Stella and Lucia are 1 month old!

I am so happy that the girls were both at home to celebrate their 1 month birthday!  We had another doctor visit today, and the girls are doing great: Stella weighs 5 pounds, 11 ounces and Lucia weighs 5 pounds, 6 ounces.  Hooray for gaining weight.  They are both 18 inches long.  Our pediatrician is so pleased with their progress.

Talia and I had so much fun trying to photograph them.

Stella is on the left and Lucia is on the right

they were so awake during the photo shoot!

I love their little butts!!!

hanging out in their crib

Busy Days!

We've had some very busy but wonderful days at home.

We are all adjusting to sweet little baby noises and cries and loving every minute!  The big girls run to the pack and play as soon as they hear a little grunt and try to stick a paci in one of he twins' mouth. The twins have been given lots of kisses, cuddles, and toys from their big sisters.  It is very sweet.

                           sweet little sisters--not much bigger than a stuffed animal

                              my 4 special girls on Thanksgiving--so thankful!!!

       no matter how I lay them down, they always end up with their heads touching!

Day 25 in ISCU

When I talked to Stella's night nurse this morning, she said that Stella had a great night and was all ready to go...I got very excited but I knew that I would need to talk to the doctor for the official release.  I feel as though I was holding my breath when I walked into the ISCU.  Vivian, one of Stella's favorite nurses, had a box of bottles, diapers and Stella's things all ready to go.  I asked her why all of Stella's things were in the box and she just smiled and said that the doctors had not completed their rounds yet, but she was pretty sure that Stella was going home.

Around 11 am, Dr. Amer came in  and said that Stella was going to be discharged today!!!!  Hooray!  Thank you God!  Stella is coming home!!!

What an incredible feeling...25 days in the ISCU and I get to have both of my daughters home.  Amazing!  The girls are only 36 weeks, 2 days old gestationally, and they are both going to be home...wow.

Here she is all ready to go in her car seat!!!

And here are both girls in the car.

                                                         Stella and Lucia

And we're finally home...home sweet home....

Their first matching outfit:

                                               Lulu and Stella
  

                                        Lulu and Stella


Once again, I just want to stress how thankful I am to so many of you who have been there for us throughout these past few months.  It has been such an interesting time, and I am feeling beyond blessed to have both of my babies home.  Thank you all!!!

Day 24 in ISCU

Stella had another good day--she has been eating like a champ.  Taking a bottle with 70 ml (just over 2 ounces) every 4 hours.  I was also able to nurse her today and she did great.  She has a much stronger latch than Lulu.  It was so great to snuggle with her today.  We are hoping that she comes home either tomorrow or Weds., but no one is willing to confirm a day just yet...a little frustrating.

I'm sure they just want to stare at this beautiful face, but I just want her home!

Lulu saw our pediatrician, Dr. Chen today.  We just love her!  She weighed in at 5 pounds--big girl!   She said that Lulu was "perfect!"  I agree!

Bella Baby Professional Pics

Here is the link to the professional pics taken by Bella Baby at the hospital:

bellababyphotography.com

view my photos

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Enjoy!

Day 23 in ISCU

I had a great visit with Stella today.  We spent all of our time in one of the small parent rooms, so it was great to have her away from all of the beeps in the ISCU.  We got in some good snuggling time.  She also nursed like a champ--so proud of her!

                                                Here she is with Daddy

Thanks to Annie and the Endre family for taking such good care of Lulu while we were at the hospital.  Once we got home, Giana wanted to hold Lulu.  Both Talia and Giana are being such sweet and attentive big sisters.  I am so incredibly lucky!

Daddy reading a bed time story to his girls...and Lulu wanted to listen too!

Day 22 in ISCU

I was so eager to get to the hospital today to see my little Stella.  She did great overnight--eating and sleeping so well.  I talked to the on-call doctor this morning, and they are moving her to a higher calorie addition to her breast milk, so that she gains weight.  She is also getting another ECHO on her heart before they can discharge her.  Apparently, there is more then what they originally thought...not fun to hear.  I am very anxious to get the results.

                                                   Isn't she so sweet?!

Our first night home with Lulu was tiring!  She thought that there was a party in her honor from 1-4, but it was great to have her home.

Here's Talia giving her a bottle before she goes out to her girl scouts event. (She has quite the social life...)

Day 21 in ISCU

A lot has happened these past 3 weeks, and I am feeling incredibly thankful and lucky to have my little Lulu home...so why can I not stop crying?  Leaving Stella at the hospital was even harder then leaving them both when I was discharged.  At least they had each other...

I know that it will only be for a few days, but it is hard to think of them being apart when they have been SOOOO CLOSE their whole lives!  Please think happy thoughts for Stella!

I snapped these pics when the Bella Baby photographer was taking pics--aren't my girls just so beautiful?

Here's Lulu in her car seat...such an itty bitty...

Day 20 in ISCU

Today was a very exciting day...I got to see Stella's sweet face for the first time!  She pulled out her feeding tube, and has been doing a great job taking all of her feedings by mouth, so they are not going to put it back in...unless they have to.  I could not stop kissing her little cheeks!

Even bigger news...LULU IS COMING HOME TOMORROW!!!!  She has been doing great, and all she has to do is pass a car seat test and she can come home.  So excited and so sad at the same time.  While I knew they were probably not going to come home at the same time, it will be really hard to leave little Stella behind.  This will be the longest that they have been  apart.  The doctor hoped that she would be home on Monday or Tuesday.  Please keep your fingers crossed.  Their cribs were very close to each other today...

 I brought in some headbands for the girls so that they can take Bella Baby pics at the hospital...Lulu is so cute, right???

Day 19 in ISCU

Each day in the ISCU gets better and better...and we could not be more proud of our little girls and all of the progress that they have made in such a short time!

When I first walked in this morning, they were both sleeping away, so sweetly.  Here's Lulu:

and here's Stella:

And within a few hours, Lulu's feeding tube was removed (and hopefully for good) so I got to see her sweet little face:

I am hoping that Stella's tube will be removed soon too.

Both girls continue to gain weight--Stella has officially hit the 5 pound mark and Lulu is at 4 pounds, 15 ounces--almost there!!!

The nurses have started to talk to me about the girls being discharged...but the doctors are not willing/wanting to make anything official quite yet.  I am really hopeful that it will be before Thanksgiving!  I'll keep you all posted!  :)

Day 18 in ISCU

The competition between the girls continues...and today it's in a great way!  Stella was placed in an open crib last night too!  So proud of her and all of the growth she has made!  Here she is in her new home:

I was able to take both of the girls into one of the day rooms, and the three of us spent some time together...alone.  It was so great to be with my sweet little girls.  I got a small taste of life with twins: I changed Lulu's diaper at 11, fed Lulu, changed Lulu's diaper again (poop), snuggled with Lulu, then changed Stella's diaper at noon, fed Stella, Lulu cried, put Stella down, picked up Lulu and held her until she fell back to sleep, continued to feed Stella, changed Stella's diaper again (poop), snuggled with Stella, and started the whole process AGAIN...and it was WONDERFUL!  I LOVED every minute of it!!! (except that I needed to go to the bathroom and I was thirsty, but couldn't leave the room, oh well...)

I was able to put both girls in Lulu's crib to go into the room.  

                                               Such sweet little peanuts!

                         Stella and Lucia--not sure why Lulu looks so much bigger here!

In other news, Lulu found her thumb today!  At our 20 week ultrasound, she was sucking her thumb, which made Talia so excited to see since she used to suck her thumb too.  Today was the first time since her birth that I have seen her suck her thumb.  So cute!

                            Stella was so tired after sucking down her entire bottle.

        Hooray for Day 18!  Hopefully, there are not too many more days in ISCU...thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.  We all appreciate them!

   

Day 17 in ISCU

I was so surprised to walk into the ISCU this morning to see Lulu out of the isolette and in a big girl bed!  She has been maintaining her temperature, and has been improving on taking her bottles (and nursing so well, by the way!), so they officially moved her to an open crib.  Another big step in leaving the ISCU.  VERY EXCITING!!!

my lovely little Lulu

Both girls have also been doing a great job gaining weight.  They both weigh the exact same--2184 grams--4 pounds, 13 ounces!  WOW!  When I am changing their diapers, they are starting to get rolls in their little thighs.  Keep gaining, little ones!  

Here's one of our favorite nurses, Vivian, giving Stella her bottle.  She didn't want to take the bottle from me after a great nursing session, but took it all from Vivian.  Good job!!!

Stella sports a very true saying on her shirt--good things DO come in small packages!

Day 16 in ISCU

Talia and Giana could not wait to go back to the hospital today!  At church this morning, they told everyone that they were able to hold their little sisters yesterday.  They are so proud to be big sisters!

                                            Giana and Lucia, Talia and Stella

Stella was wide awake during our visit--isn't she so cute?!

Stella loves to smile!

Daddy snuggling with Lulu...and Gigi too!

So thankful for another wonderful day!  Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers!  I am so proud of my little miracles!