Milking it for all it's worth

6/5/12

The lack of a schedule is better established now.  The kids don't seem to understand their parents need for order and a system.  However, mom and dad are adjusting well.  Determining a schedule for them would be much easier if they were bottle fed all the time, but they are getting much better with their eating.  Sometimes they will go three and half or four hours between feeds and other times they are screaming for more after an hour and half.  We are told this is normal for breastfed babies.

Jacqueline is doing amazingly well just making sure she can keep moving.  She sleeps when she can, eats when she can, and makes sure the two parasites (said with the beaming joy and excitement of a proud husband and father) get all the nourishments they are willing to take.  Soon enough they will be sleeping longer, mommy and daddy will not be so exhausted, and more happiness will accompany the joy of parenthood.

The other amazing thing I noticed, just today, is that Evan has developed some cheeks.  Small as they may be, they have arrived.  He is getting bigger and you now don't need a scale to notice.  Emily is noticeably longer too.  She is wearing a newborn size sleeper right now.  She is swimming in it, but the length is closer to a fit than the premie size she has been wearing.

Good night.

Milk coma

Taken by the pro

You need to know the 'back' story on this one

Not another drop would fit

Water breaks the levee

6/3/12

Yesterday was a busy day.  Emily and Evan got to see almost every single grandparent again (they missed you papa).  They also became models yesterday and they both can turn left (or they just had their newborns pictures done.)

There was only one accident while the newborn pics were being taken.  It happened on the photographers blanket and the picture turned out great.  Way to go Emily! A few pictures from that shoot may be up in a week or two, so stay tuned.

The other milestone from last night was sleep. It was not the quantity of sleep that matter, because there wasn't much to be had, but the timing.  It was the first time that Jacqueline and I slept while the twins were asleep without someone else being responsible for them.  Until last night I had only slept when I knew someone else was watching them.  I was able to get about an hour of sleep on four occasions last night while being 'on duty' with one or the other.  Jacqueline also got a little bit of sleep with the kids in the room with her.  I don't think anything changed other than exhaustion finally broke the levee of fear.  Here is hoping we turned the corner.

Our nanny standing guard

Time with the grandparents.

I love my mommy too.

It's hard work being this cute

Ryan's baby pic for comparison (and mocking)

Jacqueline's baby pic for comparison

Colors of the Rainbow

6/1/12

We had our first doctor's visit since the kids have come home.  All looks good! Heart and lungs sounded good to the doc, their stomachs felt normal, and she was happy to hear we have been busy changing diapers.  As new parents we are concerned or have questions about almost everything.  One of the first questions we had was about the ever changing colors of their poo.  She told us that every color but red should be considered normal at this point.  She explained to us about their tiny bowels and how stuff will change color the longer its in there.  She went on to say that the multi-vitamin they are on will also effect the color.  It was more than I thought I would ever know about baby poop so I thought I would share some with you.

The best news of the trip was they both have grown! Emily was 18 1/4 inches long (up from 17" 12 days ago) and weighed in at 4 lb 8.5 oz, 2.5 oz over her birth weight.  Evan came in at 18 1/2 inches long (was 17 3/4 at birth) and weighted 4 lb 12 oz, 2 oz over his birth weight.  The doctor said most babies take two weeks to get back to birth weight, so she was pleased with the progress they have made.  It was also great for dad to know they have grown since coming home...it means I am not a complete failure at feeding or mom can make up for my spilling more on them than in them when she feeds them.  When they came home they weighted 4 lb 4 oz and 4 lb 7 oz.

Here are a few pictures from the last few days.

Protecting the face.

Sound asleep

Dreaming about eating

Seems so peaceful, but don't be fooled...he let you know when it's time to eat

Her mom sleeps on her side just like that.

Why are we awake...it isn't time to eat!

Dog days of Summer

5/31/12

The first night at home has been completed and they have now been home for more than 24 hours.  Little sleep was had by most in the house including the dog.  Maggie couldn't figure out what the noise and commotion was all about.  The good news is that tonight is another night to attempt to set a routine again.

The grind is the going to be the hardest part.  Tomorrow won't be much different than today, but it will bring new challenges because we will still be short on sleep.  I pray we are long on patience and don't miss the forest because we have entered the trees.  When we went to visit them in the NICU it was easy to remember to snap a few pictures of them, enjoy the feeding process, and listen to their little grunts while they slept.  Today I had to grad the camera before I sat down to write this just to make sure we had pictures of them today and last night the grunts didn't seem too little.

I did not realize how much I liked the monitors they were on at the hospital.  I hated the wires and hard it was to change and hold them, but I liked being able to look up and see a strong heart beat and know everything was okay.  At home that security blanket is gone and I was not able to sleep through their grunts.  I am sure it will come in time and Jacqueline will be waking me up soon enough asking 'can you not hear them.'  In my early morning fog I am sure I will respond, 'hear who?'  So here is to another night closer to a routine.

Video from yesterday of Maggie and the twins.

Free at last! Free at last!

5/30/12

We know that Emily and Evan had a short NICU stay and we praise the Lord for that.  However, they are home now and ten days was long enough to wait until for them.

The trip home was uneventful.  We did need a little help from the valet guys to get the carseat bases in a little more secure.  I was told that the type of carseats we have do work well with Toyota's anchor system.  Who knew? Good thing for the health and well being on our children the trained carseat installers (real thing, not sure if it the proper title) knew.

I went to work this morning for a half day and then met Jacqueline and my mother at the hospital just after 1pm to bring them home.  We drove home, parked, used their double snap-n-go stroller to walk the block to the apartment, and 'settled' in about 2:45.  Since that minute we have been working to get a routine for the home life.  We had a schedule after fives days of coming from home to visit them in the NICU.  I am sure it won't take long to have a schedule established and I'm sure at least some sleep will be included in there.

The carseat pictures will give some prespective on their size.  I looked down at the two carseats that had nothing but room in them and thought 'why are they letting these tiny things leave the hospital?'  I then realized they were letting these tiny things leave the hospital with me.  At that moment they turned the heat on in the hospital to 120.  At least that my story because that would explain why sweat began to form on my brow.  A few hours at home and them meeting the beast has helped settle that feeling so we will move on to the pictures.

Wire free

locked and loaded

clearing out

vacant beds available

I'm ready

Let's get this show on the road

Last family shot in the NICU. Thanks to all the docs and nurses!

Last one before we leave the hospital

Made it home safe and sound

Time for our first dinner

"Can I help?"

"Can I at least see?"

"Nobody lets me do anything"

More pics and hopefully a video tomorrow. 

Ryan

One tired dad

Home Sweet Home

5/29/12

Short post tonight and no pictures...sorry.  We have been trying to get everything in order all night because (drum roll) the babies come home tomorrow!  At least that is the plan right now.  Evan needs another day of weight gain and Emily can't drop weight.  Those two things happen and we have our family all under one roof for the first time tomorrow.

Evan put on 75 grams yesterday (2 1/2 ounces) and Emily put on 20 grams (2/3 of an ounce).  Both are eating better and should be fat little babies in no time.  Let the sleepless nights begin.

I am off to bed now with hope of one last good night sleep before they arrive home....where they belong.  Look for lots of pictures tomorrow and maybe a video or two of our beast meeting her little siblings for the first time.

(or look for two posts the on Thursday as we get use to little ones at home)
Ryan

Summer time in the city

5/28/12

It has now been eight days since the twins made their escape.  On Friday evening, as Jacqueline and I drove home from the hospital we noticed how full the beaches were and the clear summer time feel.  We went into the hospital early Sunday morning and hadn't seen daylight, other than through a window, in almost a week.  It was a cool 65 degrees when we went in last Sunday morning.  The holiday weekend that marks the beginning of summer for so many snuck up on us.  I have a feeling Christmas is going to sneak up on us as well and all the holidays between now and then may be forgotten along the way.

Do not read a complaint in the previous paragraph.  This past week, as exhausting as it may have been, shouldn't be changed for the world.  I say this knowing that tomorrow I return to work.  I have seen the way Evan has been taking his bottle the last two days and we need food money so I must return to work.  I know many of you think tax accounting isn't the greatest gig to begin with, but tomorrow will be an especially boring day for work.  I will be working while my kids are trying to fatten up in order to come home.  The new challenges the family will face as we grow will be interesting.  I am sure each one will be overwhelming when we look at their approach and barely noticeable when we recall their presence.

As for Emily and Evan, they are doing well.  Emily put on almost two full ounces yesterday.  Evan was unchanged, but he is eating much better.  At one feeding today he took 70 ml (just over an ounce), which is a new high for him.  I am sure that will result in some weight gain and we are hoping it shows tomorrow.  If he can put on weight the next two days and pass his car seat test he will be coming home on Wednesday.  Emily could have the same release date because her weight gain has been good over the last few days, but she needs eat more consistently.  It is weird to think that the apartment could have two tiny kids in it on Wednesday night.

We better get some sleep now.

A few pictures....

My favorite are the family shots

Good night little ones

They have to sit in their car seats for 90 minutes with no episodes to be able to come home