Double Time with Daddy

Today was my first day taking care of the girls all by myself for the whole day. Abi went back to work today so last night I did the 12am feeding by myself and let her sleep so that she could get some good rest. Besides having no time to do anything else, everything went great! The day just flew by and I just love hanging out with my little girls. It is sad how fast those two tiny babies wrapped me around their little fingers. Uncle Brian and Aunt Sue stopped by at lunch time to feed the girls for me and spent some quality cuddle time with Adalyn and Emma, everyone involved seemed to really enjoy their time together.

The girls are still struggling with their reflux and continue to spit up every feeding. Because of this, Abi and Dr. G decided to try thickening their formula. We started at the 9pm feeding last night and so far it really seems to be helping with their spiting. They still reflux but at least they have kept their food down. When Abi got home from the hospital tonight we loaded up Adalyn and Emma into the minivan and snuck them in after hours at the office and got the girls weights and lengths. Adalyn weighed 5lbs 13oz and is 18-1/4" long. Emma weighs 5lbs 2.5oz and is 18" long. Way to go girls! Even with the spit ups they put on an ounce a day since their last doctors visit on January 21. Besides their reflux the girls continue to do amazingly well. Both girls sleep really well in between their feedings and have some good quiet alert times during the day.(Even when they are sleeping they still make all kinds of noises original to them, I fear the day when they start to talk.) We have been giving them "tummy time" before their day time feedings and they actually seem to enjoy it. They both are really good at picking up their heads and moving them from one side to the other. On Wednesday Emma rolled over from her tummy to her back and Adalyn did it today! We know that it is a little soon for this and it was probably a one time deal but we are still so proud.(Abi was really excited both times.)

Please continue to pray that GOD heals their reflux and protects them from illness/infection. Praise His name and give thanks for almost 2 great weeks at home.

GOD Is In Control.

Minivan

It has been over a week now that both girls have been home and we continue to adjust daily. The twinners definitely keep us hopping and on our toes...and we love it! It is amazing how having children really changes who you are. I never understood how people could be so protective of their children...now I do. I never understood why so many moms drove minivans...now I do. Yeah that is right. Dave won. As many of you know Dave has wanted a minivan for quite a while...even before we had kids. He thought they were great because of all the space they have. Well I was not on the same page as him. I could not get over how unattractive of a vehicle they are (no offense to those of you have have and love your minivan). Well, I changed my mind the day we brought Adalyn home. Allow me to pain you a little picture.

...Dave and I head up to the hospital to pick up Emma. Adalyn is along for moral support. We get both of the girls packed up and into their double stroller (which is much like a stretch limo in terms of stroller size). We head out to the car and get both girls car seats locked into their bases in the back seat of my lovely volkswagen golf. The stroller gets very strategically placed into the "trunk". The girl's monitor occupy the only space left in the back seat. The diaper bag get crammed behind the passenger seat. I get into the car and I am sitting a little closer to the dash then usual, but since I am not really what most people would call tall, I seem to fit just fine. Dave on the other hand looks like a large person driving a smart car...in other words...he just does not fit. His seat has to be so far forward that he has to drive the entire way home with his knees touching the dashboard. Poor Dave had to listen to me giggle at him almost the whole way home. However, it was at this point where I realized that we needed something with more space and really a minivan was the most practical choice.



So in this instance my girls changed who I was in terms of my car. You see I have always become friends with my cars. My little white volkswagen golf was very "me" and I lovingly called it princess. Well we traded princess in at the end of last week for a white chevy venture. And now rather than having a car named princess I have a car that I can very comfortably use to transport my princesses. You see I really no longer care what kind of vehicle I drive as long as it is the best thing for my family. I am still getting to know my minivan so I have not come up with a name for it yet, but I will :)

Things continue to go well at home. Dave & I are still adjusting to getting no more than 2 consecutive hours of sleep at night. We are also adjusting to almost always smelling like spit up. And we are adjusting to the joy of parenting such wonderful miracles. We continue to feel blessed on a daily basis and it is our prayer that it never changes.

The girls had another eye exam yesterday. Emma has stage 2 ROP of both eyes and Adalyn's eyes are still immature, but show no signs of disease. So both girls will continue to go in for eye exams until their eyes are mature which usually occurs between 40-44 weeks gestation.



Both girls continue to struggle with their reflux, Emma still more than Adalyn. Please boldly ask God to heal there reflux. I am okay with them spitting up as long as they gain weight, are comfortable, and do not have alarms. Well they are gaining weight, but there are times where their reflux seems to bother them despite being on Zantac. And they are still having some alarms when they spit up. Please pray that they continue to grow and develop well and that God protect them from illness and infection.

On another note. Dave & I were contacted last week by a reporter from the Holland Sentinel wanting to do a piece about our girls. The story is in today's paper in the Life Style section. It can also be found on there website by following this link: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/feature/x1920340700/Tiny-blessings.

11 weeks old

I am eternally greatful for the two miracles God has given us. Every time I look at my girls I am reminded of the abosultely amazing gift that they are. 10 weeks in NICU, it really did not seem that long. However when I look back at where the girls started, we have come so far. I am reminded of that every time I look at my girls, and several times a day that moves me to tears. I never thought that at 36 weeks gestation I would have both of the girls home. What another amazing gift. God is so faithful! I love having them home. I love being the one to feed them, to change them, and to console them when the cry. Even though it has been an adjustment, I love getting up with them at night to feed them. Every night at midnight, 3 am and 6 am the Lamars have some family time. Sometimes Dave and I just sit there and smile as we hold our girls and listen to them coo while they eat. I think that one of my favorite things is that I do not have to call their nurse in Grand Rapids to find out how they are doing and what kind of day/night they are having. Although I do miss chatting with the nurses :)

I am currently trying to figure out how to get anything done durring the day since the bulk of my time is spent feeding the twinners. Don't get me wrong, I am okay with that because that is what they need. I just have to make extremely efficient use of my "free time." Dave & I both enjoy not having to make the daily hike to Grand Rapids.

Emma went to the doctor today and she is 4 lbs 10 oz. Adalyn came along for moral support and to get her weight checked again. She was 5 lbs 4 oz today. So their reflux and spitting up does not seem to be affecting their weight gain which Dave & I are very thankful for. However, we ask that you continue to pray that God heal their reflux. We ask that you pray this because the reflux is still uncomfortable for them at times and also because it causes them to have alarms. Please also continue to pray for growth and development and that God continue to protect them from infection.

Day 75: Home

That's right, both Adalyn and Emma are home!!!
GOD Is In Control

Day 73: A day with daddy

Today Adalyn and I spent the whole day together because Abi had to work and today was her day to go up and visit Emma. Adalyn did great last night and all day today. She is one noisy baby! She doesn't cry a lot but just makes noise all the time, little grunts and squeaks.(Emma does the same thing so when she comes home it will be even worse.) Abi and I would just start laughing in the middle of the night because of some of the strange sounds she makes. Even though I really missed Emma today it was really nice to sit home all day and hang out with Adalyn. We watched some TV, folded some laundry, and even took a 2 hour nap in the chair together. She did have a few alarms today but they were all quick and self resolved meaning we didn't need to stimulate her. Abi talked to the doctor and nurse while she was at the hospital and they think it is probably from the drive yesterday and the change in scenery so hopefully she doesn't have as many/any tomorrow. Please continue to pray for her to stay healthy and that her reflux will get better.(She did spit up her usual 1ml every feeding today with no other major episodes.)

Emma kind of had a "rough night" last night. She had 1 episode were she alarmed and needed suction and the nurse used the wall suction instead of the handheld ball suction that we have at home so we are hoping that will not set her back at all. She also spit up a lot because her nurse didn't realize she needed to be held upright for about 20 minutes after her feedings to help with her reflux. She had a much better day today with her usual spit ups but that was about it. Emma and mommy really enjoyed their time together but Emma wants to get home soon to be with her sister. Tonight she weighed 4lbs 5oz(1970). She had lost 50 grams yesterday so we are happy with her 20 gram increase tonight. Please pray that GOD heals her reflux, helps both girls gain weight, stay free from infection, and that Emma will be provided the strength to come home.

Day 72: Adalyn is Home!!!

Thats right, Adalyn is home tonight! I cannot believe that this day is here. If you would have asked me 72 days ago if I would have thought that she would be home before her due date I would have said no, but here she is at 10 weeks and 1 day old.(35 weeks and 3 days gestation.) I have posted a video above so if you can't see it let me know. It has been a long day so I will post more tomorrow on the girls. Emma has had a pretty good day but she lost weight tonight so please pray that she can gain more weight tomorrow. Please also pray that GOD takes away both of the girls reflux and protects them from infection. Praise GOD for how awesome both of the girls are doing!

Day 71: Happy 10 Weeks!

Wow, 10 weeks. Has it been that long? Has it gone by that fast? This week has been a roller coaster. Adalyn is doing great and we hope to have her home soon. She did gain weight tonight and is up to 4lbs 13oz. There is not much else to say because she has been doing great and she has had no trouble eating since Tuesday. She continues to spit up about 2 ml a feeding and her reflux still bothers her. Please pray that GOD preforms another miracle and takes it away from her. Also continue to pray that she stays free from infection, gains weight, and digests well.

Emma has had another great week! She continues to surpass our expectations and for those who are counting is on feeding number 13 out of 16. The doctors say she will not come home this week but maybe next week. I cannot believe the giant steps she has taken over the last couple of weeks! She is catching up to big sis. Her reflux still seems to be worse than Adalyn's, please pray that GOD takes away BOTH of their reflux. This is what is keeping them there. She has had very few alarms over the last couple of days and the Zantac really seems to be keeping her comfortable. She also gained weight and is up to 4lbs 6oz. Please pray that she can continue to stay free from infection, gain weight, digest well, and that GOD grants her the strength she needs to come home. Please also pray that the doctors be given the wisdom to know when both of the girls are ready to come home.

On another note, even if you don't know them, please pray for our friends from the NICU. Max (Who was sent home 2 weeks ago.) and Wes: Pray that they continue to do good at home and can stay there. Give their parents and nurses the wisdom they need to keep them on the path that GOD has set before them. Also pray for Melanie who went home today so that she can stay healthy and get to know her big sisters!

GOD Is In Control.