, but this time she was wiggling around quite a bit and did good on the "sprinting" exercises that we tried again! So far so good!
Brooklyn moving around getting used to CPAP! I just love to watch them move!
I think my face has been beaming all day long! This morning when I walked in to visit the kids, Brennan's nurse greeted me then asked if I got to hold him yesterday. I said no, she seemed surprised and I told her I didn't ask. She asked if I wanted to hold him and I don't think she really needed an answer! Of course!!! I've been wanting to hold them since the day they were born, but wanted to do it when they were ready. Today was Brennan and my big day! 
Here's super proud Mommy and tiny little Brennan! He's just 3oz shy of 2lbs. It hardly felt like he was in there, but every so often I felt him wriggle around. Just amazing, word's cannot express, just amazing!
I tried to catch some of his little noises on video! Forgive my left handed video, but you can hear him cry! More like squeak! :)
I got to hold him for 1.5 hours and we both did great! I have to admit I was a little nervous holding him, especially on CPAP since when he wriggled, his mask would slip a little and expose a nostril. He just needed to be adjusted, then all was well. We can hold him every other day for now...Daddy gets Saturday's shift. I bet he can't wait! Today one of the nurses was so excited and said, today was the first day holding one of my babies. I knew what she meant and it actually didn't cause me to be upset. I just smiled and remembered holding my sweet Katelyn. This was different, Brennan was squirming and crying! It brought joy back to my arms. Thank you God for Your peace and comfort and allowing me to really enjoy this moment with Brennan!
Time is flying! Our precious babies are 6 weeks old today (29 weeks gestation). I can't believe we're getting closer to 30 weeks! We expected them to be born around this time. Babies are out of pandemic precautions and no one got the H1N1 (except Nich & Hailey who are feeling MUCH better!) We've had an eventful week - good eventful! :)
Brennan Nicholas 1lb 13oz (1lb 4oz)
Our leader of the pack this week! Brennan was put on CPAP Tuesday and is doing great! He is doing more work to breathe on the CPAP than the ventilator so he's not gaining weight as fast as the others. He's working it off! He has been doing great and seems to really enjoy it! He sometimes holds onto the CPAP mask now that he has a firm place to grasp. Hasn't threatened to pull it, just holding it in place. Every couple hours the nurses take off his mask to give his nose a break and massage his ears and head. We just hold a tube blowing oxygen up to his nose and he gets enough oxygen from that, for a couple minutes at least. I also got to hold him for the first time today! More on that in another blog... Brennan has had a great week! Praise God for good days! 
Landon James 2lb 3oz (birth weight 1lb 7oz)
Landon, Landon, Landon...well, he's our little chunk! He has had a rough week. He was acting kinda sick a couple days ago (had a fever, lethargic, just not himself) so docs ordered a complete work up - blood, urine, sputum and cerebral spinal fluid cultures to find his bug. He had just stopped all his antibiotics 4 days previous. He ended up getting a respiratory infection that seems a little tricky to get rid of. This boy has been through so much! He need to get a break to recover from all of the infections and lung damage. He is back on breast milk (they stopped it because he was on Dopamine for blood pressure, feeds & that med shouldn't go together). He's getting about 1.5 cc every 3 hours. That's about a drop! It's ok, gotta start somewhere and it's magic milk! Landon has the biggest eyes that I haven't been able to catch on camera. When he looks at you there is just so much love! He's mesmerizing! I just love watching him!
Brooklyn Danielle 1lb 14oz (birth weight 1lb 3.5oz)
Brooklyn is our feeding superstar! She is up to 10cc's every 3 hours and will be gaining weight soon! The nurses gave Brooklyn and Landon a taste of breast milk in their mouths and they went crazy! Yesterday Brooklyn was wiggling around and self extubated (pulled out her own ET tube). Docs decided since she's on such low vent settings, they'd try her on CPAP before reintubating. She tried really hard, but just got too tired. She breathed really fast for 3 hours, then just stopped because she was too tired. They said they'd just try her again in a couple days. She's so close and they think it was just too stressful of a switch that she didn't really get calmed back down. They'll try again in a more controlled move to CPAP. She'll get there when she's ready, she's one determined little girl!
They are making incredible progress! We know for a fact that God has his hands on these kids, helping them grow. Also has His hands on Nich & I, giving us peace that passes all understanding. This week we filled out the paperwork for Katelyn's cremation. It has definitley been bittersweet milestones this week. Just keep praying for strength and peace. There is nothing we can do to bring her back, we need to be strong for Brennan, Landon & Brooklyn. One day we will get to share with them they joys of their sister and the footprints she has left. Everyday I think of her and thank God for the joy she brought us while we were pregnant and the blessing of her short life. This week Katelyn was probably jumping with joy, cheering Brennan on! Brooklyn & Landon's turn soon!! Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement! We hold on to that!
Today Brennan was put on CPAP! They took his breathing tube out (extubated) and he's officially off the ventilator! He had been weaning and on minimal vent settings for just over a week now, and the docs decided today could be his day. They gave him test run, called "sprinting" to see if he was strong enough. They take off some of the vent (tube still in place) and see if he breathes on his own or if he'd get too tired. He made it for just over 3 hours sprinting so they decided to after reporting (4pm). The process only took about 10 minutes and he's been tube free since! He is still needing help with oxygen and some pressure behind the oxygen flow, but doing great! Here's some pictures of our little man, the CPAP superstar!!
Before
View through the porthole! :)
Holding onto his mask. It's pretty secure, so he can hold on as much as he wants!
Video of Brennan sneezing and checking out his new CPAP gear.
Happy Halloween from the Pollaks!
Our diva witch-princess-ballerina! So for the last couple years I've bought a costume the year before on clearance to save money. Hasn't been a problem, Hailey loved them...turning 3 and being a diva posed a problem this year. I had bought an adorable witch costume, but she decided she wanted to be a princess ballerina. Thus, the picture above - compromise! Three part costume: original witch dress (witch), a black tutu under it (ballerina) and we added a tiara! (princess) The most adorable witch-princess-ballerina I've seen!
Brennan was a pumpkin! These hats will probably fit everyone next year too!
Landon was a pirate! How fitting! :)
Brooklyn was a candy corn! The nurses said she'd probably fit inside it!
Hailey and Mommy trick or treating! Didn't carry her the entire time...promise! It was getting cold and we all wanted to get back to the car quicker. :) She said "thank you!" to each house, which usually got us an extra scoop in the treats bucket! LOVE having a cutie! :) She wasn't too keen on saying "trick or treat" though. I think she finally did at the last couple houses.
We decided since we all did the work of trick or treating, we'd share the candy! Daddy said Mommy gets 40%, Daddy gets 40% and Hailey gets 20%. She agreed! When we asked if her brothers and sister get any, she said "Nope, they'll go next year and get theirs!" We've already got costume ideas in mind for our three little babies and big sis!
After trick or treating, we met Nich's dad for dinner in Allen Park. Supposed to go to Rhapsody, a Hungarian restaurant, but it was closed. Ruby Tuesday's instead! There weren't many people and we were able to just enjoy ourselves. Hailey sat next to Papa Dan and helped him stir coffee, eat, and play! Here's a pic of Hailey playing peek-a-boo!
Papa Dan, Mommy, Hailey & Daddy (Hailey loves having her picture taken on with the camera timer!)
And a video to top it all off!! Hailey loves dancing! I think these have a little Shirley Temple flair - thanks Grandma Johnson! :)
