Grandma's Here!!! & 5 Weeks Old

Mila ~ the shirt says it all!



Grandma arrived from Florida today. We are so glad she'll get to hang out with us for the next couple of weeks. She brought lots of goodies, including Easter stuff and some really cute clothes! Wow, if we get this much stuff for 5 weeks, just think what 5 years will be like!

Grandma gettin' in some double lovin'! Ella left, Mila right






Grandma and Mila




All this excitement wears a girl out ~ Ella snuggled in to Mommy

It's been such a long time...

Yes, I've been a slacker, no excuse!

Maybe this will make up for it...what do you think?
(Ella on top, Mila on bottom)


Nothing new to report with Ron. Still yakking pretty much daily (no rhyme or reason), energy level the same; weight consistent, etc. Springtime does seem to help with his outlook (along with two sweet little girls to love on periodically!) He does need to have some "maintenance" work done on his PICC since it is refusing to draw blood. So, a trip to Presby for IR is in the very near future. Thankfully it still flushes and TPN infuses just fine; most likely fibrin has formed over the end of it again. UGH

Now, on to the girls!

Ella on left, Mila on right



Ella and Mila are doing well. They had their one month (yes, they really are a month old already!) check up last week. They are up to a whopping 5 lbs 14 oz (each) with Ella now being 19 inches and Mila 19 1/4 inches long.


Ella on left, Mila on right



Stacee and Ryan are required to wake them every 3 hours for feedings during the day; but were told to start stretching out the night time feed, however they are not to go more than 5 hours between feeds. Being that their adjusted age will be relevant until they are a year old, developmentally they are right on target--eat, sleep and poop 24/7!

Ryan went back to work Monday and is really missing all three of his girls, poor guy. Stacee's mom returns Thursday to help out for the next couple of weeks.

Over Spring Break, Ron and I spent two different nights with them to allow Stacee and Ryan to get some much needed rest. Of course we had the added benefit of some snuggle time with our girls, which is always a bonus. On Wednesday night, Ron stayed up and helped with the midnight feed and I did the 3AM and 6AM on my own, then Ryan got up to help with the 9AM. Saturday night, the girls did a great job on sleeping longer ~ Ron helped with the 10:30 PM feed, I did the 3:30AM and Stacee was up for the 7:30.

The rest of Spring Break we just hung out around here; I cleaned flower beds, pulled lots of weeds; and generally loved being out in the sunshine (while it was around). A very restful week on the whole.

I may be biased, but I tell you, our girls are SO DARN CUTE!!!!

Agreed? (Mila on left, Ella on right)




And yes, unfortunately they are still under quarantine.

Could go on and on, but time to set up TPN! I'll try to send out more soon

Love, Christie

The End!

Can it be....?????

Mila on left, Ella on right


Ella


Mila


Ella on left, Mila on right


Squirmy girls!


Ella on left, Mila on right


Can it be we've only known you for one month? It seems we've loved you all our lives!

Happy One Month Birthday, Ella and Mila!

Love, Grammie & Papa

Ella and Mila's 1st doctor visit

Mila and Ella had their first appointment with their pediatrician Thursday. Ryan and Stacee are very pleased with their doctor...espcially since they had to choose a ped on such short notice! NICU required the girls be seen within 48 hours of being discharged to assure there were no setbacks.

The ped is pleased with how well Ella and Mila look. Each of the girls now weigh 5 lbs 4 oz. (Bad Grammie, I didn't ask R&S if they've grown any in length). Mommy and Daddy are to continue to wake the girls every 3 hours for feeds and to keep a strict chart of input and output. Unfortunately, she also said they are to remain in isolation for another 6-8 weeks. :(

Due to their prematurity, their little immune systems will not be as strong as a full term baby. In preemies, everything is measured by "adjusted age", which for them would be -3 weeks (tomorrow would mark 37 weeks gestation). We all know preemies miss some much-needed time in the womb, and that they didn't "bake" long enough to get all the necessary antibodies for fighting germs, disease, and infection. Therefore, they require extra time away from others in order to keep germs at bay as their immune systems become more fully developed.

There are many other precautions that have to be taken with premature multiples including:

minimal exposure to stimulation (which causes them to burn calories instead of utilizing those calories to "gain and grow")

the need for development to continue in the area of coordinating their entire systems to work together (still working on learning to eat efficiently so that they are not burning more calories than taking in...it's still hard work to get our little girls to eat!)

we are in the midst of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) season ~ which runs November through April. RSV can significantly impact the health of any baby, but preemies are even more susceptible to complications; with many pediatricians requiring babies to be in "RSV lockdown".

Ryan and Stacee are anxious to be able to show off their sweet little girls; but for their health and well being, they must strictly follow doctor's orders. Only visitors allowed for now are Grandma & Grandpa Walley, Grammie & Papa, and Uncle Aaron.

In the meantime, we will try to send out pictures as often as possible! Sorry, I don't have any to add today; even our time with the girls has to be limited.

"I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him" Psalm 62:5

Happy 3 Week Birthday!

Mila snuggling with her Daddy


Little Miss Mila


Are we done yet, Mom?


Mila ~ I love Grammie this much!


Grammie feeding Mila



Ella's first bath at home


Ella ~ Just a shampoo and rinse today


Every girl needs a good stylist


Daddy dressing Ella after bath


Papa helping out


All snuggly now!


Papa & Mila


Mila ~ Papa, I wanna hold your hand




Grammie & Ella, Papa & Mila








Double the blessings! Mila on Grammie's right; Ella on left


Proud Papa with his girls (Ella on Papa's right; Mila on left)

Let the journey begin!

WOO HOO!!! Our sweet little angels passed all the criteria of "rooming in" and tipped the scales today at 5 lbs 1 oz (each)! Way to go Ella and Mila AND Mommy and Daddy!

Ryan says they made it home safe and sound and the girls are doing well getting settled into their home. Please continue to pray as they transition into life together as a new family!

Mommy getting Ella ready to go home


Mila hanging out while waiting


Ella's ready to go


Ready to roll! Mila says: Thank you, Miss Gail! I love my beautiful blanket



Ella says: I love my pretty blanket, too, Miss Gail. Now, let's get this show on the road



Sweet new family...let the journey begin!

Homeward bound???

Wow! What a whirlwind the last couple days have been. Mommy and Daddy are "rooming in" with Ella and Mila tonight in NICU. If all goes well, they may go home tomorrow; all 4 lb 13 oz (each) of them. Please pray for an "uneventful" night with our sweet, itty-bitty girls.

Ever popular pictures below; update to follow in a day or so!

Mila: Papa, before you know it we'll have you wrapped around our little fingers!

Mila: Come on, guys, hasn't anyone noticed I'm hungry???

Ella rockin' a sweet hat!

Mila says: Ho hum, this is so easy I could do it with my eyes closed!

Ella says: bye bye...I'm bustin' out of this joint as quick as I can!