The girls played together in their play yard for the first time a couple of days ago. They had lots of fun looking at all the bright colors and toys. They played for about 15-20 minutes and then fell asleep together in the play yard. They would scoot themselves close together and I kept moving them apart because their faces were touching, but they would scoot themselves right back together and they even held hands some of the time. It is so cute to seem them be so sweet! After sleeping for about 20 minutes they both started crying and when I went to check on them they both were pushing each other in the face...and so it begins! One minute they love each other and the next minute it's the proverbial "Mom, she's touching me!"



Last night we took the girls for their first walk around the neighborhood in their stroller. They loved it and Allison smiled almost the whole time. I'm definitely gonna get in shape if I continue to push that double stroller around...it's pretty heavy especially going up some of the hills in our neighborhood.





Here's a picture of Addison where you can really see the red in her hair...wonder if that will stick around. Both girls have a reddish tint to their hair and their eyes are a dark bluish gray. I hope their eyes stay blue.

Asleep together in the play yard...sweet angels!

Addison holding Allison's hand

Addison snoozing on the Boppy pillow. Looks just like her daddy!

Dad and his girls. We honestly did not plan for them to all be dressed in yellow but it turned out kinda cute!

Andie caught this shot of the girls reaching for each other in the pack n play- isn't that the sweetest thing!

The girls are doing fantastic... during the day. Now, nighttime is a different story all together. They are both having some colicky episodes but they never seem to get their crying episodes in sync, so just as one gets calm the other gets upset. This makes for some very long and frustrating nights since we are all very sleep deprived. Andie goes back to work this week and my mom goes back to work on Saturday so that will be my first day home alone with the girls- let's all hope and pray that I survive by myself!

We had the girls first pictures made yesterday and I cannot wait to show them off- they are the cutest ever!!! The photographer came to our house and did everything here which was much more convenient than going to a studio. It was a very long day, she was here from 10 to 3. The girls were nude in the pictures (think Anne Geddes type photos) and so we all got peed on several times throughout the day and I got pooped on not once, but twice! There are no other children in the world for which I would sacrifice a brand new white shirt and some of my favorite jeans, but it was all sooo worth it! As soon as the photographer gets everything developed she will send me a link for me to share so everyone can view them online. I'll post that as soon as I get it.

I better get back to my girls...they'll be waking up any minute wanting lunch!

Allison's Home!

Allison is finally home and enjoying spending time with her sister! We are all so happy to be under the same roof. The girls had their first check up at the pediatrician yesterday and everything was great. Addison weighed 5 pounds 13 ounces, and Allison weighed 5 pounds 6 ounces. They are both the sweetest things but they are having a tendency to want to be awake at night instead of during the day...we're working on getting their days and nights straightened out. Allison is pretty curious and keeps her eyes open quite a bit. She also smiles all the time. Addison likes to smile quite a bit too. They are happy girls!

Feeding, feeding, feeding, oh yeah and sleeping too!

Well, my life these days revolves around feeding...between trying to get myself and the girls fed I don't have time for much else! Addison is doing well with breast feeding but I'm still having to pump quite often to take milk to Allison in the NICU. Since I'm splitting my milk supply between them, they both also have to be supplemented with formula, so my schedule goes something like this. Wake up, breastfeed Addison, top her off with a bottle, pump and store for Allison, then grab a bite to eat myself...then do it all over again about an hour and half later!! Hopefully when Allison gets home things will be a little less hectic and maybe I can get her started breastfeeding and back off on the amount I have to pump. Traveling to see Allison everyday takes up at least 4 hours of our day which kinda makes our feeding schedule a little difficult to solidify so I'm really anxious to get her home and get both girls on a similar schedule.

We still aren't quite sure when they are going to let Allison come home. She is doing really well keeping her temperature up and gaining weight. She is now 5 lbs, 2 ounces!! Now that she is filling out a bit she is starting to look more similar to Addison. The doctors still think they are identical but they have sent my placenta off to the pathology lab to run tests to determine if they are definitely identical twins. It is possible that I actually had two placentas that fused together and if that is the case then the girls would actually be fraternal. We are anxious to get those results too! So, I know you all are wondering why she is still in the NICU if she is doing so well, right??

Here's the story- about a week ago Allison developed a very pale red mark on her eye and forehead. At first the doctors didn't think it was anything to be worried about but it continued to get darker red and more prominent. It is now very dark red and the doctor's believe it is a port wine stain birthmark on her face, but they are running all sorts of tests to rule out other things like cellulitus or some other infection. So far all her blood work has come back negative for infection but we won't have a final result until the cultures have been allowed to grow for a few more days. The neonatalogist also wanted to rule out a condition called Sturge-Weber Syndrome. The syndrome involves glaucoma in the eye in which the birth mark is on, seizures, and some cognitive deficits caused by calcium deposits in the brain. Allison had a cat scan and an MRI to rule out any problems with her brain structure and everything looked wonderful- no calcium deposits were seen. We had a very rough, emotional few days, but were so relieved to hear that good news. The doctors were able to rule out the Sturge-Weber Syndrome- Thank you God for answered prayers!!!. Now we are just waiting for her to be seen by an opthamologist to make sure that her eye is not affected in any way. We are hoping that will be sometime today or tomorrow and then she will get to come home.

You can see in her photos how rapidly this thing has progressed since she didn't have any mark whatsoever when she was born. I'm warning you that it does look worse in pictures than it does in person. The good news is that there is very successful laser treatments that can be done to significantly fade a port wine stain birthmark. If this turns out to be the final diagnosis then we will have the treatments done for Allison as soon as possible to keep it from darkening more, and hopefully fade it completely.

We are, of course, very busy trying to settle into our new roles as parents with one at home and one still in the hospital. My mom has been a tremendous help. She babysits Addison while we go visit Addison, maintains our household chores, and helps in the middle of the night when one of us is too tired! She is a dynamo!!!! I will try to keep updating often to keep everyone up to date on our status.

Addison taking a snooze- one of her favorite hobbies!

Addison with her cousin Abbie

Allison hanging out with Mom and Dad in the NICU

Homecoming!

Sweet girls- they love to be close...Allison on left and Addison on the right

Addison giving a little smile!

Allison in Daddy's hands

Daddy loving on Allison!

Last night we spent the night at the hospital "rooming in" with Addison, and today she will be discharged to come home with us. Of course, we didn't get much sleep at all, but it was so fun to be with her and feel like a real parent who doesn't have to turn their child back into the nursery! Allison is fighting hard to keep her body temp. up and we were told yesterday that she would get to come home today too, but last night her temperature fell and the neonatalogist doesn't feel comfortable letting her go quite yet. She will probably be discharged tomorrow or the next day and we can't wait to have both girls home with us. They are just so sweet and precious!!

Making progress!

The girls are both making good progress and the doctor thinks they will probably be ready to come home either Tuesday or Wednesday. They have each gained an ounce a day which is the goal the doctor has set for them...they are such little champs!!! Allison is now over her original birth weight and Addison is not far behind hers.

We spent a lot of time with them today and we are so smitten! They are both just perfect and we think they are the most beautiful babies around. We are going to take some more pictures tomorrow so everyone can see how cute they are.

Proud parents!!!

Here's the latest pictures and updates on everyone...

The girls were born 08/04/09. Allison Grace (4lbs, 4 oz- 17 1/2 inches long) came first at 7:09 pm and Addison Lee (5lbs, 2 oz- 18 inches long) came a minute later at 7:10 pm. They both were breathing well on their own and Addison got to go to the regulary nursery. Allison had to go to NICU because she weighed under 5 pounds but she was a good, strong eater right away! She was breathing great on her own but started having difficulty regulating her body temperature and staying warm since she's such a little bitty! So she had to stay there under the warmers and couldn't come see me :(

I developed severe pre-eclampsia after delivery and was on IV medications and not allowed to go see Allison in the NICU, but they did bring Addison to me since she was staying in the regular nursery. My doctor said it was really good timing that we went ahead and delivered the girls when we did because otherwise the pre-eclampsia would have been full blown while they were still in me...that would not have been good. Yesterday was a really rough day for me: 3 hours of sleep in 36 hours, learning to breastfeed, double vision and lack of muscle control from meds, hormones, and not getting to see my own daughter!

Allison progressed and was moved to the intermediate ICU instead of NICU but still couldn't leave that area and I was not allowed to go see her, so she may end up being a daddy's girl since he was the only one she got to see! I will get to go see her for the first time this afternoon and I can't wait!!! Addison is with her in the intermediate ICU because yesterday she started having trouble regulating her body temperature too. The doctors say this is a really common problem with such little babies and it's nothing to be worried about, but we just have to monitor them closely and keep them warm so that their bodies can work on regulating all their other systems.

I am finally off of the medication that was giving me double vision and lack of muscle coordination and feeling much better. My spirits are in a whole different place today than they were yesterday and I can't wait to go visit my babies this afternoon!!!