Big Step

5 weeks today and big day! Momma needed this! It's time to start the process of moving to an open crib!! Before now the temp was controlled by the bed and the didn't want clothes in order to respond easier to breathing issues. Today it was time for clothes, a onesie, outfit, and the swaddle blanket. Momma was so excited to dress and hold the bundles. Again every step big or small geeks good. Each feeding they check temp of girls and if its around 98 the bed gets turned down more. The started at 3pm today and got turned down again at 6!! Go girls!! I can't wait to see the bundles in baby beds!! I may have teared up when doc said clothes. This is the hardest thing I have ever done and I'm so ready for my babies to all be home. Our day will come and I know I don't want and they won't rush anything but it will be a feeling I can't describe.

We celebrated with some holiday cheer, tree night!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like..

Christmas! My favorite time of the year. I truly love it all. The atmosphere, the music, decorations, the meaning. Truly the best part this year is watching the magic through eks eyes. She shrieks at every tree, lights, and Santa! She has the best ho!ho!ho! It's one of the things that has kept me pushing on! We took Christmas joy to the girls bed side too! Nurses love it!

Girls update:
MM is off the little bit of oxygen and had a great day! Loved having a tape free face back to kiss on today. Both girls went up in food to 40ml and 50ml. Both red blood cell counts were up, 32.4. Docs laughed at them being the exact same and reviewed twice! They didn't have big weight gain last night but did go up a few grams. Good Wednesday for the girls! Ek learned a new word today, "sit" (may sound like shit!) oh bother your a good pup and put up with a lot but she does share lots of snacks!

Happy holidays!!

Note to ek---18 months

A year and a half and I can't imagine life without your sweet, fierce self. We have had an out of normal last month and it has not stopped you from bringing joy to everyone's life. When you walk in a room, store, hospital you greet everyone with a "hi" and leave with a "bye" in your southern way! Immediate smiles occur! You know how to make people laugh, your poppy face and funny faces! You know when people need a hug or a kiss. Your pat, pats are truly the best. I love how at such a young age you get it and get others. You have helped me so much this month, you have no idea. I could not do it without you. Always remember its the small things that can send a big message.

Love Forever momma

At a year and a half:
Favorite foods: fruit, yogurt, Chinese( you love egg rolls!), Popsicles, Cheerios, cheese

New words: momma, truck, cracker, ho!ho!ho, pacie, tootie, still your favorite Otto and poppa!

Loving: You love art projects, playing with baby doll, reading books, taking a bath , chasing Otto

1 Month

Yesterday the girls were 1 month old.  Still unbelievable that they are here and now 1 month has passed.  The girls continue to amaze us with their strength and determination.  Their lives may have started off differently then we would have hoped for but they exactly what I had hoped for, 2 strong little babes!

Note to my 2 tiny girls:
At 1 month old you have shown every girl out there that truly if you don't give up anything is possible. You have fought from the start and show no signs of stopping.  I love that fight!  I pray that you never lose that determination.  Things in life will be hard (I can tell you this past month has been one of the hardest months of my life_ but keep a positive outlook, fight on,  and good things will come.   What you all have fought through the last month many people have never had to do in a lifetime.  There is nothing you can't do, I am confident of that!!

At 1 month old:

MM-You weigh 4lbs 12 oz.   You love to sleep on your belly or right side.  When you open your eyes really big, your face just lights up.  You keep the nurses on their toes, today you pulled out your feeding tube!  All the nurses talk about how cute you are!!

MF- You weigh 3 lbs 9 oz.  You love your belly and right side as well.  The nurses call you Mighty Margaret but you are a tiny little thing that is keeping up with the big babes.  You always have a smirk on your face, you love to smile when your sisters dings, she gets you back!  You are a mover and grunter. Already always on the go!!

Update from today:  The girls had their eye examines today to check on the development of the eye.  Not a seeing test.  The docs says nothing looks abnormal and later this week we will have the report back from STL Children's hospital doc.  MF had been having some breathing episodes yesterday and today, she would hold her breathe and forget to take that deep breathe.  This afternoon they put her back on a very small dose of oxygen.  Very normal and they expect to take her off in just a few days or sooner.    Remember a few steps forward and few steps back.  Hardest part of this process. The eye examine is a lot for the girls, they have to dilate the eyes and the process is a little invasive for them so they were tired the rest of the day.

 

Bath time!

A first for momma, a real bath with Margaret! She lived it a only cried at the end. Amanda our nurse says, "Oh mom your on trouble this girl is going to love spa day, she is ready for a mani and pedi!" Matilda hit Tootie snuggles and was so happy, she was up for a bath with night nurse last night. MM weighs 4lbs 9 oz and 45 ml of milk. She also had her first bottle at her 3am feeding, took 12 ml! MF is 3lbs 7.2 oz and 25 ml of milk. Both girls showing good signs of catching on to eating! New fresh beds and clean happy babes!

EK has been a hoot with Tootie in town! We have laughed so hard at her dancing, surprise this girl can dance! Her faces have been classic. She has had so much fun putting on her ek show!! Poppa already taught her what Santa says, she loves Christmas already! Her expression when she sees the tree in her room and front room makes it all worth it! No matter what we are faced with we will spread the holiday cheer...in poppy voice, " happy holidays!" Next up real tree and trees for the girls!

Henry 'Hank' Allen Manda

Today at 5:38am a perfect baby boy was welcomed into the world. 10 lbs 9 oz and 22 inches. Momma is a pro, 40 minutes no meds. She is blessed with her own baseball team, 4 little boys! Hank and the girls can't wait to meet!!!

Catch up...

Tootie in town...we have been busy so one day behind! Girls loved being held for the first time by Tootie and she got both at once!! The girls continue to progress and I remind myself slow and steady will win this race! Christmas is started at the Mandas! Boy oh boy the tree is a story got its own post...

Lulu and Poppy Day

A happy day for all today! The girls enjoyed a visit from Lulu and Poppy, Builder got his nubby nail bed removed, and EK went swimming! Back to Builder, it's has been almost 5 years next month that builder cut off the top of his thumb. What a crazy night, Builder bounced right back but he did have the nail bed grow back a small nail sharp point. Today was the first of many steps to get the nail out.

Girls update, these little tinys are loving the feedings! MM is up 4.5 and MF is 3.3. Doc today told as that their feedings are like if we ate 50lbs a day. Wow!! Both even have double chins!!

We are gearing up for turkey day and Christmas decorating!!

Thankful and Surprised!

We have do much to be thankful for this year. We are truly blessed with a good lufe, 3 beautiful babes, the most loving family, fabulous friends, wonderful and smart docs and nurses, incredible medicine and technology, and a strong will to push on. Not only today but everyday we are so thankful for this and so much more.

Surprise! Surprise! Tootie surprised us today! Shocked and so excited to spend the long weekend with my favorite! Love it!!

Snuggle time

We were all sleeping this Monday! It was a rainy start and a dreary day. Perfect day for snuggles and a warm hat! Girls update today was good. In words of doc we are in the growing period right now. Girls are doing that MM is 4 lbs 3oz and little tiny doesn't want to hit 3lbs, she was 2 lbs 15.9 oz. Doc says they are right on track! To sleep we all go!

Oh weekends!

Oh weekends, you are so loved following my work weeks but in my current life you are not my favorite. Have to be honest! The balance is so hard and just doesn't have the flow the week brings. I feel more torn, thinking did I spend enough time here, did I get this or that done. You know! Keeping the focus on that I don't have to do this forever and then so thankful I am close and can go back and forth all day long.

Today while I rocked after feeding the girls. Both are improving each day. I started talking to another mom in the nicu, mom of quads! 3 girls and 1 boy, she has a girl who is 2.5. Wow!! We started talking about the labeling process for the milk, that deserves its own post. Yes she is pumping for 4. I can't imagine having 4. She made it to 31 weeks and her liver was starting to fail. She has a 45 minute drive to hospital. Again a reminder if how lucky I am. I just wanted to do anything to help her but I think right now she has the help she needs. God bless the Ronald McDonald house.

So weekend I am not so sad to see you go and I welcome my schedule back tomorrow. Can you say creature of habit?!!!

Mimi and Pops Day

One, two, three

Friday!

Happy Friday! All 3 girls enjoyed visiting this morning! Watching EK interact is so sweet! She loves to pat, pat. MM is up to 4lbs .2 oz (every little bit counts!) and MF 2lbs 13 oz. Matilda has had a few breathing episodes during digestion, it's hard work especially when you are gaining so much weight. Both girls show interest in nursing and MF got the latch on today. Little thing likes to eat, she is awake and rooting right before its time to eat! We continue to push on!!

Over Achievers...3 weeks

Report from our nurse today! We started the girls on nuzzling today and will be working towards eating. This will be their next steps over the next few weeks. As we continue to get good news we are staying very realistic to the fact that there are many more hurdles and we will continue to push through making the best of our situation. This evening the girls were moved to the other room. The baby number in the nicu is down this week so all the babies are in one room. The move felt like when you moved school desks! Ha! Nosey me was looking all around! I liked the back isolated room but knew that was for really small babes, we are big now! The light and noise is welcomed. BIG news from tonight, Margaret had her 9:00pm feeding and was still acting hungry, nurse gave her a bottle. She took 4ml!!! The nurse all say, these girls want out of here!! Matilda is up to 3 lbs 15 oz and Margaret was up a gram (she had a monster poop before!) 2lbs 12 oz. The next few weeks are going to be busy busy with feedings but as I said, we can do this!

Photo shoot day

The girls and I had a fun day cuddling and dressing up!

4 years

4 years ago today I married my best friend and we celebrated with one grand party!!  I am not one for putting my personal relationship stuff out there but I will say, I am one lucky girl.  My husband, poppa, builder...he is one incredible guy and I am so thankful each and every day that I get to experience life with him.  Together I think we make one great team...all my love to many more years together.

SOLD!

Today we closed on the flip house, goodbye Dundee!! Exciting day! I credit Builder with all the hard work. Ready for the next one!!

Update on my girls, another great day of breathing oxygen free!! Today mm was 3lbs12.5 oz and mf 2lbs 11.5 oz.. Doc was explaining weight the gain today, he said the gain they are expected is like me gaining 100lbs in a month. Wow and if it was me that would be scary. The night nurse the past 3 nights is another favorite. Tonight Lauren shared a story from very early this am. She starts by saying the girls already have twin moments and another nurse who thinks they look so much alike. This morning Margaret woke 45 minutes before her feeding and was making noise and showing done rooting signs. All surprised Lauren because that behavior is ahead of where they are and then just seconds later Matilda woke doing the same thing! It starts young and these girls know what they want! So an early feeding they got!!

Room air..

With no help for Margaret!!! Today at 11:15 one of our favorites nurse Natalie took Margaret off her oxygen. She even for today skipped the final step and went right to breathing on her own. Even surprised the doc with how well she was doing. Go Margaret!! Little cashew is a fighter! Matilda continues to do well on her own. Both gained a half of an oz which is exactly what they would gain if still in my belly. Doc said today they are "hitting on all cylinders"!! Pappa got to experience the swaddled hold today, he loved it!! Happy Monday!!

Happy Sunday

The girls got a special visit from Mamo and Mimi today. They had a fun filled weekend. This afternoon I got to hold them swaddled! Loved seeing their faces while I held them. It's the small things that bring so much hope, today a baby left the nicu that started at 1lb 12 oz on Sept. 8th. Such a happy day . The mom said they live an hour a way and have another kid. Made me so thankful for my 10 minute ride here. I can't imagine not being able to come everyday.

I have to remember a funny ek moments from this journey. She is doing such a great job as a big sister. Ask if she wants to go see her sisters, yes! Loves to walk in the moving door and hold both mine and pappa's hand. She knows the routine wurh getting her temp taken, washing her hands, and then heading back to the girls! Favorite new thing is to run on the bridge over the road with Poppy. Loves giving the girls a pat pat. When the nurse was working with Margaret and she cried ek reached out to move the nurses hand to give a pat pat. Nurse let her and Sweet girl! Don't worry I know there will be some more loving harder touches if we let ek, all out of love of course! Ek is famous in the nicu for her "byes"!!

So thankful for our 3 sweet girls!

Go girls go!

Big weekend for the girls, they got a visit from some of our besties, such a fun visit and day. We had great chats and A got great photo shots even around nurse Patty! We love all these friends and love that they all came to see us. Then we had a lulu and poppy visit. Great day that gets better, Matilda has no oxygen assistance!!! Her pretty face is clear, you go girl. It is a journey so she may have some days back on but our little fighter was doing awesome, she came off at 3am in the am and was doing great all day. Margaret is also doing great down to 1.5 on oxygen and staying close to room air. Both have gained 4oz, mm 3 lbs 9oz and mf 2 lbs 9 oz. So proud of these little girls!!

Reunited!!

2 weeks

Big day, Margaret got her picc line out and the girls got bows!! Trisha our favorite made sure the girls got the biggest ones they had! She said she knew I would like that. Bows made for great fun this afternoon in the nicu. It's the small things that make me happy and bows did it for today! Matilda is so over her oxygen, she pulled it out all morning and afternoon. They retaped twice and she still got it off. Not quite there big girl but making good progress. Both girls were so alert today,so fun to see those eyes and sweet faces light up when you talk. There is a size difference but these girls do look alike, they have the same blood type do there is a chance they are identical. We see a loti of ek features in them was they are growing.

We are adjusting well to our new routine and for ek her life is the same. So thankful I work and already have her on that schedule. I spend mornings and afternoon at hospital and then lunch and night with ek. We will love when this is over but we continue to focus on making the best of it and having fun with girls even if its over bows!