3 months

Wow, Lizzie and Paul are 3 months old - a quarter of a year. Of course, their adjusted age is only 2 weeks. They are starting to stay awake a little more and are sleeping longer between bottles - sometimes a whole 5 hours!!! I'm getting ready to go back to work on Monday. Charlie is staying with them the next 2 weeks and then they'll start daycare. I'm still shocked all the time at how much they've grown. Charlie and I think they're sooo big (although most of the comments from others revolves around how small they are). Here's their 3 month pictures.

Paul's surgery

Small Paul had a hernia on his right side and a small one on his left side. They were causing some fluid build up. Yesterday he had surgery to take care of them. Everything is good now and he's home doing fine. They had him stay overnight due to how young he is - as there can sometimes be complications with the anesthesia. He didn't like the hospital room and had trouble sleeping, although once I gave him his snoodle (from the NICU) it helped.

Playing at home

We're still doing good and mainly playing around the house. At the latest doctor appointment on March 13, Lizzie weighed 10 lbs. 4 oz and Paul weighed 9 lbs. 13 oz. We have started taking the babies out more. They have visited our work and attended their first Eastern Star and Rainbow meetings. Here are some more pictures of us playing and them getting a bath.

2 Months

Well, the babies are now two months old. They had another check up last Tuesday and they continue to grow. Lizzie is 8 lbs. 4 oz, 20.25 inches and Paul is 8 lbs. even, 19.25 inches. Unfortunately, they had to get a shot - which they didn't like at all - and they will get another shot today and some more next week. All in all, they are doing great. Lizzie has even stayed awake a couple of times after feeding and played on her mat and got in some tummy time. Here are some pictures from their 2 month "birthday".

This is our favorite - the babies have such cute expressions



Their hands are striking the same pose - they did this several times.


Lizzie waving to everyone.


Paul staring into space


Lizzie on the play mat.

Hanging around the house

Here are some pictures of the babies in their favorite bouncy seats. These things have saved our lives as they help Lizzie with her reflux and keep Paul happy till we can feed him.





























Here's some other photos of the babies hanging around the house ...































and with some of their visitors.

Paul with cousins Killien and Austen















Lizzie with Aunt Amy

Baptism

On Sunday, February 18, 2007 we had Lizzie and Paul baptised at St. Jerome's Catholic Church. My sister Amy is Lizzie's godmother and my sister Ellie is Paul's godmother and my brother Paul is godfather to them both. The ceremony was very nice and the babies did well - very little fussing during the whole mass and hardly no crying during the actual baptisim. After mass, we had a little brunch for everyone who came and Charlie's mom prepared some wonderful food. Below are some pictures from the ceremony.

Here are all the Allgeier cousins!

Everyday Living

Lizzie and Paul are still doing great. We took them out once last week to meet with our deacon at Church about their baptism. It takes a lot longer to get them ready than we expexcted. Hopefully we'll get a routine down soon enough and not be late all the time. Their feeding continus to improve and we usually go 4 hours between feedings. I haven't taken any pictures layely, but will try to get some new ones in the next few days.

Learning the ropes

Charlie and I are learning just how much the nurses did for us in the NICU. It is a lot of work and a whole lot of fun having the babies home. We're sleeping in shifts and that seems to work well. The babies are doing great - Paul weighs 6 lbs 4 oz and Lizzie weighs 6 lbs 3 oz. They're growing out of the preemie clothes and fitting into the newborn clothes. It's amazing how much they've changed in just five short weeks. They had their first visit to the pediatrician yesterday and everything looks great. I'm holding Small Paul - as he will be known to the Allgeier family due to the other Pauls known as Big Paul (my Dad) and Little Paul (my brother) - right now as he is a little fussy and a lot spoiled!

THEY'RE HOME!!!!!

Lizzie and Paul came home yesterday. Charlie and I stayed at the hospital Wednesday night - taking care of them in a room so that we could have a chance to ask the nurse any questions. We arrived home on Thursday, Feb. 1 at around 1:00 pm - and almost immediately had to feed them. I don't think we've stopped feeding them (or so it seems). Right now we're trading off shifts and trying to get a couple of hours of sleep. They are doing good, although I can tell that they have to adjust to their new surroundings. We'll have a couple of follow up visits from home health and doctor visits, but for now, we're doing good.

The pictures are: 1. Lizzie and Paul in their car seats at the hospital ready to come home; 2. Me carrying them into the house; 3. Them in their new crib; and 4. Another view of them in the crib.

One Month & Good News

On Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, the babies celebrated their first month. Actually, there wasn't that much of a celebration, but we did take their pictures in cute little outfits.



Now for the good news - the feeding tubes are out!!! The doctor is saying they could come home as early as Thursday, but probably on Friday. For the next 48 hours they have to eat all their bottles, gain weight, and not have any episodes (which they haven't for the past 3 or so days). Also, they have to pass a car seat test - sit in a car seat for 30 minutes without any drops in oxygen saturation levels. We are VERY excited!!!! The room is complete and although the rest of the house is a mess, we're ready for them.

Together Again

Lizzie and Paul are together again. Yesterday, Jan. 24, 2007, they were put together in a large crib, which resembles a large steel cage. Charlie and I are very excited about this, as we plan on co-cribbing them at home.

They are still working on their feeding. Paul's up to having a bottle 2 out of every 3 feeds (5 or 6 a day) and Lizzie's gets 3 bottles a day. They've both been able to breast feed also. They get to breast feed once a day in place of one of their bottle feedings. We supplement it - as they don't quite get enough, however, they're doing good with latching and sucking. Unfortunately, they've had some reflux issues which cause their heartrate to be wacky (usually dropping very low). The doctors and nurses are not too concerned at this point, and I will learn more about the issue today.

Charlie's Work Shower

Charlie's work had a wonderful shower for us on January 18, 2007. They had lots of good food and a cute cake. We received many cool items - including a scrapbook, music bench, bottle warmers, lots of clothes and diapers. Laura, Lisa, and Alice were the organizers and most of IT was invited.

Bottle Feedings

Paul and Lizzie have started bottle feeding. Paul is getting 2-4 bottles a day and Lizzie is getting 1. They both are doing great with them. Paul has taken 3 of his 4 bottles so far - on the one he only took a very little bit. Lizzie has taken about 1 1/2 of her 2 bottles. We hope Lizzie will catch up soon. They are still gaining weight - Paul is 4 lbs. 10 oz and Lizzie is 4 lbs. 5 oz - both are 1 lb 1 oz over their birth weight. Otherwise, all is going good and they are getting stronger and more alert everyday.

Lizzie's Bath

As promised, here are some pictures of Lizzie's bath. We gave her one on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007. She seemed to like it quite a bit. She only fussed a little at the beginning. She's getting another one today and if she does good with her temperature after the bath, should be put in a crib tomorrow. The pictures are a little darker, as the lights were out in the room during her bath.

Quick Update

Lizzie had to go back to the isolette for a couple of days - she just wasn't keeping her temperature up. They hope to have her back out tomorrow. Paul is still doing great and just keeps getting bigger - he's up to 4 lbs. 5 oz and Lizzie's now 4 lbs. 2 oz. We gave Lizzie a bath on Tuesday and should have some pictures up soon. The speech pathologist is coming again tomorrow to assess them for bottle feeding.

Shower Weekend

Over the past weekend I had two great showers. On Saturday, my wonderful friends from Eastern Star and a book club gave me a brunch shower. We played games and I received a lot of great gifts - including two handmade afghans and our Frog Pod for the bath, along with lots of clothes, blankets, rattles, and other items. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera - so no pictures from the Saturday shower, but believe me it was GREAT!


On Sunday, my Mom and sisters hosted a shower for family and friends. Our faboulous families and friends were very generous and we received so many things, I almost couldn't fit it all in our new Volvo station wagon (Charlie traded the Mini Cooper). We received the mattresses, the double stroller, the pac-n-play, bouncers, exersaucer, lots of clothes, bath supplies, etc. We also received the traditional afghans from Grandma Allgeier (picture provided) and some handmade car seat cuddlewraps.

A family friend, Martha, made a four layer diaper cake that includes 248 diapers, along with lots of other goodies (picture provided).






All in all, Charlie, Lizzie, Paul, and I are very blessed in our family and friends. We could not have made it this far or be doing so well without the help provided by everyone we know. I'm going to try to get the Thank You cards out soon, but let me put a big THANK YOU here for anyone who helped us or gave us anything - We LOVE you!!!

Paul's Bath

We gave Paul a bath on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007. This was the first time we got to do the bath. Nurse Judy walked us through everything and made sure we didn't hurt him. He came through like a pro and we were able to get pictures of Paul without his tubes.

Lizzie is doing good - she's out of the isolette and off the oxygen. They're both over 4 lbs now and gaining every day. The speech pathologist said they were right where they should be - not quite ready for the bottle. She'll be back on Thursday and we're hoping they'll be ready then - Paul especially as he likes to pull at his feeding tube. He even pulled it all the way out one day last week.

More of the same

Today's report sounds like the last one. Paul is still doing great and is maintaining his temperature like a pro. Lizzie is still on the oxygen (she likes it a little too much!) and is still in the isolette. Thankfully, the IV should come out today and hopefully that plus her higher food doses will be enought to get her back on track with maintaining her oxygen and temp.

Today they will be assessed to see if they're ready for a bottle. The speech pathologist will check their gag reflux and their ability to suck, swallow, and breathe.

Paul's in a crib

Paul was moved to an open air crib yesterday. This is a great step. We're very excited. He is doing wonderful.

Lizzie, on the other hand, is having some small problems. Her pic (IV) line moved and leaked fluid into her lungs. This is also causing her to retain a little extra fluid. Unfortunately, she's had to go on a little oxygen (hopefully for less than 24 hours). The hope is that we can convince the doctor to ramp up her food and get her off the IV (which is only being used to give her fluids)