NICU

 Well we avoided the NICU until 7:00 p.m. the night before we were to be discharged.  I was so upset and argued with the neonatologist until I was blue in the face.  Poppy's body temperature dropped for a fourth time late Tuesday afternoon.  The nurses weren't concerned.   Policy is that the 4th time a temperature drops below 97.6 (her's was like 97.2), the neonatologist has to be consulted.  Well I knew we were sunk then....because he wanted to check out both babies...he came in the room talking about weight loss (10% for Mary Thorne and 8% for Poppy - which our pediatrician wasn't concerned about), blood sugar (which both had ALWAYS passed), and body temperature......so to the NICU we went.  Oliver told my mom I "lawyered" the doctor...then I got a speech from Oliver the first time I went to the NICU without him about not being argumentative (pot calling the kettle black).  BUT I know it's better to be safe than sorry and all these preventative measures will only make them stronger, healthier babies.

Miss Mary Thorne is a DRAMA QUEEN.  We dropped her off in the NICU about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.  Her next feeding was a 9:00 p.m.  When I arrived back at the NICU at 9:00 p.m. she was screaming...her nurse said she had been kicking and screaming since I left (you can't blame her...look at all those wires)!  She nursed for a solid 8 minutes, fell fast asleep, and slept until I woke her up for her 12:00 a.m. feeding.  Her nurses tell me she hasn't cried much at all since that first night.  One plus to the NICU, one nurse per baby...so they are getting really good care....another plus is they are already on a 3 hour schedule.....no snacking in the NICU.

Mary Thorne                                                                                                                       Poppy         

On Tuesday night and Wednesday, both babies had IVs and we weren't able to nurse at the same time.  We are supplementing after each nursing period to make sure they are getting enough calories.  Since Thursday morning, we have been able to nurse together.  These sweet babies love to touch their heads together (how they were on my last two ultrasounds).....they also hold hands while they nurse sometimes.  Not progressive enough to take a picture of it.....but it is REALLY sweet.

 My Sis and Mom have been life savers this week.  Sis has driven me back and forth to the hospital for the 5:30 a.m. feeding and the 8:30 p.m. feeding...and at least one feeding in-between.  Mom has driven me.  It is a huge blessing that we live approximately 7 minutes from the hospital.  It can't get much more convenient!  Both have entertained Elizabeth Magee.  It is safe to say EM is just as obsessed with Sis as she is with Siggi.

There are some positives to the NICU.  The best being that I've had time to recover and spend time with Elizabeth Magee without the stress of bringing home newborn babies.  Elizabeth Magee isn't blaming me not being able to pick her up on the babies...she just knows mama's tummy is hurt.  Today she painted pictures for Mary Thorne and Poppy (which are hanging in their isolets in the NICU).  She knows she is getting to bake a cake to celebrate the babies coming home.  Another plus is that I've slept from 10:30 to 5:00 a.m. since I've been home (only getting up once to pump and call the NICU to talk to the night nurses).

Our playgroup had an Easter Egg hunt at the Hidden Park yesterday.  Elizabeth Magee wasn't really into the picking up eggs part but she also didn't realize there was candy in them.

 Once Sis showed her the candy, she was a little more interested in picking up eggs.  We have another hunt tomorrow and I think she'll be very aggressive in picking up the eggs.  Look how long a bubble is on Elizabeth Magee - tiny legs.

 No day is completely good without seeing Annie.

Our Twins

Mary Thorne and Pauline Grace "Poppy" were born Saturday morning -- 38 weeks exactly.   My water broke around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.   We showered, packed bags for me and Elizabeth Magee, and got to the hospital around 3:45 a.m.  Our original plan was not to bring Elizabeth Magee to the hospital but we couldn't get anyone on the phone....so she came along....and I think it really helped her understand what was happening.  Oliver took her to Aunt Cin's house a little after 6 a.m. and she hung out there most of Saturday.

Our C-Section got underway around 7:45 a.m.  It was no less scary going into the OR the second time except that once I got the spinal, I did calm down and have a nice conversation with the doctor and nurses.  My doctor was still out of town but the doctor on call, Dr. Adams, was fabulous.  Turns out she is from Cleveland, MS and she was a KD at Ole Miss.  We know a lot of the same people from Mississippi and we have several mutual friends here in Birmingham!

Mary Thorne made her arrival first.  As expected, she was still breech.  Mary Thorne entered the world at 8:19 a.m. weighing 5 pounds, 6 ounces.  She is 19 inches long.

Pauline Grace arrived at 8:21 a.m. She was transverse and the doctor pulled her out by her butt.  Poppy weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces.  She is 18 inches long.

Although they are small (much smaller than EM), they are not considered preemies.  We have avoided the NICU -- praise the Lord.  We are having to closely watch their body temperatures, weight, and blood sugar.  I'm nursing both babies at the same time and now that my milk is in am trying to nurse every 2.5 hours during the day.  Last night they weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces (Poppy) and 4 pounds, 13 ounces (Mary Thorne).

This might be my favorite picture ever.  Elizabeth Magee cam back to the hospital on Saturday afternoon to meet her sisters.  She really hasn't paid them much attention yet.  Siggi, Granddaddy, and Sis are here to spoil her rotten -- and so far she hasn't cried a bit leaving me in the hospital.

We don't yet know if they are identical.  The placenta was sent to the lab and we hope to have it back in a few days.  Even if they aren't identical, they look A LOT alike and A LOT like Elizabeth Magee.  We showed our nurse a picture of EM as a newborn and she asked whether it was Poppy or Mary Thorne!

Mary Thorne (Left) and Poppy (Right)

Mary Thorne and Poppy

Spring Break

 Elizabeth Magee has been out of Mother's Morning Out this week for Spring Break.  I wasn't sure how we would spend the week and she's asked for "school" everyday....but we've filled the week with lots of fun things.

The week started out with beautiful weather and ended cold and rainy...so our daily activities went from twice a day visits to the park to the library and Chick Fil A with friends!

 This child LOVES to eat outside.  She asks, "eat outside" even if it's raining or cold.

This child LOVES Annie.  She talks about Annie all the time...morning, noon, and night.  She says that Annie is her best friend.

Loves to paint....and still refers to herself as "You"....the whole time we were painting she was saying, "You Paint."

Lovin Ally (make sure to notice the curler in her hair)......

This will be our last weekend with just one child.  It will also probably be the last weekend in MONTHS that we get any amount of sleep!

Last week the twins weighed 5.4 (Baby A) and 5.2 (Baby B).  The ultrasound didn't check their weights at this weeks appointment.  We are scheduled for a c-section on Tuesday at 7:00 a.m -- 38 weeks, 3 days.  I'm so ready to have these babies.

Still Cookin'

I read in Raising Bebe (my all time favorite parenting book)  that letting your children bake from an early age (like 18 months) will teach them patience.  They get to help with a project and then you have to wait until snack time to eat it.  Baking with Elizabeth Magee has helped me not eat raw cookie dough!  I don't know how much actual learning is going on but it sure is fun and making cookies yesterday was the perfect way to pass a rainy afternoon!

We are doing a lot of cooking at our house.....Elizabeth Magee and I cook something to put in the freezer almost everyday and the twins are still cooking right along too!  I've now been pregnant longer with the twins than I was with Elizabeth Magee.

Babies Babies (but not the twins)

Audrey Leigh White

March 4, 2013

2:13 p.m.

7 pounds, 20.5 inches

 Leigh Allyn had her precious baby yesterday, Audrey.  I cannot wait to meet this sweet sweet child and was VERY jealous of Sis who got to hold her today!!!

When Elizabeth Magee was born, Leigh Allyn came to help for two nights and let me sleep a little.  I SO wish I could return the favor -- maybe with her second!

Elizabeth Magee loves "Leigh Leigh" -- this is my favorite picture of them together at the U Club last summer:

In other news, we found out today that another dear friend from college is having a baby in September! So excited for you Katie!!!  

Thinking of Katie made me realize I never downloaded this picture she took of EM and Oliver in the Grove -- it is one of my favorites of my two favorite people (only a little while before I say four favorite people)!!!

Two Things that Have Made My Day

Elizabeth Magee loves to cook.  She is so happy sitting on the kitchen counter or playing in the cabinets.  Her kitchen is set up in my kitchen and we spend most of every morning in the kitchen.  Anyway, we've gotten the Easter eggs out and this morning I walked into the kitchen to find her saying "you cook eggs"!!!

Thanks Jill Bell for this text.  It made me smile!  I had a doctor's appointment this morning...babies are weighing in at 4.6 (Baby B) and 4.7 (Baby A).  I asked the doctor if she thought we could make it another two weeks -- she kinda giggled and said "it's a possibility...."

Almost There!

I cannot believe I'm posting a belly picture -  I think this is a first...but I'm huge!  35 weeks on Saturday and hoping to make it to 36 weeks.  As of my last appointment, I've gained 24 pounds.  I was never this pregnant with Elizabeth Magee.  I waddle everywhere.  My back is killing me.  Last night was the first night I've slept through the night in three months.  We have a middle of the night plan in place...and a day plan...but the middle of the night is what worries me.

Elizabeth Magee and I talk about the hospital everyday and how mama is going for "three days" and then I'll be "back."  She can even say the babies names...to hear her sweet little voice say "Mary Thorne" will melt your heart.  She has been able to say Poppy for months....

I've got a great pregnant tip that I'd never heard of before last week.  With Elizabeth Magee I never had any swelling or retained any fluid.  For some reason, last week my ankles, hands, and feet started to swell.  Well, I flipped out....my doctor said to add lemons to my water and drink it all day.  I did it for two days and all the retained fluid was gone! I swear it's a miracle!