Growing and Growing...

Preston and Parker went to their doctor in Bartlesville for the first time on Tuesday, and they are still growing! Preston weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and Parker weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. They are finally approaching the size that Katie was when she was born...6 pounds, 11 ounces (they have a bit to go before reaching Lauren's birth weight--8 pounds, 2 ounces!). Tomorrow (April 25th) is the date when I would've reached 38 weeks, the point at which my doctor had told me that he wouldn't let me go past. So, the boys would have definitely been here by tomorrow. Instead, we are now celebrating the fact that they are five weeks old and healthy!

One Month Old

I am two days late in posting this, but Happy 1 Month Birthday, boys!! We have developed a semi-routine since the boys came home last Tuesday, and Katie and Lauren have been great little helpers! They both enjoy feeding the babies their bottles (with some help) and they have also helped with changing diapers. The girls are also good pacifier-finders. Feeding two babies at once is a little tricky (especially nursing, but they are doing well!), and the hardest part is during the day when David is at work and I'm trying to feed the boys with only two hands when I really need ten! But we are all catching on...

Welcome Home!!

Preston and Parker came home from the hospital last night, one day shy of being four weeks old. Before we left the nurses put them into a crib together for the first time since they were born. I think that will be the first of many pictures of them together! Katie and Lauren were waiting for us in the NICU Family Waiting Room, so when we left the NICU they met their brothers for the first time. Comments included "They're so sweet! How beautiful! He's so soft!" Then we all walked together to the van, the nurses officially handed them off to us, and we went to Olive Garden for dinner. I guess that would be considered their first trip out in public! We are so thankful that the boys are healthy and able to be home with the rest of our family. Yea! Finally!

Big Boys

Preston and Parker are such big boys now! They have graduated from the isolettes into the open-air cribs, which makes them look so much more mature. I have also nursed each of them a couple of times, so they are making progress in that area as well. Preston currently weighs 6 pounds, 2 ounces (wow!) and Parker weighs 5 pounds, 14 ounces. Way to go, boys! In fact, they should be coming home sometime this week if all continues to go well.

Three Weeks Old

Preston and Parker turned three weeks old yesterday...wow!! I say this every time, but they really are making great progress! In fact, we are hoping they will get to come home sometime next week. The feeding tubes have been removed and they are now taking all meals from the bottle. The boys sure do love the milk! Once the bottle is put into their mouths, they just gulp it down. They are eating so well that Parker now weighs 5 pounds, 7 ounces and Preston weighs 5 pounds, 11 ounces! In addition, they are both probably going to transition to the open-air cribs tonight. Hopefully they will continue to maintain their body temperature and can kiss the isolettes goodbye!

Basically the only thing we are waiting on is for their heart rates to remain stable. They have been on caffeine (added to their milk) because once in awhile their heart rates would drop below 80 beats per minute. This is called a "Brady" episode (bradycardia), and the caffeine is supposed to keep those heart rates up. They will need to go for three days with no Brady episodes once the caffeine is stopped. Pray with us that they will be successful when the caffeine is stopped (probably within the next few days). I must say that I am not avoiding the Dr. Pepper and chocolate and they should be receiving a shot of caffeine from my milk (is that considered cheating??). :)

Mystery Solved

Last Thursday I had a follow-up visit for the nurse to check my incision. I asked her a few questions about the boys' delivery since I had been on some hefty painkillers at the time. After she reviewed the doctor's notes, I found out just what the labor and delivery nurses had felt when they checked me (remember--they couldn't decide what they were feeling...an arm? an umbilical cord? a hand? anything but a head...). Apparently they were feeling Preston's scrotum, cord, and foot. He must have been sitting there like a little frog ready to hop on out. Parker's membranes had not yet ruptured, so Mr. Preston was the one who was anxious to make his appearance!

Both boys are making great progress! Yesterday Parker was up to 5 pounds, 1 ounce and Preston was up to 5 pounds, 5 ounces. Wow! I never imagined that I would think 5 pounds sounded like a big baby. It's amazing how your perspective changes in situations like this. The boys are filling out and are such a joy to hold and kiss. David and I are just warming them up for the affection they will get from their big sisters!

Two Weeks Old

Yesterday Preston and Parker turned two weeks old. It's hard to believe that it has been two weeks since they were born and we are just now nearing the period when we expected them to arrive. The boys continue to do well. As of today, Preston weighs 5 pounds and Parker weighs 4 pounds, 14 ounces. They are also making progress in the area of feeding. Today I was able to give Preston a bottle and he didn't choke! Yea! Parker decided he would rather sleep during lunch time so he received his milk through the tube. Hopefully they will both continue to develop their sucking/swallowing skills and we can transition to nursing.

Katie and Lauren were recognized with "Big Sister" awards at church. Can't you see how proud they are?? They are both ready to meet their little brothers and shower them with hugs and kisses!