Another First - Thanksgiving

It has only been three short weeks and the girls have survived another "first" as they were manhandled for 12 straight hours during Thanksgiving.  Below are some of the highlights.

Brooklyn and Marley First Thanksgiving

Uncle Bill's Birthday and Marley Visits the Pediatrician

With Marley finally home from the NICU, uncle Bill decided it was time to celebrate his birthday (11/12).  He even agreed to do something casual at home so the girls could attend.  See the pictures below.

Marley and Brooklyn @ Uncle Bill's Birthday

Pediatrician Update:

Marley now weighs 3lb 15oz (that's 6oz since Friday when she left the NICU!) and she has stretched out to 17 1/4 inches (that's 3/4 of an inch since birth).

Tubby Brooklyn now tips the scales at 5lb 6oz!

Everyone is healthy and happy.  Marley will go back in a week for another weight check and then they both get another round of immunization shots the second week of December.

Reunited

After a lot of waiting at the NICU, Marley was finally discharged around 3pm.  Due to ridiculously long wait times for the photographer, we decided to forego the hospital's newborn photo shoot.  We have plenty of pictures and will be taking them to a professional photog in the near future.  For now, you can take a look at the pictures we snapped while loading Marley and Brooklyn up for ride home.

Marley Comes Home

Free!

Marley has gone on a food rampage and officially gained enough weight to leave baby prison (aka the NICU).  She will be reunited with her sister for a photoshoot Friday afternoon and then heads home to begin life outside the walls.

We are excited to have them both home together and it ought to be an interesting transition.  More updates and pictures to follow!

Brooklyn and Marley update!

Both girls are doing so great!

Brooklyn went to the doctor today and weighs in at a whopping 4lbs. 13.2oz.  That is 2oz. more than her birth weight and she is up 6oz. from last week!  She should gain a half and ounce to an ounce a day so she is right on target!  She eats well, but slowly....it seems even slower at 2am.  

Marley weighed 3lbs. 5oz. last night (they weigh her every night between 8pm and 9pm).  She is gaining weight slowly but steadily.  She eats almost double what she is required to in a day!  To come home she has to weigh 1600 grams...they do everything in grams at the hospital and then we have to try to convert it.  Math was never my strong point.  Anyway, 1600 grams is about 3lbs. 9oz.  Marley should be home by early next week at the rate she is gaining.  What a relief. Trips back and forth to the NICU everyday plus trying to take care of Brooklyn is taking its toll.

Thanks to everyone who goes to visit Marley.  Mike and I appreciate it.  It helps us feel like we are not neglecting her and that she isn't so lonely!  Just a few more days....

Brooklyn's first bath at home

Mike and I successfully bathed our infant tonight.  Brooklyn was so good and pretty much slept through it entirely!  I was sure she'd scream like she did at the hospital.  I think she actually liked it and it helped her relax because afterwards she ate and then slept for 3 hours.  I had never bathed a baby that small before but somehow we managed.  Pictures are below - just click the picture to go to the web album.

Brooklyn's First Bath

No More Feeding Tube!

Yesterday little miss Marley pulled her feeding tube out of her nose...so...they left it out!  Since, she has eaten all of her bottles by herself!  This is one of the biggest things that she had to overcome before being able to come home.  We are praying that she keeps eating well on her own so that she can do without the tube.  All she has to do now is continue to gain weight.  Last night she weighed 3lbs. 2.5oz.  Every day she should gain a half an ounce.  Once she gets closer to 4lbs. she can come home with us.

Auntie Carol says she loves the song "You Are My Sunshine"  She sings it to her when she visits and it always makes her smile.  

Brooklyn is giving us some issues with her eating...nothing major just some things we have to figure out - what is the right combo of actual breast feeding, breast milk in a bottle and the formula supplement.  She keeps gaining weight though and has seriously messy diapers!  All signs she is getting plenty to eat.