Holding

  With our babies, we had to wait until the doctor wrote orders for each of them to be held.  When that permission came we were both excited and terrified.  Their size alone is intimidating, not to mention the numerous cords and fear that you pull one out- especially their breathing tube.  However, the nurses reassured us that the babies LOVE being held and that they can recognize David and I from our voice and scent.
  We learned that research has shown that babies respond well to skin-to-skin contact, called kangaroo care in the NICU.  Basically holding the baby against your bare skin, which helps maintain their body temperature, associate touch with positive feelings (instead of only clinical care) and even stimulate brain development.  It takes a nurse and a respiratory therapist to move the baby from the isolette to your chest.
  Each of the trips has been held now, and we are trying to hold them each everyday.  Slowly we are getting more relaxed, but I'm pretty sure my blood pressure is high and I am still scared to move!  I can't wait till we can hold them whenever we want without any cords or tubes.  Here are a ton of pictures of us holding!!

Baby Estelle was the first to be held

She was still on the ventilator here

Dane and Betsy were on the oscillator, so they couldn't be held yet

Baby Dane

They put the babies high on your chest so you can't exactly look down and see them, but they have a mirror on hand so that you can get a glimpse of their sweet face

Love his little fingers :)

David getting set up with Estelle, his first hold!

As I said, LOTS of tubes and cords

This sweet girl always has her hands by her face

We got to hold them at the same time.  David picked Estelle because she is more calm!

David holding Betsy, she is already a Daddy's girl

Her little eyes were open!

The WHOLE set up

Proud Dad :)