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