Family of Four at Home

Bennett came home yesterday and we are now a family of four at home. It was a rough night with two babies, but we are hoping tonight will be a little better. We think Bennett just needs a little more time to adjust to home life . . . and being back with his sister. He was discharged from the hospital weighing in at 5 lbs 3 oz; Kendyll had her first pediatrician visit earlier today and she is now at 5 lbs 8 oz (she was discharged at week ago at 4 lbs 15 oz). We'll update more later . . . here is a picture from the homecoming.

Blizzard of 2008!

So with the crazy amount of snow we have in OH today, we are trapped in our house again. Poor Bennett is stuck at the hospital (but in very good hands) and hopefully we'll be able to get out to see him later today. He is doing very well and had his feeding tube removed yesterday; he is on all bottles and will probably come home either Sunday or Monday (they just want him to increase his volume amounts a little bit). Kendyll misses him and we're trying very hard not to let her get used to being spoiled at home by herself. :-) She has been a very good baby so far -- only crying when she needs something. Daddy Tim was able to take an early flight home and arrived back late Thursday night (thank goodness, too, or else he may have been stuck in Portland -- or his connection city Denver -- through Monday!). We almost have a system down for the nighttime shift, but we're sure it will change again once Bennett joins us.

We don't have many new pictures, but here are a few that Papa Williams snapped during his visit (he's actually still "stuck" at our house because of the storm . . . but we're not complaining!!). :-)

Sleepy Bennett (before his tube came out):

Sweet sleepy Bennett:

Tabasco getting used to his sister's things:

Kendyll getting ready to eat a meal with Papa:

Kendyll at home:

Trying something new . . . Video of Kendyll's homecoming

Kendyll has officially been home for almost 24 hours. We arrived at the house last evening and survived our first night. Tabasco still doesn't know what to make of her (and actually kept me up more last night than she did), but we managed to make it through without any meltdowns and almost 4 hours of sleep! Woo-hoo!! Bennett has been increased to 4 bottles a day, but he still shows no sign of being awake more. But at least he is progressing . . .

So one of the "big" purchases we made before Bennett & Kendyll's arrival was a video camera. We haven't really used it much yet, but since Daddy Tim is traveling, I tried to capture a few moments from the hospital. Pay no attention to the idiot talking in the background (me!) . . . enjoy!! :-)

Kendyll leaving the hospital:

Kendyll at home:

Bennett at the hospital:

Kendyll is coming home (and a new blog look)!

Just a quick update. . . it has been a hectic week and it is only Tuesday! Tim is out of town for work, Tabasco is sick and Kendyll is coming home today. Even though she has not passed her car seat test (she actually failed twice), since there is nothing else wrong with her and she is eating like a champ, Miss Kendyll is being released from the hospital later today. We just need to make sure someone is sitting in the back seat with her to make sure she doesn't fall forward in her car seat (she needs to grow a bit more to fit in it properly). She was weighing in at 4 lbs 15 oz as of last night and both she & her brother are 18 inches long. They had their official "hospital" pictures taken today. Kendyll - the one who is normally wide awake - was not in the mood and kept her eyes closed the entire time. Her brother - who is normally sleeping all the time (which is why he hasn't caught on with the eating thing) - was wide awake and ready for the action. Too funny. Of course, as soon as we put Kendyll back in her crib and took off her picture outfit she was wide awake as usual. Oh well.

I will try to post more soon. Hopefully Bennett will be home by the weekend, but he is on his own time. He is doing well . . . just needs to work himself up to 8 bottles a day (he is on 3 now). As for Tabasco, our first "baby" is OK . . . we think he is having seizures and is scheduled to go to the vet tomorrow. Papa Williams is coming down tonight to help with everything, so hopefully we'll have it all under control. :-)

I have also been meaning to update the look of the blog . . . now that Bennett & Kendyll are here (and almost 3 weeks old) I figured I'd change it up a bit. The old format reminded me of being on bed rest, so I thought it was time for a fresh look. Enjoy!

Nursery Time!

The room formerly known as "The Office" has now been converted into Bennett & Kendyll's room. After wanting to stay in denial about the kids thing and keeping the room modern in line with the rest of the house, we caved in and went with a more "traditional" theme -- bugs. Kendyll's bedding has lady bugs, butterflies and dragon flies; Bennett's is honey bees. Very cute, if I do say so myself. We found a lady online who decorates wooden letters to match Bennett's set, so we contacted her and she was able to also make letters to match Kendyll's set. We are thrilled with the product -- she did a great job!!

There are still a few pieces to wrap up . . . we've ordered the last piece of our furniture set (a toy chest) and Papa Williams is coming over today to help install a new outlet for the mini fridge, but the room is pretty much ready. The only other things it needs are two babies to live there!

Side note to those of our friends / family members who do not yet have kids: LEARN FROM US!! Do not waste your money on cute baby bedding sets! Most of the stuff (comforter/blanket, bumper, sleep positioners etc.) is not allowed in the crib because of SIDS and other suffication risks, we have now learned. Basically you are just supposed to have a crib sheet and the baby . . . that is it. What a gimmick these bedding sets are -- they are cute, but worthless (well, actually very expensive!). I'll post more later on how clueless we are on all of this baby stuff . . . those who know us well know that we are not "kids people". :-)

Enjoy the pictures!

Bennett's crib

Detail in Bennett's letters

Kendyll's crib

Kendyll's letters

Other side of the room

Both cribs

Family Photos

Bennett & Kendyll continue to make progress. The "light bulb" has clicked in Kendyll's head, according to her nurses, and she is taking off with her bottle feeds. She is up to 3 - 4 a day and takes the full bottle; her brother is a little slower (only taking 2 bottles/day and not as much volume), but we are told that girls normally progress faster than boys. Both have been removed from their pumps for other feedings (they were getting their formula over one hour because of their spit-up issues). The nurses asked us to bring in their "picture" outfits and car seat (they have to pass a car seat test . . . they have to sit in the seat for 1 hour and not have any bradys or other issues) -- both are good signs that they will be coming home very soon.

Tim & I were able to hold both babies at one time (a trick we may need to get the hang of a little more). I've included a few photos below.

The nursery is FINALLY finished . . . we are waiting on one more piece of furniture, but I'll try to post pictures in the next few days.

Two weeks old and on the move . . .

Bennett & Kendyll celebrated their 2 week birthday yesterday in a new "home". They were both moved to a new section of the NICU -- sort of a "step down" room, although they don't call it that. They are getting the same level of care, but they are in a room with 6 other babies who are classified as "feeder / growers" -- babies who are healthy and just need to learn how to take a bottle and grow a little bit bigger. B & K are finally getting the hang of bottle feeding, we think -- they both took a ton (for them!) by bottle Tuesday night and yesterday and the doctor told me yesterday morning that he will probably bump them up to two bottles each today. They still have a few spit up issues now & then, but they continue to gain weight. Both have surpassed their birth weights -- Bennett was at 4lbs 7oz and Kendyll was at 4lbs 10oz yesterday morning.

We are confident B & K will catch on to feeding very soon as both Mommy & Daddy are experts at food consumption (Mommy is actually having a reverse pregnancy effect right now . . . I wasn't able to eat much during my pregnancy, but now that they are here I am eating EVERYTHING in sight! I am only 4 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight right now, but I have a feeling I'm going to be the first person to gain more weight AFTER pregnancy than during!!).
:-)