On to regular formula!

Our dr appt went well. She is very pleased with both babies' progress. Hank weighed 12 lbs., and Hayden was 9 lbs. 15 oz. She has taken us off the high-calorie formula they were on, and they'll now be drinking regular formula. She also said they can have some oatmeal in addition to the rice cereal they are already getting. Thanks for checking in!

A vacation - right down the road

H&H spent their first night in a hotel room last night. We had a really quick but bad storm come through Vicksburg yesterday, and our power was out for 18 hours. We got a room so we could keep their bottles cool and warm them up for feedings, and just for overall comfort. It didn't phase the babies at all, but Jay & I didn't sleep a wink. We're not used to sleeping in the same room with them, so we heard every grunt and snort. Hank found his grin on Saturday. He'd been smiling some, but not regularly or in response to us. Now he does, but he's still stingy with them, which makes his grins extra special. Hayden smiles all of the time and is in the best mood when she first wakes up (she doesn't get that from her parents!). We have a dr appt on Wed. so we'll have updated weights then. Have a great week!

Happy Father's Day to Jay!

The babies are doing great. Hank is sleeping through the night consistently, now. Hayden does it, too, but not as regularly. She did last night, though. I think Hank is between 11.5 and 12 pounds. Hayden is between 9.5 and 10 pounds. We go back to the dr next week, so I'll have definite weights then. I'm back at work full-time now, so Jay is at home with the twins. We've found someone to keep the kids when school starts, and we are so excited about her. Thanks to everyone who was praying for this need. I took some cute pics this weekend and will try to post them this evening. Y'all have a great week.

Finally!

H&H slept all night last night--a whole 8 hours straight!!! We fed them at midnight (we're late-night people, so we're always still up at midnight) then put them down and went to sleep. At 7 a.m. I bolted straight up in bed and freaked out. I ran in their room to make sure they were still breathing, and of course they were. So I went back to bed until they woke us up at 8. Hallelujah! It may not happen again for a while, but at least we know they are capable of it. We're about to go get our baths--they both love them. I put their tubs up on the bathroom counter, and they watch themselves in the mirror and splash having the best time. Since we can't really go anywhere and do anything, I let their bathtime be their special fun time. I let them make the biggest mess, and I get sopping wet, and I don't care. Maybe I'll take some bath pics this week and post them. Thanks for checking in! Have a great week!

Mr. Mom

We're still doing great. I started back to work part-time this week. Jay's at home with the twins. He's having to get up with them at night, and he's exhausted. I think they realize that it's Daddy that's taking care of them, and they've ganged up on him. They haven't been the best babies the past couple of nights, and I hope it gets better soon, since I know exactly what Jay's going through. We think we may have found someone who will keep the kids when school starts back. She comes very highly recommended, and we're going to meet with her today. Thanks to everyone who've been praying that this need be met. I hope it works out!!!

Time flies...

Can y'all believe it's June already??? Time sure flies! Everyone is doing great. Just wanted to say that I've re-organized the photo links below. No new pics since the last update on Sunday, though. Have a fun day!

Happy Memorial Day

Hey, everybody! We've got some cute, new pics in the May 2004 gallery for you to check out. We're back from McComb, and we had a great trip. Hayden has been smiling and laughing a good bit, and Hank is just beginning to do the same. We weighed on my grandmother's doctor's scales today, which seem to be right on the money with our pediatrician's. Today, Hank was 10 lbs. 5 oz. and Hayden was 8 lbs. 7 oz. It's unbelievable how much heavier 2 lbs. is. Hayden feels so light compared to Hank. Gotta run. Y'all check out the pics and have a great Memorial Day!

The other white meat

Well, we've got some porkers on our hands! Hank is 9 lbs. 15 oz. now (yes, you read that right), and Hayden is 8 lbs. 2 oz. We're in McComb right now and the babies are getting spoiled left and right. We're in for trouble when we return to the real-world of Vicksburg. They started on prune juice this morning to try to kick their stomach problems, and I think it's already working. Thanks for checking up!

Our first all-nighter

Well, we had our first bad night last night. Hank's little tummy is stopped up, and he cried all night. Finally, at 5:15 a.m. I went to Wal-Mart to get some supppositories (lovely, I know). We all finally got in bed at 7:30 a.m. You know it's bad when you read the Sunday morning paper as you're getting ready to go to sleep rather than when you first get up! Hank felt much better after that, and we can't wait until we see the dr on Wednesday to get this problem solved (hopefully). We're dying to know what they weigh now. This cereal looks like it has really put some weight on Hank. He doesn't even look like pictures from just a few weeks ago. Hayden has become the good child over the past several days. I don't know if it has to do with Hank's tummy or what, but she's been an angel, and he's been very high-maintenance. Of course, right as I type this, Hayden just started screaming her head off. Better run. Check for a couple of new pics in the May gallery. Have a great week!

Same ol' stuff

Okay, don't hate me. Sorry I haven't updated, but there really isn't anything to update. Everyone is still doing well, and we are still having fun. I've been trying for a week to get Hayden to roll over for the video camera, and I finally got her the other night--twice. All the other times, she'd do it, I'd run to get the camera, and she wouldn't do it again. Typical. Hank could probably do some tricks, too, if he'd just stay awake long enough. What a lazy kid! Hayden loves to help me update the website and email people, so she's with me now. Where's Hank, you ask? Where he always is--asleep. I should be thankful that they aren't both wide-eyed at the same time! We have no plans for this weekend, so we are looking forward to some family time at home. I put a new picture in the May 2004 gallery. It's nothing big, I just thought H & H looked cute hanging out in my grandmother's chair. Enjoy.

Trip #2

We're back from our second trip to McComb, and again we had a great time. H&H had some more visitors, and were in great moods for all. The cereal is doing the trick, and we aren't spitting up anymore--yay! I know they're going to get so fat now! Hank has already moved up to size 1 diapers. Hayden is beginning to laugh and smile a good bit. We don't know what Hank is capable of doing, since he sleeps the days away...lazy bones! We have no doctor appointments this week, and I am so excited. It's nice to not have to do anything. This is Jay's last week of school, then we'll have a few weeks of family time before I go back to work, then Jay will have them for the remainder of the summer. I'm off to unpack from the weekend. I'll try to take some pics this week and post them Friday. Check back and have a great week!

Eatin' Wheaties now...

We've got some fatso kids on our hands--well, at least one... Hank is 8 lbs. 5 oz. and Hayden is 7 lbs. even. They're about to get even bigger, though--They have acid reflux, so the dr told me to put a little cereal in their milk from now on... They're going to be monsters! Everything else looked great, and we don't go back to see her for 2 weeks--they'll get some of their shots then, too. Have a great week! Oh, I almost forgot--Hayden rolled over twice last night. I wasn't sure if she really did it the first time, so I put her back on her belly, and she did it again... I see gymnastics in her future!

No ROP for Hank

The eye dr appt went very well. In fact, Hank's retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has healed, and he won't have to go back to the eye dr until he's a year old! Hayden is one step behind him and will have to go back in two weeks, but that will probably be her last visit for a year. Many of you remember my mentioning the Allen twins born back in February at 22 weeks and just over a pound. They are still in the hospital but are doing way better than they ever expected. You can check up on them by visiting their site www.babiesonline.com/babies/b/blaneanddylan If you get a chance, please say a special prayer for Blane as he has surgery on Thursday to insert a shunt into his head. He will have to be transported to UMC for the surgery, and I know his parents would appreciate the prayers. Thanks, friends... Y'all are the "bestest"!

Our first road trip

Wow! It seems like forever since I've updated. We've been in McComb since Thursday, and we had the best time. We got to see lots of family and friends that hadn't seen the twins yet, and H&H got to meet their great-grandfather Gilbert. How exciting! They slept the whole way there and back, and didn't miss a beat the entire time we were there. In fact, we plan to go back this coming weekend since Jay will be out of town for a soccer tournament. I went to my friend Deedre's wedding (congrats to her and Jim!). She was beautiful, and the wedding was so sweet. I got to see a couple of friends from high school there, one of whom has boy/girl twins also. The highlight of our trip was a special Mother's Day gift that I received today. Actually, it's for both Hayden and me. My aunt passed down to me my great-grandmother's engagement ring, and one day it will be Hayden's. How special is that? We have an eye dr appt in Jackson tomorrow (Mon.), and I will update tomorrow evening on the results of that. I will be uploading later tonight some new pictures from our McComb trip to a new photo album entitled "May 2004". Enjoy!

Gaining weight...

Our pediatrician appointment went great. The babies have gained 6 oz. putting Hank up to 7 lbs. 10 oz. and Hayden at 6 lbs. 9 oz. It's only a pound difference, but Hank looks like Hayden's older cousin, not her twin brother--he's huge!!! He feels like a bucket of lead, while she feels like her bones are made of drift wood. They are so different--in looks and temperament. Hayden is very demanding--when she's hungry, she's hungry, and she wants food right now! Hank, bless his little heart, he's so laid back that he'd starve to death before he caused a scene. We think that Hayden has reflux, she spits up a good bit, and it really ticks her off. So now, we sit her in her car seat for 30 minutes after each feeding. We just started this today after our appointment, so we'll let you know how it goes. The twins and I are making the big trip down to McComb this weekend. My good friend Deedre' is getting married, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. And I also want the babies to meet their great-grandfather who is unable to make the trip to Vicksburg. The doctor said that traveling is not an issue--fill their bellies up and they'll most likely sleep the hour and a half it takes to get there. The main thing is just making sure they're in a good environment when we get there--no smoking, pets, etc., and still keep them confined to the house (my grandmother's). We've got that covered, and I'm so excited about getting to show them off to family that haven't met them yet. We will see the eye dr again on Monday and the pediatrician on Tuesday, so we'll have new weight updates then. It's driving us crazy not knowing their weights on a daily basis like we used to when they were in the hospital. I'm considering sneaking them out to Kroger in the dark of night to weigh them on the produce scale! Just kidding, of course! Y'all have a great week!

Hungry, hungry hippos

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. As you can imagine, things are quite crazy here at home. The babies are great, but all the laundry and bottle-washing is insane! We've been putting the twins in the same bed during the day, and they are so cute. They snuggle up with each other, but as the next meal time approaches they start trying to eat each other! Yesterday, Hank was sucking on Hayden's forehead while she was sampling his arm. Of course, they wiggled out of position before I could get a picture. I'll try to take some cute pics this week and post them. Thanks for checking in--we're all doing great!

Million Dollar Babies

We had a great checkup with the pediatrician today. She said that Hayden & Hank are both "super". She has no concerns with them right now, and thinks they are both a little ahead of where they should be at this point (I knew they were smart!). They've both gained 9 oz. in the week that they've been home--Hank is 7 lbs. 4 oz. and Hayden is 6 lbs. 3 oz. She would like to see them weekly, just to keep an eye on their weight gain, which right now is right on schedule. We got our hospital bill today... Many of you have asked how much it was going to be, and many of you have wondered but weren't sure if it was appropriate to ask. We don't mind telling--so far, the tally is $698,691.75!!! Thank goodness for insurance and Medicaid (all babies born under 1200 grams automatically qualify for Medicaid, and ours were 840 and 800). That means we aren't responsible for one dime of the bill... How awesome is that??? (Thanks to everyone for paying their taxes! Betcha didn't realize you weren't just PRAYING for H&H, you were PAYING for them, too!) I better go check on the kids--Hayden spit up in her bed, so I had to strip the sheets. Putting more sheets on is a two person job, so I'm waiting on Jay to come home to help. In the meantime, the twins are in the same bed, and I hope they don't kill each other. They are both so mobile, scooting and clawing at everything. Keep checking in for more updates...

HAPPY 100 DAYS OLD, H&H!!!

The babies had an eye doctor appointment today, and everything looked normal. He has been seeing them weekly since they were 5 weeks old because of possible eye problems associated with prematurity and prolonged receipt of oxygen. He even checked them today to see what the prognosis was for glasses down the road, and he doesn't think that they will need them as toddlers, which is also good news. The kids did great on the trip over to Jackson--they slept the entire time--even through their exams. Hank woke up briefly in the waiting room, but Hayden was sacked out. They began to stir when we were just a few blocks from returning home. What troopers! Tomorrow (Tues) we have our first pediatrician appointment. It will be interesting to see what they weigh--we got spoiled with daily weight updates while they were in the hospital, and it's killing us to not know if they are getting enough food. We'll be sure to update with the latest stats from tomorrow's appt. Have a great Tuesday!

Home Sweet Home

Y'all, we are having so much fun! These babies are absolutely precious and keep smiles on our faces all day long. We've had lots of family visiting over the past few days--enjoying unlimited snuggle time with the twins. The babies are adjusting well, staying on their schedule for the most part. Hank is a great baby--sleeps right up until feeding time with just a little play time in between feedings. Hayden, on the other hand, falls asleep while eating, then wakes up hungry a couple of hours later. I talked to one of the NICU nurses tonight, who told me to do my best to keep Hayden awake, so I did, and it worked. She's still asleep, and there's 3 minutes until the next feeding. Thanks for keeping up with us... I know everyone is just about as excited as we are!

WE ARE HOME!!!

All four of us came home today, and my feet haven't touched the ground since Sunday--I'm floating! It is so good to see these fat, healthy babies with no tubes or wires, and hold them any time I please. We had a great time with Hayden & Hank the past 2 nights in the hospital. Everything went very smoothly, and we never had to call for the nurse at all. We all slept really good, and they were no trouble. We finally got to play the long-awaited game of dress-up in some day gowns that my grandmother Gilbert and her mother made 50-something years ago for my mom, aunt, and uncle. We took lots of pictures, and I hope to get them uploaded tonight. H & H eat at 9, 1, and 5, which isn't a bad schedule for us. Their discharge weights were Hank--6 lbs. 11 oz. and Hayden--5 lbs. 10 oz. We have really enjoyed having them home. They are adjusting fine and are sleeping soundly right now. They also slept the entire trip home in the car. I got some cute pics in their car seats... they looked so grown-up! We have our first pediatrician appt in Vicksburg on Monday, then it's back to Jackson on Tuesday for an eye dr appointment. I'm going to catch a few Z's, but before I do I, along with H&H (in their slumber), will thank the Lord for all of you who have prayed for us and kept up with us over the past 3+ months. We really couldn't have done it without you!