Friday, November 9, 2012
1 month old!
I can't believe we have one month old girls! We are so grateful their last week has been spent with us! I attempted pictures before eating to avoid spit-up...not a good idea...then of course after eating turned into spit-up on outfits! Wouldn't change a thing...:)
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
4 weeks old!
4 weeks old
 |
| Tummy Time! |
The girls are 4 weeks old today, and a month old on Friday. I cannot believe a month of their lives has already passed. We have LOVED having them home for these last few days!
First doctor's appointment:
 |
| On our way to the appointment |
 |
| Maddie all snuggled waiting on the doctor |
They have both gained weight since being home. The doctor is continuing to test their anemia for another two weeks. Due to their blood flow being off in utero, they technically develop anemia. Their numbers looked great yesterday, but they will be getting a vitamin with iron once a day. I'm going to take them for a weight check next week. This gives me a little more reassurance that they are growing, especially now that I'm trying to breastfeed more. The doctored also cleared us to let them sleep longer at night, instead of waking them every 3 hours! Matt and I were very happy! :)
Madeline:
-5 lbs 15oz
-18" long
-Starting to fill out most newborn outfits, especially in the length
-Great napper, but sometimes just needs to be held
-Sleeping 9:00-1:00, the 1:00-5:00ish. I really think she would sleep much longer if we didn't wake her up with her sister!
-Started to do great at breastfeeding. Eats about 2 1/2 oz when bottle fed.
-Loves to stretch and be free!
-Grunts, coos, squeaks a lot
-Not the biggest fan of tummy time. Is starting to lift her head more and try to turn it.
Katherine:
-17 1/4 inches long
-Finally starting to outgrow premie clothes. Newborn clothes still are HUGE! This mom is ready for them to grow more to wear cute outfits! ;)
-Great napper, but likes to let you know she is here every once and awhile with a little cry. It's sounds almost like she is saying hey! haha
-Sleeping 9:00-about 1:00, then 1:00-5:00ish. I'm still trying to figure out if she is hungry or just crying.
-Improving on breastfeeding. She doesn't have a good rhythm and gets choked often
-Loves to be swaddled!!
-Grunts, coos, squeaks
-Does well with tummy time. Turns her head and pushes with her legs.
I'm in need of advice! I attempted to tandem feed them yesterday. Management nightmare. How do I first get them both on the pillow? Burp them? Even just getting comfortable was difficult! I would love any advice! :)
Monday, November 5, 2012
Who's, Who?
Kate or Maddie?
Matt took pictures during the girls' bath time the other night. It is getting more difficult to tell the girls apart in pictures! The only way I know who's who is the order the pictures were taken! Isn't that horrible?!? haha In person they are very different, but pictures make it difficult.
We have had a great first days home. I will write more about it all soon!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Last night at hospital, first night home!
Wednesday night we "roomed-in" with the girls. This means we are the sole caretakers for them during the night. The only thing the nurses did was bring us the heated bottles. It went pretty well! The girls are on a 3 hour schedule, so we stuck with their routine. Once you feed for 30+minutes, then pump, little time is left to sleep! ;) They did well until between 3:00-5:00 they decided to trade off turns crying!
We were discharged early Thursday morning. We were pleased to find out we were not going to have to add formula to the twins' bottles for added calories. They have been growing so well, 20 calories from breastmilk is enough! We have an appointment with the pediatrician Monday afternoon, so we will see how they have grown.
Matt was pleased we passed the carseat installation check! We were sad to say goodbye to the wonderful nurses and staff of the NICU. The have loved our girls so much, and we are forever grateful. Finally headed home! 23 days after they were born!
Kate's first moments home were spent cleaning her up after a diaper explosion all over her, the carseat, and my shirt! :)
It's so wonderful to FINALLY be able to have them side-by-side. No cords, no beeping, no need to weigh their diapers!
.jpg)
Last night went pretty well too! Little sleep, but glad to have them home! We were just talking about how blessed we are. I can't believe I'm a mom of twins, and they are finally home! :)
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
3 weeks and Coming Home!
The girls are coming home!! We had a rough weekend with the girls eating great on their own, but then other times would not take anything. Matt and I both felt a little defeated, and realized they would be in the hospital longer than we originally anticipated. Sunday night we were at their 9 o'clock feeding and started talking with one of the great nurses. She told us that one of the doctors was ready to get the girls home. She told us they needed their feeding tubes out and then they would really eat! The thought of taking a source of food away from such tiny babies made me nervous at first. At that point they were only taking 3-4 out of 8 feedings by bottle. She reassured us that instinct would kick in, and they would eat. Sure enough we walked in Monday morning and were surprised to find NO FEEDING TUBES! As of Monday, Madeline was doing much better eating, but we were more hesitant about Katherine. Katherine still is slow eating, reluctant to open her mouth, and often spits up. We were able to see their pediatrician, and he reassured us again that removing the feeding tubes was the best thing. He then told us the greatest news! Room-in with the girls at the hospital Wednesday and bring them home Thursday!
I still didn't want to get my hopes up too much because neither of them had taken all their feedings on their own. Despite a few difficult/frustrating feedings overall they have done great! It has finally started to "click" with Katherine, but she is still a slow eater. At times I get anxious about bringing them home because putting on weight is SO important. If eating takes longer than 30 minutes they burn extra calories, if they are too cold they burn calories...so many things to factor in with premature babies. With all the worries and anxieties about having them out of the hospital, we could not be more thrilled to FINALLY be having our girls home!
Madeline Grace: 5lb 7oz
Katherine Jane: 4lbs 11oz
We are so grateful the girls time in the NICU is coming to an end. I still don't feel like a "mom" at times. Matt and I are ready for sleepless nights, crying babies, and a lot of cuddling. I cannot wait to see them together! They have not touched each other since being inside me! I might just cry the first time they are side by side! Cannot believe God chose us to have these two precious, beautiful, healthy babies!
I still didn't want to get my hopes up too much because neither of them had taken all their feedings on their own. Despite a few difficult/frustrating feedings overall they have done great! It has finally started to "click" with Katherine, but she is still a slow eater. At times I get anxious about bringing them home because putting on weight is SO important. If eating takes longer than 30 minutes they burn extra calories, if they are too cold they burn calories...so many things to factor in with premature babies. With all the worries and anxieties about having them out of the hospital, we could not be more thrilled to FINALLY be having our girls home!
Madeline Grace: 5lb 7oz
 |
| Tube free! |
 |
| I made her pose! Ready for those cords to be gone! |
Katherine Jane: 4lbs 11oz
 |
| Looking at Dad |
 |
| Finally stopped screaming! ;) |
We are so grateful the girls time in the NICU is coming to an end. I still don't feel like a "mom" at times. Matt and I are ready for sleepless nights, crying babies, and a lot of cuddling. I cannot wait to see them together! They have not touched each other since being inside me! I might just cry the first time they are side by side! Cannot believe God chose us to have these two precious, beautiful, healthy babies!
Saturday, October 27, 2012
I am not in control
Hi, I'm Amy Adams and I'm a controlaholic...
I cannot deny I have a typical type A personality. I like order, plans, organization, and being in control of life. My closet is organized by color, then organized by type of shirt in the color. Since I was young I have organized our families' Christmas presents under the tree by name, then on Christmas morning I place everyone's gifts in "their spot." I do not do well with surprises. My classroom as a teacher ran like clock-work. Things had their places, students knew expectations, it was "controlled." I plan our weekly meals. I like to process what is to come before it happens...okay now I really sound like a crazy person. Haha I'm not an outwardly verbal controlling person, but inwardly I like to have every part of my life perfectly in place.
Matt joked the other night and asked if I would please just accept God is in control. It seems as if God keeps trying to teach me this, yet I must not be getting it! So many things that have happened in the past year of our lives have seemed out of our control or our plans. I could not control job changes. I did not "plan" our pregnacy. I could not control my babies growth and development in the womb. I could not control the day they would enter the world. I cannot control when they decide to start eating. I did not plan for this to be the way my babies spent the first weeks of their lives. I cannot control their number of days in the NICU, but oh how I wish I could! I held each of my girls this afternoon and prayed for their future, prayed for their days in the NICU, prayed for their eating...in the calmness of the moment, despite beeping monitors and other crying babies, He reminded me again...Be still and know that I AM GOD!
He is God, I am not.
He is in control, I am not.
He can do as he pleases, not as I want.
Hi, I'm Amy Adams, and I'm a recovering controlaholic...:)
I cannot deny I have a typical type A personality. I like order, plans, organization, and being in control of life. My closet is organized by color, then organized by type of shirt in the color. Since I was young I have organized our families' Christmas presents under the tree by name, then on Christmas morning I place everyone's gifts in "their spot." I do not do well with surprises. My classroom as a teacher ran like clock-work. Things had their places, students knew expectations, it was "controlled." I plan our weekly meals. I like to process what is to come before it happens...okay now I really sound like a crazy person. Haha I'm not an outwardly verbal controlling person, but inwardly I like to have every part of my life perfectly in place.
Matt joked the other night and asked if I would please just accept God is in control. It seems as if God keeps trying to teach me this, yet I must not be getting it! So many things that have happened in the past year of our lives have seemed out of our control or our plans. I could not control job changes. I did not "plan" our pregnacy. I could not control my babies growth and development in the womb. I could not control the day they would enter the world. I cannot control when they decide to start eating. I did not plan for this to be the way my babies spent the first weeks of their lives. I cannot control their number of days in the NICU, but oh how I wish I could! I held each of my girls this afternoon and prayed for their future, prayed for their days in the NICU, prayed for their eating...in the calmness of the moment, despite beeping monitors and other crying babies, He reminded me again...Be still and know that I AM GOD!
He is God, I am not.
He is in control, I am not.
He can do as he pleases, not as I want.
Hi, I'm Amy Adams, and I'm a recovering controlaholic...:)
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
2 weeks old!
The girls are two weeks old today! Two weeks in some ways has passed by so quickly, but sometimes it seems too long that they have been away from us. They would be 38 weeks gestation if still on the "inside." The nurses keep telling us that this is the week that everything usually "clicks." This is my constant prayer...
The Girls:
Katherine Jane:
-weighs:4lbs 3oz!
-only 50 grams away from being moved to an open crib! That is almost 2 oz.
-some interest in breastfeeding, some interest in bottle (I think she had to work so hard in the womb for food/blood that now she just wants to rest! haha)
-more alert, and sometimes will not close her eyes when you stay in the room
Madeline Grace:
-weighs:4lb 12oz
-in open crib!
-some days good with breastfeeding/bottle, some days not so great.
-much more alert the past week
Mom and Dad:
Physically I'm feeling great. My appetite is back after 9 months of constantly feeling full! I jokingly told Matt that maybe being pregnant and getting bigger was one of the greatest things for me to put my body image in perspective. I look in the mirror and can't believe how skinny I am! haha I'm not to my pre-pregnancy body, but getting there. I don't weigh myself,so I have no clue how much I have lost. I'll let it be a surprise at my 6 week appointment. ;)
Emotions continue to come and go. Again, I know that emotional moments are typical of all new moms. Matt and I had a good laugh the other night at one of my ridiculous emotional moments. Our dog Lily was laying down on the couch and kicked her legs (to get more space because she is spoiled), this caused Matt's cup of ice cream to spill. He got on to her and kicked her off the couch. For some crazy reason this upset me. I asked him to not be "mean" to her. Then started some rant about if our real babies can't be home to care for, then we have to take care of our dogs. After a good 5 minutes of being insane...we laughed at how ridiculous I was being. Matt kept saying "they are DOGS, not our children!" hahaha
We have been able to be much more involved with the girls at the hospital. This has helped both of us feel more connected to them. There are moments of frustation, like when they just will not eat. These moments remind us, especially me, that we are not the ones in control here. I cannot will my children into eating, no matter how hard I try. We daily have to trust the Lord with the number of days they will be in the NICU. The evenings seem to be the hardest. I worry about them crying or fussing and no one being there to comfort them. Don't get me wrong, the girls' nurses are WONDERFUL, but I long for the day of being the one to comfort them.
The cycle feels incomplete, our home feels empty, but each day our hearts fill more and more with a deep love for our girls. Praying fervently that they will turn a corner to make more steps towards coming home!
On a VERY positive note...here is our freezer currently...only part of my production! :)
The Girls:
Katherine Jane:
-weighs:4lbs 3oz!
-only 50 grams away from being moved to an open crib! That is almost 2 oz.
-some interest in breastfeeding, some interest in bottle (I think she had to work so hard in the womb for food/blood that now she just wants to rest! haha)
-more alert, and sometimes will not close her eyes when you stay in the room
Madeline Grace:
-in open crib!
-some days good with breastfeeding/bottle, some days not so great.
-much more alert the past week
Mom and Dad:
Physically I'm feeling great. My appetite is back after 9 months of constantly feeling full! I jokingly told Matt that maybe being pregnant and getting bigger was one of the greatest things for me to put my body image in perspective. I look in the mirror and can't believe how skinny I am! haha I'm not to my pre-pregnancy body, but getting there. I don't weigh myself,so I have no clue how much I have lost. I'll let it be a surprise at my 6 week appointment. ;)
Emotions continue to come and go. Again, I know that emotional moments are typical of all new moms. Matt and I had a good laugh the other night at one of my ridiculous emotional moments. Our dog Lily was laying down on the couch and kicked her legs (to get more space because she is spoiled), this caused Matt's cup of ice cream to spill. He got on to her and kicked her off the couch. For some crazy reason this upset me. I asked him to not be "mean" to her. Then started some rant about if our real babies can't be home to care for, then we have to take care of our dogs. After a good 5 minutes of being insane...we laughed at how ridiculous I was being. Matt kept saying "they are DOGS, not our children!" hahaha
We have been able to be much more involved with the girls at the hospital. This has helped both of us feel more connected to them. There are moments of frustation, like when they just will not eat. These moments remind us, especially me, that we are not the ones in control here. I cannot will my children into eating, no matter how hard I try. We daily have to trust the Lord with the number of days they will be in the NICU. The evenings seem to be the hardest. I worry about them crying or fussing and no one being there to comfort them. Don't get me wrong, the girls' nurses are WONDERFUL, but I long for the day of being the one to comfort them.
The cycle feels incomplete, our home feels empty, but each day our hearts fill more and more with a deep love for our girls. Praying fervently that they will turn a corner to make more steps towards coming home!
On a VERY positive note...here is our freezer currently...only part of my production! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
