Sooooo.......

Eight weeks. That's how long it's been since I went to the hospital to get a beta methazone shot to strengthen my babies lungs and didn't leave the hospital for two weeks--the mother of two precious little twins--2 lbs 15 oz and 3 lbs 5 oz. The past six weeks have been quite the roller coaster ride. Most of the time I feel like I'm living in an alternate universe. A universe that has included multiple trips to the hospital, unbelievable stress, fear and worry and absolute awe. Awe over these two little precious beings whom (as you know) early only in the pregnancy we thought were going to have chromosome problems and possibly not even make it. And here they are--six weeks old tomorow-- and (at last weigh in) 5 lbs 4.5 oz and 4 lbs 8.5 oz. Their lungs are unbelievably strong and they love to use them. Especially when they are hungry or need their little-bitty diapers changed. They have piercing, beautiful eyes that love to explore their huge worlds. They have long, slender fingers that they love to use to express themselves. If it weren't for the fact that Emma is still smaller than Kate, I wouldn't be able to tell them apart.

They make the same little squeaky, grunty, baby noises; they make the same faces. Kate loves to sleep during the day and "play" at night. She wants to be held: all.the.time. Emma is more content to sleep in her bed and doesn't seem to have the need to be held constantly.

Kate has had some really, really bad diaper rash that looks horribly painful and raw but is getting better.

If I were going to sit here and write every feeling and every detail of what has gone on over the past six weeks, I would have to write a book, or at the very least a series.

Obviously it's been a challenge for me to get to the computer to do a post considering this is the first one I've done in six weeks. But my mom has done a good job on the updates. And I probably won't be able to do regular posts until I get back to work. It's just to hard to do them at home; our computer is very slow and to try to sit at a computer for 1/2 hour with 4 girls demanding my attention is pretty unrealistic.

Our current hurdle: Feisty appears to have the flu and my little ones have been at Grandma Dawn's since Friday afternoon in hopes to keep the babies from getting sick and ending up back in the hospital. I've been doing regular "visits" with them and I feel like they are back in the NICU and having visitations with them. It's pretty sad. For Feisty and for the twins. I'm afraid they are going to not know me and not bond with me.

Care Bear and Feisty are precious, amazing big sisters and such wonderful little helpers. They love the babies like they are their own babies. They truly help me so much and take such good care of them. It's hard to get them to leave them alone when they are sleeping. Those little baby girls are literally smothered in kisses almost every hour of the day.

So, here I am; mother of five.....it's going to be quite an adventure. Hope you'll come along for the ride!

Kate Is Home!!!

Come over to Grandma Dawn's place to join the festivities. Hopefully Kristen will be able to find some time to post her own thoughts soon!

A Bit of an Update

This is Grandma Dawn again. I really hope Kristen can get to a computer one of these days to do a post. I know she has lots fo share!! But in the meantime, I thought I'd share the pictures I took today. Feel free to come on over to my place if you've missed the last set of pictures.



The girls are each gaining well - Kate is an especially voracious eater and is at 4 pounds. Emma is not keeping up quite as much, but she's going to get there. I was privileged to feed both of them today, because I was the only one there at the right time. What a blessing.

These two pictures were before and after Kate's lunch.

Sweet little Emma makes the same face that her big sister, Care Bear used to make when she was a tiny baby.

Thanks for stopping by! - Grandma Dawn for ......

Prayer Request

UPDATE ON THE UPDATE:

Kristen is on her way home from the hospital with a new diagnosis of muscular inflammation. This is what the doc at the Urgent Care said yesterday afternoon - thanks for your prayers. Keep praying that soon the pain will be gone, nobody what is causing it!

Once again, I have come to give you a little update.

Kristen has been doing well, and lately has had to be at the hospital 12 miles north of us, twice a day, six hours apart. Kate has been doing quite well learning to nurse, Emma is a bit behind. They have both regained the birth weight they lost, and had made a bit of a gain as of Friday. You can check out my site for the latest pictures.

About the prayer request - Kristen ended up back in the hospital late last night with chest pains. She's been diagnosed with pericarditis (inflammation of the sack around the heart). I read up on it by googling it, but it didn't help much in understanding how she acquired this latest bump in the road. She will probably be released today and be on antiinflammatories. Please pray that she will not only get over this quickly, but that she'll be able to continue nursing.

Thank you!

Dawn, her mom

Update!

Just a few words from Grandma Dawn.

Kristen was able to come home from the hospital on Friday afternoon. I stopped and rented the industrial sized pump that she has to use at home. She is very successfully storing up milk for the little darlings. She is very busy with Care Bear, Feisty, and Anakin. Her MIL has stayed much longer than we expected, for which we are extremely grateful. They spend a lot of time traveling to and from the hospital, and loving on Emma and Kate in the NICU. They spent the night (all 4 of them - Anakin was with his mother) in one of the family rooms they have at the hospital for people who have babies in the hospital.

So I've been keeping a blog journal for both of us over at Call Me Grandma Dawn. Come on over for a visit and the latest pictures taken today. (She's going to definitely have to change her profile picture!)

I hope Kristen can get to a computer soon and update you in her own inimitable style. Thanks so much for your prayers and so much caring!

They're Here!!

This is Grandma Dawn doing a little update for Kristen. She has had a rough afternoon, after a very uneventful surgery, which produced two beautiful, tiny, little girls. Please pray for all of them. The girls are great - Emma's on oxygen - she weighs 2 lbs. 15.5 ounces and is 15 inches long. She's FEISTY!! But she's tiny and needs some extra help.

Kate is 3 lbs. 5 ounces and is 15 3/4 inches long. She's feisty too! One of the nurses said to her, "You don't know you're a preemie, do you??

Kristen has had some blood pressure and temperature and bleeding issues since we left her there alone. (I think the hospital personnel were glad to see the crowd leave - see my site for pictures of the "clan.")

I'm just going to post two introductory pictures here, and you can go to my post for more. I'm TIRED! I need to get the kids to bed - school tomorrow.

Thanks for your prayer and caring!

Emma Faith (who was not supposed to survive because she was too small!)

Katherine Hope (who was supposed to have a chromosomal abnormality)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EMMA AND KATIE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUHAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA AND KATIEHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

T-minus two hours and my girls will be here. I'm nervous. See y'all on the flip side!