Happy Halloween 2011

After a weekend of snow and no power and dodging tree limbs and downed wires, we welcomed Halloween with open arms and eagerly empty plastic jack-o-lanterns!

Our pictures from this year are quite limited because I left my camera at grandma's house but I did manage to get a shot of Nicholas and Addison and their carved pumpkins.  The girls slept through their first Halloween!

The kids took in a pretty good haul!  Pat and I walked around two streets and then he took them out in the car to a few other neighborhoods while I stayed home to man the candy bowl! While they were out, our entire neighborhood lost power which meant more candy for mom!!

All in all, it was a pretty quiet Halloween but the kids had a great time and that's all that really matters!

 Princess Aurora Addison

 Mario Stella

Our Pumpkins expertly designed by Nicholas and Addison and then carved by Daddy!

Photo Shoot

I wanted to get the girls' birth announcement out but since we really didn't have any good pictures of them for the card I needed to do a mini photo shoot with them.  I was quite skeptical about how it would turn out but in the end, the girls were quite cooperative and I got some really good pictures!  Here are just a few....I won't tell you which made the cut for the announcement because many of you will be getting them in the mail quite soon!!

Super Saturday

We're getting back into the swing of things around here....slowly.  Getting out of the house with four kids isn't necessarily hard but when two of them are newborns it makes it a bit more difficult.  This morning was a big challenge for us!  Nicholas and Addison had soccer pictures and then games but we all needed to be at the fields around the same time so we all needed to be out of the house by 8:15.  Normally, this isn't a huge deal because we do get the kids to school by 7:45 each morning but today we needed to pack for the morning and plan everything out for all four kids!

We made it to the fields in time for Addie to have her pictures done and then head out to her game with Nicholas close behind.  We found that twins are definitely an "attraction" for many people and absolutely an excuse to start a conversation.  Everyone was so in love with our little bundles and luckily I didn't have to slap anyone's hand away from touching them.

After soccer we ran a few errands and then make a quick stop for some pumpkins.  By the time we got home, everyone was hungry and tired!  Definitely a busy Saturday that will most likely be the norm over the next few years!!

Stork Surprise

We came home the other day and found that we had two 7 foot tall visitors on our lawn!

Grandma and Pop-pop surprised us with two Storks to celebrate the girls' arrival.  Not only are the storks quite cute but the bundles that have been decorated with the girls' names are going to be removed and we can hang them up in their room!

We LOVE the storks even though they were QUITE the surprise!

Thank you Grandma and Pop-pop!!

 Madelyn

Carrington

Homecoming

Well, the girls turned 2 weeks old this past Wednesday and as a present to us they decided they were ready to come home!

We brought home our Carrington Jane and Madelyn Carter to grandma and pop-pop's house- just as their siblings before them were brought home.  They were welcomed by Nicholas and Addison and are really getting settled in.  Our first night was not too bad- we're just trying to get adjusted to everything at this point.

This morning the girls went for their first pediatrician visit and we found out that they have gained weight!  Madelyn is now an even 5 pounds and Carrington is up to 4lbs 11oz!  They are doing GREAT and we are so happy to have them home!  We couldn't be more grateful for the love, support, prayers and everything else that we received from our family (especially grandma, pop-pop and Aunt Jessica) and friends.  We are so lucky and can't wait to share our little miracles with everyone!!

Castle Park

This past weekend while the girls were in the hospital, I took Nicholas and Addison to the Castle Park near grandma and pop-pop's house.  Apparently, in their sleep, the kids somehow got a hold of sugar and were absolutely nuts on Sunday morning and really needed to burn off some energy!
We spent a good amount of time running around and climbing and just enjoying the cool Fall morning.  After the park we headed to a local diner for breakfast and then back to grandma and pop-pop's so the kids could wait for Aunt Jessica.
They had a great time at the castle park and it was nice to be there and not have a million other people there!  Clearly Sunday morning is time to be there!

Challenge

Things have been moving along steadily here.  The girls are doing very well.  They are both finally off feeding tubes and we're hoping that they stay that way!  They have both, also, surpassed their birth weights.  Madelyn is now 4lbs 10oz and Carrington is 4lbs 8oz.  And they really are thriving...thank GOD!

Today when we arrived at the NICU for the early morning feeding our day nurse informed us that the doctor wanted the girls to do their car seat challenge today.  The car seat challenge is when the babies are placed in their infant car seats for 90 minutes and their heart rates and oxygen levels are monitored.  The girls passed with flying colors and got tons of compliments while sleeping through their test!  Now, we just wait to find out when they might be coming home....lots of prayers and fingers crossed that it's coming soon!!

 Daddy and 2 of his 3 girls!

The girls during their car seat challenge

Stability

Things are pretty stable around here lately.  The girls have started to gain weight which we are THRILLED with!!  They are still on feeding tubes but each day it seems like they take a bit more from their bottles.  Originally, we had hoped they would be on their way home tomorrow but now it looks like we really don't know when they'll be home.  Their homecoming is all dependent upon their eating and weight gain- which is completely understandable.  Once we get the word that we can start preparing for homecoming, they have to go through a car seat challenge where they sit in their car seat for 90 minutes while hooked to monitors to make sure their breathing and heartrates can tolerate the seats.  If all goes well there and they have passed all their other tests and requirements THEN we can take them home.  It seems like a lot but I have come to realize that following all of these precautions and taking everyone one teeny baby step at a time is SO important.  Our experience in the NICU so far has definitely had its share of ups and downs but we have been beyond satisfied and thrilled with the care and compassion that the girls have received at the hands of their highly skilled doctors and nurses.  We are unbelievably lucky to have such a wonderful and highly rated NICU so close.  I don't think we'll ever be able to repay the gift they have given us in keeping our little miracles safe and healthy!!

We'll keep you updated as we know more! Hopefully we'll have some good pictures to share, too, soon!!

Madelyn Carter

Here is our Madelyn from last night.  Both girls are doing well.  They are actually back on feeding tubes because their feeds have been upped a lot and they are still adjusting.  As long as they are gaining weight and growing, we are ok with it!  Heading home from the hospital was not easy for me yesterday but I did go back last night with Pat to do a late feeding and that helped a ton!  Today, grandma and I went over to feed the girls and we got to spend some quality time with them.  I'll be back over there in the morning and afternoon tomorrow for some more feedings and time with them!  I can't believe how much they have already changed and grown!!  Their older siblings are SUPER excited to meet them and see them and we're preparing for the girls' eventual homecoming- we just want to make sure they are ready and healthy!!

Carrington Jane

Our Little Chicken Carrington Jane from this morning

Mini Update

Just a little update on how things are going.  I'm still in the hospital but being discharged this afternoon.  The girls will be staying, which is good because right now it's the best place for them. But they are doing pretty well!  Madelyn is off all oxygen and feeding tubes and she's already changed, I think!  Carrington has been back and forth on and off the feeding tube.  When we went in to see her this morning the tube was back in but I'm confident it will be out very soon!  She's definitely our tiny little chicken and needs to keep eating.  

They will both, hopefully, be off IV fluids within the next day or two which also means that they will be moving to real cribs, too, and can actually wear preemie clothes.  All exciting positive things!!

Nicholas and Addison are SUPER excited to meet their sisters and love seeing pictures of the girls.  Nicholas' class made a whole bunch of cards for the girls and Addie drew tons of pictures for her sisters.  

In addition to waiting for their sisters, Nicholas and Addison have been having a ball being with grandma and pop-pop and Aunt Jessica.  I'm sure they all need a break from the two of them but everyone has been so great about occupying them and taking care of them- we couldn't be more appreciative!  Also, Addison lost her SECOND tooth yesterday at grandma's house.  I can't believe how fast she's growing....crazy crazy!

I don't have any new pictures because I really don't like bringing my phone into the NICU because of all of the germs that live on it.  I'm planning on bringing in my good camera once I'm home and coming back and forth to see the girls so hopefully, I'll have much better pictures soon!

Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers, please keep them coming, our little preemies can definitely use them!!

A few pictures

Just a few pics....the first two are of Madelyn and the second two are of Carrington.
Enjoy!