Fat Tuesday

The girls turned one month old on Fat Tuesday. We thought the printed car seata with pink flair were entirely appropriate! While they did not celebrate with any hurricanes or hand grenades (for those of you who know what those are) they did have a day full of eating...like any good Catholic. I learned what Fat Tuesday is all about from my good friend Susie Bunch...why they call it "Fat" Tuesday and the pancakes and all.

The girls are developing individualities every day that goes by. Gabrielle surely gets more attention mainly because she requires more attention. She wants to be rocked to sleep and loves to nurse in "sessions." She thinks she is done and then wants more and then she is done and then wants more. Sometimes this charade can go on for about an hour. Olivia is very passive and is happy doing just about anything. She loves vibration and will watch the mobile as long as possible. Our friends Josh and Andrea brought over their 3 week old daughter (she is one week younger than the girls). The difference in sizes is amazing...

Jeff, Angela, Whitley and Maggie arrived tonight from Michigan. So we are in for a fun-filled weekend with lots of COUSINS! We have been prepping Whitley for about 9 months to say cousins and then finally Gabrielle and Olivia. We are so happy they are here and we have already planned something for every moment.

Three Weeks Old

I do not plan on blogging during every week of the girls lives, but I thought all would enjoy an update and of course some new pics. The picture above is taken close to feeding time as you can tell they are searching for a nose or something to latch on to!

The girls are doing great! They are growing more and more each day. Gabby is holding her head up really well and Olivia has mastered breastfeeding. It could all change tomorrow...I notice things every day and then suddenly the tables will turn. They weight about 5.5 lbs now and are growing like crazy. They are both very long and about to be out of premie outfits that still swallow them, but are too short! They got another bath yesterday from my good friend Jill, so the pics show a much calmer bath time...

Olivia
Gabby

Two Weeks Old

Time is just flying by and this is just the beginning! We had our two week appointment today and the girls are doing great. Olivia is a haas weighing in at 5lb 4 oz and Gabby is not far behind at 5lb 2.5oz. They have broken into the five's and are not looking back! I had my two week post-op appointment and I think I got the go-ahead on going back to work in about two weeks! That is amazing, but I am feeling amazing and I will only start back on my half-days. Surely I can handle two days for just three hours!


Anyway, back to kid-talk! The girls are feeding a little better and we are feeding on demand now. Which means we just wait for one of them to wake up. I will not be feeding around the clock, but once we get a better estimate of what they can eat without offering them a bottle following the breastfeeding we can set a better schedule. I have to have a schedule! That is the ultimate goal!!

Bathing Suits Optional

Gabby

We have been home since Wednesday afternoon and all has been fantastic! The girls got their first bathing session tonight. I am sorry, as there will be no pics attached from that! I was so freaked out by the loud shriek from Gabby just being naked and out of her room that I was high on the concentration of making her comfortable! By the time I got to Olivia, my blood pressure was sky high and just focused on getting her in and out in one piece.

Olivia


You know it is so amazing to have these little people at home and try to fit to their lives. We set a schedule and try like hell to follow it. I realized yesterday that I have been so rigid on a schedule and making sure everything is just so. I found myself not having enjoyed my children like I should as a result. I rocked Olivia for about an hour and let Gabby have some tummy time on my chest...she loves her tummy time. I realized that we really must take some time to enjoy them each and every day, set some responsibility aside and just enjoy them. Makes me a teary just to think about it...

Our Quartet is Complete

Well we are all home and on day number two. We had a great night "rooming in" at the hospital. They kicked us out and said take your kids with you! We were happy to go and try this thing at home.

All has been good! Feeding still every three hours is tiring. They breastfeed and then I still have to pump until they master the "suckling" reflex. Visits from family and clsoe friends have been good. The doc said no visitors for six weeks. Well, we all know I can't abide by that rule! I am the hand washing and hand sanitizer nazi. Which is weird with my chiro background. The whole germ thing has never been a concern of mine...having a child changes lots of things I suppose.

I will put some new pics up as soon as I get some put on the computer. For now is the awesome bow hanger for the girls room. This was made by a great friend Christen Shanor. She sells them on www.ticklemepinkbowtique.com This pic is a little old and it is now filled completely up!

Home Alone

Well today went pretty well. We got to sleep in a little bit and then headed to the hospital to see our little angels! We got to squeeze and hold and feed and then it was time for good-bye. Jodie (Frugee?) Anderson called tonight and said they had a great day and ate all their dinner. Which is wonderful! Not a long blog tonight, but really just wanted to put up some new pics. As you can see Olivia is really the darker of the two. Gabby's feeding schedule has changed so that she is tube-fed only every third feeding! Wonderful! We will se what tomorrow holds...