Saints game

Well, it was a rough day for Saints fans. With the season being over, Super Bowl won't hold as much joy, since the Saints were so close! We had a great day with Joey and Wendy anyway, and I am going to try to send another photo show!

http://www.photoshow.net/watch/uu4bH8Wy?sk=bc2aadaa99bb75e041bfb728b9f35f0c&p=photoshow_express&l=express&v=4.5.1&s=walgreens_photoshow_express_4_5&os=windows&b=walgreens&f=walgreens&d=55&w=from_dlx&la=en&lo=1&t=NOTALLOWED

1 month old today!

OK . . . I am going to try to attach the email address for another photo show. I think most of you were able to get the first one, so let me know if it doesn't work!


http://www.photoshow.net/watch/Gn4HH4xN?sk=ab53c90acacd2bc7f350bc6e367b3249&p=photoshow_express&l=express&v=4.5.1&s=walgreens_photoshow_express_4_5&os=windows&b=walgreens&f=walgreens&d=55&w=from_dlx&la=en&lo=1&t=NOTALLOWED

Doctor's visit

We had our first shared doctor appointment today, and everything went well. We were really surprised to see that Reese now weighs 6 lbs. 1 ounce, 18 inches, and Brady is 7 lbs. 8 ounces, 18 1/2 inches! That is quite a jump in a week's time. Of course, they are on the higher calorie formula, but we didn't anticipate that big of a difference! They got clean bills of health, and we will go back in a month for immunizations. We really like our pediatrician and her staff, so that helps.

I am still attempting to get more pictures on the blog, but it may be a week or so! Stay posted :)

Reese's Discharge picture

Here is the link to go so Reese's discharge picture from the hospital. If they ask for a password, it is Napolitano. Let me know if it doesn't work!

http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=7Z9Q2J8R2W

pictures

This may be a long shot, but I am going to try to give the internet address for some pictures. I realize you probably cannot copy and paste from the blog, so you may have to type it in. I can't wait to get another digital camera!!!!!!! You don't realize how convenient they are until you try to go through Walgreens system. Good luck, and let me know if it doesn't work.

http://www.photoshow.net/watch/pH9jd7wS?sk=0d93432babb957d27acae1bd351337bc&p=photoshow_express&l=express&v=4.5.1&s=walgreens_photoshow_express_4_5&os=windows&b=walgreens&f=walgreens&d=55&w=from_dlx&la=en&lo=1&t=NOTALLOWED

We are home!

We are finally back in New Orleans! The trip was not that bad. Brady and Reese slept most of the way, but the car was packed, so I didn't have much room to sit. That made the trip seem a little longer, but it was a small price to pay to get home safely!

Who was the culprit that announced our precious arrivals by decorating the house? It was so cute when we drove up! Everyone made comments and congratulated us, so it was a lot of fun. Thank you to the anonymous decorator/s! I think we have an idea of who it is!

I miss Lesley and family already!

January 6, 2007

Guess who came home today?!!!!! Reese and Brady were re-aquainted at 10:30 a.m. today. Reese has already knocked Brady in the head, but he didn't protest too much! It was so exciting and overwhelming. Now we will just have to try to do everything twice! I wish I had some of the precious pictures to show, but we will work on it asap. Gary and I hope to drive back tomorrow, so we can start settling in at our home.

Lesley and Nick have been such a blessing for us. It will be very hard to separate tomorrow, but we are glad we will get to see them again in March for Justin and Ragan's shower! Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. We have been very blessed.

January 3, 2007

Well, it looks like we are getting a little closer to discharge, even though I can't say exactly when that will be. Reese is now taking 6 bottles a day, and if she takes the entire amount for about 2 consecutive days, they will probably bump her up to 8 bottles. She has to take 8 bottles for at least 2 days before they discharge. She will have to pass her car seat test, and get a hearing screening in the meantime. I don't know if I can even express how happy we will be to get out of this hospital!

Brady is still doing well, but he is a little confused as to when he should be sleeping, and when he should be seeking attention! He is quite restless at night, but sleeps like a log during the day! I tried to make him get up and play with me yesterday, but he would have nothing to do with it! He is on a pretty consistent eating schedule, so we assume that he will be content and settled by the time Reese comes home, so we can start all over again!

By the way, my digital camera has become a casualty to the hospital, so it will be awhile before I have some more pictures! I guess I will be resorting back to disposable cameras for awhile!

January 1, 2007

Happy New Year! Lesley and I are celebrating by having a girl's day with Reese at the hospital. She is now 4lb 6 ounces, and she just wiped out her 3rd bottle of the day. We will not be going up to 6 bottles today, but cross your fingers that we do tomorrow!

Brady, Taylor, Gary, and Nick stayed home to watch the bowl games. We are sure they are finding a way to make a big mess while we are gone! Mom and Dad left yesterday, but Mom made lots of yummy food, because she obviously thinks we don't eat unless she is around! It was very sad to see them go.

Taylor went to her first New Years party last night, and she partied hard! Apparently, they had to drag her out at 10:30, because she was still going strong! She was still talking about it when she woke up this morning.

December 30, 2006

Everything is moving along here in Dallas. Lesley is getting around more, but probably still doing more than she should . . . trouble maker! My Mom and Dad are still here to lend a hand, and that is a huge help, since there are so many restrictions attached after a c-section. Reese is now up to 5 bottles a day, and she is 4 lbs. 3 ounces. She had a bradycardia episode last night, and they won't discharge you until you have gone 5 consecutive days without an episode, so hopefully that will be the last one! We still have to get to 8 bottles a day with her finishing the entire bottle, but it looks like it has finally "clicked!" Brady is doing well at home, taking everything offered to him! I don't know his weight now, but I'm sure it has increased since Tuesday!

Taylor thinks that Brady's name is "BradyandReese," since she has not concretely seen or touched Reese. They won't let children into the Special Care Nursery, so I guess she won't consider us having 2 children until she has actually seen them both. She is very funny. She will go around the house screaming and making all kinds of ridiculous noise (which does not effect Brady in the least bit), and then she will turn around and tell us to "be quiet!" Any time Brady makes any noise (grunt, burp, gas, stretch, etc.), she says "ooohhhh gross!" But I think she is really infatuated with him. She keeps trying to knock down the gate blocking the entrance to Brady's room! She is trying to be our helper!

We hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!

December 26, 2006

Brady had his first doctor appt. today. He received an A+, and hopefully we will be going home before he needs another one! He was 5 lbs. 4.5 ounces, so he is really getting to be a big boy! He thanked the doctor for his services by peeing all over the exam table, so I'm sure they won't be sad we aren't return customers!

Reese is taking 4 bottles a day, and she is finishing most of them. She is now 3 lbs 14.8 ounces, so we are pretty sure she is going to be the big 4 lbs soon! She doesn't seem bothered by the Special care nursery at all. Many of the other babies cry frequently, but she is very content and patient. Her Nanna stayed with her for a couple of hours while Gary and I went to the doctor's appt, and Nanna claims they had a good time! We still don't know how fast she will progress or when discharge may be. She is doing fine for her age. They are 36 weeks today!

Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas! Gary and I are up at the hospital visiting Reese, since Brady was discharged on Saturday. We had a rough night the first night he was at home, but last night was much better! He opened his presents early, and she is opening later! Brady will be going to the Pediatrician tomorrow or Wednesday for follow-up, but he was 5 lbs 1 ounce as of Friday night. He is quite the eater, and doesn't complain much! He makes a lot of funny noises in the night that scare us to death, but he has been wonderful.

Reese is taking 2 bottles a day and gradually getting better. She has to take 8 and tolerate to be discharged. She has had fewer apnea spells, but she has to be absent an episode for at least 5 days before discharge. We will be splitting our days, but maybe that will help us gradually transition to parenthood! Too late for that!

Taylor had a great Christmas, and she loved the "kitchen" my parents gave to her. She stopped unwrapping for awhile, since she needed to get the "play time" in. We will have dinner tonight at Lesley's house, because Justin and Ragan just got into town.

I am going to try to attach the address to see Brady's discharge picture. The computer is not letting me cut and paste, so I don't know if it is right. The password is Napolitano. Reese will have hers after she gets rid of that stinky feeding tube. She wants hers to be perfect and free of tubes!

We love you all! Merry Christmas!

http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage.asp?UrllD=8l1l6B6Z1P

December 22, 2006

Well, we think Brady may be packing his bags for discharge this weekend! Gary and I are rooming in tonight to take care of both of them, but Reese will probably still be here for another week or so. She still has to work on feeding with a bottle more frequently, but she is gaining weight and doing great. They are both in open cribs, because they are maintaining their temperature, and Brady will have his car seat test done today. We are excited to see Nanna and Papa back in town, so it will be an intersting Christmas weekend!

December 21, 2006

We have made a lot of progress! Reese is off of the oxygen, since she has had any apnea/bradycardia episodes with minimal help. She has gained several ounces, and tolerating feeds well. She is responding to nippling like most 34 week babies would . . . she shows interest, then forgets. She is taking a bottle 1-2 times a day, and having gavage feedings for the remaining 6 feedings. The developmental specialist said that she is surprisingly strong for her age (stronger than Brady, but don't tell him that)!

Brady is eating so well that he may be getting out of here soon! He is now taking 6-8 bottles a day, so he could go home as early as Saturday! We are not going to count on that, but it would be nice. We will have to split our days staying at home and coming to the hospital, but hopefully Reese won't be too far behind! We would love for them both to be home by Christmas, but I really don't think that is a possibility!

Lots of good news for the holidays! We love you all, and can't wait to see you!

NICU Grads!

Our children have had their first graduation! We have moved out of the NICU to the Special care nursery! Now we are "feeding and growing," so we don't need intensive care anymore! We are very proud of our little ones for hitting so many milestones so quickly! They were not expected to be able to coordinate their sucking, breathing, swallowing, but they are doing great. Brady is taking 3 bottles a day (the rest are tube feeds), and Reese had her first bottle today! She sucked that thing down so fast that I think even the OT was surprised. She is only taking 1 ml less than Brady, so their quantities are similar. They should hit goal tomorrow.

I think the plan is that they will gradually increase feeds and nippling until they are tolerating and thriving without any problems. I wish I could say that it would be next week, but I don't think that is how it works. My understanding is that most babies have good days and bad days. We have had so many good days that we anticipate that there will be some not so great ones to come. They both got rid of their IVs, and they may even move out of the isolettes to cribs soon. Gary and I are at the hospital all day long, because they let us do the feedings, changing, baths, temps, holding, etc. Our days go by really fast!

December 17, 2006

Lesley was discharged from the hospital today! Yeah! Taylor was glad to have her home, and I am sure Lesley is looking forward to sleeping in her own bed. I know I am looking forward to a real bed, too! I just hate being so far away from the hospital. I am having a little separation anxiety already!

Gary and I came back to the hospital after we moved back into Lesley's house. Brady and Reese have been moved into the same pod area, so their beds are right next to each other! This made me really happy! We participated in "kangaroo care" this evening, which means we held them close to us (skin to skin) in the fetal position, and we all really enjoyed it. I wish I could download the pictures, but I am not at my own computer! Gary looks real cute in a hospital gown!

Brady is now taking a bottle 3 times a day, and tolerating feeds well. Reese is going to start trying a bottle once a day, and we will see how that goes. They both lost a few ounces, which was to be expected . . . Reese is 3lb 7 ou and Brady is 4 lb 10 ou. Brady looks like a giant compared to Reese, but it was wonderful to have a picture together as a family. Reese got back on a little oxygen, because her heart rate was dropping a little after feeds. This is completely normal for 34 week babies. They are progessing well.

We love you all! Good luck with your Christmas shopping!

December 16, 2006 - Day 3

Brady and Reese had a great day yesterday, and it is looking like today is even better! They are both advancing their feeds to every 3 hours, and the ounces will be increased each feeding. If they continue to tolerate, their IVs will be out tomorrow! We get to put them in "people" clothes today, so I can't wait to dress them up! They will probably start trying to feed with bottles/nipples next week! I think they are fast learners, but I am obviously biased!

Lesley is doing great. She is still sore, but getting to go home tomorrow! She is trying to get up more, and Taylor will be coming to visit today, so that will be the true test! Lesley is such a hero to me, but I know you all know that. She is even pumping, so the babies have the best nutrition they can get! She is truly amazing.

More updates to come!

Delivery Day!

Brady and Reese are here! I am just now updating, since I have obviously been busy! Many of you already know the details, but I am going to try my best to update you to this point on each baby. They were born on Wednesday, December 13. Brady arrived at 1:28 p.m. and Reese arrived at 1:30 p.m. Gary and I were both present and accounted for, along with about 20 other staff in the room! I still can't download pictures, so I will do it asap.

Brady was 4 lbs 13 ounces and 17 1/4 inches long. He has lots of dark hair, and appears quite chunky compared to Reese. He initially had some respiratory issues, and was intubated the first day, because he was being a little lazy and needed some help. That helped him become very comfortable, and he was on a nasal canula the next day. Today he is on room air, and moving into an isolette, since he is maintaining his temperature on his own. He started tube feeding today, and seems to be tolerating well. Brady likes very little noise and stimulation, but enjoys a good hold and pacifier. Gary changed his first poopy diaper, and they are both glad that is over!

Reese was 3 lbs 10 ounces and 16 1/2 inches long. She has white hair, and very petite facial features. Her head appears smaller than my palm! She has long limbs, and did much better with respiratory issues than Brady did, even though she was smaller. They expected that, since boys usually have a tougher time. Reese was on CPAP for a day, and went to room air the next day. She is also moving to an isolette, and started feeds today. She has a very fiesty temper, but looks like an angel when she sleeps!

I have a million details I could spill, but I am going to have to share later. We love you all, and can't wait to introduce you!

34 weeks

We had a busy night last night. Lesley was taken to Labor and Delivery around 9:00 p.m. last night, because her contractions were lasting about 5 minutes with very short breaks. She received 2 injections that did not stop these persistent contractions, so they took us down for hydration and monitoring in that department. She is slightly more dilated, but not enough to be considered active labor. Needless to say, no one got much sleep, but Lesley is resting now. They brought her back up to the room, and she is off all meds (excluding Ambien!). They will keep us this afternoon, make her have more activity, and see what happens. If we don't go into labor, we will probably be discharged, which will be a welcomed change. Mom drove from Austin last night, since we were lead to believe that the babies were coming last night. We will update if there is any more change.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! We are hanging in there!

December 11, 2006

Well, we had another sonogram today, and we are getting sprung from this joint tomorrow . . . pending possibility of going into labor. They are taking Lesley off the meds at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, and letting her get up and walk around more. If no cervical change, we will leave late tomorrow evening.

Brady was 4 lbs 15 ounces, and Reese was 4 lbs 14 ounces. She gained over a lb in the past 2 weeks! We anticipated that they would only gain 1/4 lb./week. They are very active, and very healthy. We could see them both practicing their breathing during the sonogram which is a good sign of a healthy infant! Their heart rates are 144 bpm and 143 bpm, so everything looks great. Now that we know they are going to be over 5 lbs, our newest bets are on the actual dates we will get to meet them!