4 weeks old...

All dressed up and nowhere to go...
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Auntie Rachel loves to cuddle...
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Wyatt - I'm four weeks old today! That makes me a big boy :)
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I'm bigger and badder - 4 weeks old today!
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Today, the babies are officially four weeks old! I cannot believe they've been here for that long already. I guess lack of sleep and a constant list of things to do (for them and around the house) have kept time a-flyin' ;)
In the past four weeks, the babies have both grown so much. Molly officially hit the 8-pound mark yesterday. Her little brother is still about a pound smaller, and while he is pretty developmentally on-par for his age, Miss Molly prefers to move at warp speed. Wyatt is still a pretty mellow little man...content to be cuddled or practice his own baby version of Tai Chi (think slow motion movements of hands and feet...he could give lessons). Molly, on the other hand, wiggles and squirms and prefers to be in the mix of things at all times (even at 2:00 in the morning). Yeah, that part isn't so fun.
The biggest developments in the past several weeks have been our continued battle with the colic/reflux monster. Molly has developed a serious case of this and we have been chasing down that elusive fix for it. Now, it seems her little brother is following not so far behind her down this path. Because I have to supplement their breastmilk with formula, my thought is that Wyatt's newfound stomach irratiblity is due to an slightly increased amount of formula in his bottles. As I said to the pediatrician when Molly's ultrasound was being done yesterday, food should be fun not painful. Hopefully our little beans will find some enjoyment in it soon...we're trying...really trying.
This past week, Auntie Rachel came to visit and meet the babies for the first time as well. She was an absolutely AMAZING help - we were all really sad that she had to leave so soon. Let me just say that she was able to take care of things around the house for me that had been sitting for several months. Like I said, AMAZING. This Saturday, Grandma Madelene comes back to visit for a little while. We're really lucky that they have been able to come help because I think I might have pulled my hair out (or run away crying) if not. Still, it's hard to be away from family and friends...and these brief visits just bring that home all the more. But, we're so thankful for the time we do get to spend with them.

We're 3 Weeks Old Today!

Happy 3 Weeks, babies!!! (Wyatt on the left, Molly on the right)
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It's been three weeks (well, at 11:05 & 11:06 tonight really), since the babies first arrived. And, boy, have they made their presence known ;) Molly has developed a healthy case of acid reflux and colic, while her brother is still pretty mellow by comparison. It's amazing how much they've changed in just 3 short weeks. Not so long ago, they were just little baby bumps...now, they're starting to develop their own personalities. Molly is a little pistol, in spite of her health difficulties. She is developmentally ahead of her little brother and is lifting her head and wiggling up a storm - the standard sleep positioner is lost on her. She is cooing and is much much more alert than she was even just a week ago.
Wyatt is a pretty mellow little guy. He's content to be held and cuddled and doesn't fuss overly much...unless his sister is screaming bloody murder, then he often decides he wants in on the action - not so much fun at 2:00 am. He is definintely our little bobblehead baby. But, he's getting bigger every day. At his weigh-in this week, he'd ballooned up to 5 lbs, 15 oz. This is pretty major since he lost 5 ounces after he was born and was in the 2nd percentile for weight/size. Molly is up to 7 lbs, 1oz as of this afternoon. So, both babies are doing very well.

Happy 21 days little guys. Daddy and mommy love you both very much!

Week by Week

Molly is ready for a "swim."
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Wyatt, the little thinker, contemplates the importance of good hygiene.
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Well, the babies have passed their two-week birthdays :) They are officially 16 days old today. We celebrated with their first real baths. Both Steve and I expected Molly to pitch a world-class fit, but surprisingly (like her little brother) I think she kinda loved it. Don't get me wrong, she still wiggled and squirmed up a storm (she might have a future as a Chinese gymnast). Wyatt, on the other hand, was very relaxed and content to simply observe what was happening...it was all very cute :)

Hopefully, that cuteness extends to bed time tonight b/c I don't think we've gotten more than 4 hours of sleep since they were born ::sigh:: I can only pray that it gets better soon b/c this is rough...really rough.

Happy Birthday!!!

Wyatt's first photo op...he'll probably hate me for posting this one day.
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Molly's first photo op...it's a little heavy on the tubing, but that girl has spunk!
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No turning back now - the last photograph before 2 became 4...
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Well, I've been remiss in updating the ol' blog of late...our last post was on Monday 5/3, which proved to be an auspicious day. At 11:05 and 11:06 in the evening, Molly Joy and Wyatt Alexander were born. Steve and I were sent to the hospital by the on-call doctor at my OBGYN's office (someone I'd never met before). I started having some bleeding earlier in the evening and then a few contractions that were uncomfortable. Once I'd had 4 in an hour, off to the hospital we went. Neither of us thought we'd be there for the duration, but we did put my bag in the car none-the-less.
Upon arrival, they immediately started an IV drip (again, routine for me) and hooked me up to the twin fetal heart rate monitors and the contraction monitor. Again, routine. What was not routine however, was the spike in my blood pressure that they couldn't control or stabilize. So, after what seemed like a short period of time, I was being wheeled off to the OR and Steve was changing into scrubs. This was the point where I freaked out just a smidge ;)
But, after a spinal block (very strange feeling BTW) and being strapped down to the table, it was time.
Molly was born first and weighed in at 5 lbs, 13 oz...Her little brother followed one minute behind and weighed 5 lbs, 10 oz. As Steve likes to say, "There was almost 40 inches of baby inside you!" Yeah, no kidding - I felt it ;)
Wyatt was taken to the nursery, while little Miss Molly was carted off to the NICU and put on a CPAP (breathing machine) and subsequently also treated for jaundice. Needless to say, her hospital stay was a bit longer than ours - she stayed a full week. But, she was able to come home on Mother's Day - pretty darn awesome.
So, Happy Birthday, babies...daddy and mommy love you both very very much!!!

The Great PB&J Heist

Yesterday one of my very good friends came to visit with his son (my godson, Logan). It was wonderful to see them again; visits are too few and far between. We had a great time barbecuing and playing blocks with the little guy, even though it felt like summer outside (way more hot and humid than any of us were prepared for).

The pups did pretty well with Logan too, though they both love little kids and have been around him before. What they cannot resist is the lure of a good sandwich. Poor little Logan's size failed him this time...since he's the same size as the dogs, I think they found an easy mark in the food foraging department.

At one point, I heard Logan's squeaky shoes stop in the hallway and turned around to see Maxx standing in front of Logan (who was holding part of a PB&J) and then Maxx's slobbery mouth found its way around little Logan's hand (sandwich and all). At first, I thought...Oh my god, we're going to have to go to the emergency room...but, as gently as Maxx sucked in that little PB&J-weilding fist, he just as gently released. No scrapes, bumps, bruises or anything...just a mildly startled little baby who ended up giggling two seconds later. While Steve was alarmed, I was actually pleased - not at the fact that Maxx took it upon himself to steal a toddler's sandwich, but at the fact that he was so absolutely gentle when he took it. To be sure, he was reprimanded and had a time out, but this just reaffirms how gentle the pups have always been with little kids.

Incidentally, about 30 minutes later, Sydney sidled up to Mr. Logan (sandwich piece in hand again) and just stood there until Logan handed the gastronomic prize over. Well, nobody said they're perfect. They are dogs, after all...and, I have never met a dog who could pass up food...but, as usual they were very patient with the little guy's petting and block throwing (Maxx got beaned in the head by a Little People block that was hurled across the living room) and I think they were pretty entertained by a person who was just their size ;)