Three week update

Just got back from the Dr. It was really surprising, considering my older girls are (and always have been) both off-the-chart small for weight. Here are the stats:

Sassy was 5lb 2oz at birth, dropped to 4lb 13oz at discharge, and is up to 6lb 9oz. That's an average gain of 1.5oz/day! She's 25%ile for weight--actual age, not adjusted for preemie!

Monkey was 5lb 12oz at birth, dropped to 5lb 8oz at discharge, and is up to 7lb 4oz. Also an average gain of 1.5oz/day! He's a whopping 50%ile for weight, actual age!

Obviously, with such great gains I have room to play with the amount of supplement. I estimate I'm making about 25% of their combined needs right now but expect that to increase. It's been interesting and challenging tandem nursing at every feeding, but we get the job done.

Playdate, anyone?

Friday I went solo with all four kids. It went well, and I think I'm prepared to do it again next week. However, if anyone wants to invite one or both older girls for a playdate, we'll probably take you up on it. :)

In other news, Mr. Chubbers is now more than a pound over birth weight at 6lb 13.5oz! That boy can eat and seems to be hitting the 3-week growth spurt a few days early. His sister is a more delicate 6lb .5oz.

Two Weeks Old!

I can't believe they're two weeks already! Sassy is now 5lb 8oz, so 6oz above birth weight, and Monkey is now 6lb 4oz, so 8oz above birth weight.

I had some time to get some pics today after a better night of sleep last night. The babies have night and day mixed up, but a bath before bed yesterday seemed to "reset" things.

Why Mommy Does the Shopping

Papa Runner had to make a quick run to the store to get something for supper. He took Smartie with him. Papa saw a box of Mrs. Field's Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches, which he put in the cart on impulse. Smartie said, "Daddy, is that on the list? You'd better put it back, 'cause it's not on the list." That's my girl!

Pics and Facts

Monkey on left, Sassy on right.

Sassy was born at 9:25 am, Tuesday, July 7. She weighed 5lb 2oz and was 17.25 inches long.

Monkey  was born at 9:49 am, Tuesday, July 7. He weighed 5lb 12oz and was 17.5 inches long.

After a rough few days, we're finally announcing...

I'll make a bigger birth story post later, but for now...

Sassy got tired of waiting and made her appearance at 9:25 Tuesday morning, after just 5 hours of labor and arriving 2 minutes before the doctor. After a little persuasion, her brother Monkey followed at 9:49. Mom is thrilled that we avoided a c-section--both came naturally, and Sassy made it without any pain meds!

I was able to nurse both of them in the first hour. Sassy did really well, Monkey not so much. Monkey ended up having some breathing problems and had to be in the nursery for a while. He's fine now, and both are nursing like champs.

I didn't do as well as either of them. A few hours after they were born, my pre-eclampsia got worse. My memories of the rest of that day are pretty hazy, but I was put on magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures or stroke. I didn't see the babies again for 24 hours. I'm feeling better now, off the mag, and nursing most feedings. We hope to be home tomorrow, so I'll be able to post more then.

A Few More Hours

I was scheduled for induction starting at 8:00 tonight. This morning, the OB checked me, and I'm already dilated to 2+! So I'll only need one dose of the first medicine instead of 3, and we'll be starting at 4:00 tomorrow morning. Then pitocin at 8:00, unless I go into labor before then. I would love to go into labor on my own, or at least with just the first med like I did with Sweetie. I can't wait!

My final belly pic: (almost) 36 weeks!



And the girls visiting:



Oh, and the slide show again with the last 2 pics added:

Tragedy in Roanoke

I hope it's okay to share a post my mom made on our family blog. My girls and Papa Runner were with mom and dad when this happened but didn't see it.

We had a near perfect day in Roanoke with the Cruise-In, a visit from Elvis on Main Street, and then beautiful fireworks. However, tragedy struck when the fireworks ended. An elderly lady started her car and had her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake and she drove her car into a crowd of people still seated. We were seated along Club 116 ... - this happened right around the corner from us. Four people were struck directly. Steve Hodel (son of deceased Ben and Ruth Ann) was life flighted and died enroute to the hospital. His wife, Joyce (daughter of Dick [dec] and Mabel Getz) Hodel was admitted with a head gash, multiple lacerations and leg injuries (no feeling). Shirley Leman (Joyce's sister and wife of Steve Leman) had a leg injury, though no broken bones. Troy Janssen (son of Fred and Cheri) was thrown into a crowd of children but was not seriously injured. It was pandemonium and screaming as there were hoards of people that observed the whole thing. Tim and I went to the hospital to be with the family. Tim was with Joyce and prayed with her when the ER doctor told her Steve did not make it. It was all so surreal and sad. There will probably be reports to come in the PJ Star and Pantagraph and their websites. We are very close friends of Steve and Joyce and their families. Prayers are appreciated.

Thanks,
Cathy

MIL's surgery

Mom is out of surgery and everything went well. We'll know in two weeks what the treatment plan will be from here.

The doctor told her that as long as she's sitting down and someone hands them to her, she can hold the babies on her good side. She's very happy about that.