More Arms and Hands Please

Today was a hard day in the Dobbelaere house. It all started last night when Kendall wouldn't go to sleep for me and cried until we held her. It's amazing her sister can sleep through all that, being they are in the same room. Kendall and I ended up sleeping in the recliner until early morning. Then it just continued from there, throughout the rest of the day. When one wasn't crying, the other one was. When I wasn't holding one of them, I was holding the other. There were a few times that both needed to be held, but I had to just let one of them cry for a bit...until it was their turn. Then we have Sydney, our spitter...she kept spitting up all day. So not only was it a matter of holding, comforting and consoling them, but also wiping poor Sydney up every time she spit up.

I took a picture of them both sleeping, this was one of the very rare times I had a chance to take a breath and a quick shower. You'll see they are sleeping in boppys. I try to feed them at the same time by putting them in boppys on both sides of me. After this feeding they both took a very short, but wonderful, catnap.

Kendall / Sydney

Though it was a frustrating day, they still brought smiles to my face. At one point I was holding Kendall and had Sydney in the boppy next to us, I just kept looking at them. Kendall gave me a smile, or was it gas...I say smile. And Sydney was just staring at me. I couldn't help but smile and remind myself how lucky I am to have such wonderful, beautiful little girls in my life.

I guess they just wanted to give me a taste of what to expect for the many, many years to come!!!

Full Term

I was just thinking today that this Wednesday, 1-30-08, was suppose to be my due date. How weird, to think 7 weeks after the girls were born. To be perfectly honest, there is no way I'd have lasted this long!!! With their term date only days away, we will no longer be calling them preemies, but newborns.

The girls are doing amazing. They are growing and keeping dad and me on our toes. They are sleeping less during the day and I'd wish they'd sleep more at night. It's fun watching them notice more things. Sydney loves to just look and discover things. Kendall is a bit more of a sleeping head, but she too takes time in the day to just look around.

We had a doctor's appointment last Wednesday and was amazed on the amount of weight both girls put on. Kendall now weighs 6' 11 and Sydney weighs 6' 10. Pretty soon they should be able to wear newborn clothes!!!

I attached a few photos of them...you can see in their faces how they have put some weight on.




Kendall








Sydney









Sydney & Kendall

One Month Old 1/12/08

The girls turned 1 month old on 1/12/08...time has gone way to fast!!! We are adjusting to home life pretty well. The hardest part, getting up in the middle of the night. But I think I'm starting to get use to it.

The girls had their first doctor's appointment on Friday 1/11/08. Sydney now weighs 5lbs 11oz and Kendall is 5lbs 7oz. We've discovered that Syndey has acid reflux and was put on meds for it. It seems to be helping.

Other than that, we are all doing well.




Kendall and Sydney









Sydney










Kendall

Web Nursery Photos

We had photos done at the hospital of the girls and they are now posted. Check out this website to see them...

http://www.webnursery.com/webnursery/parent/Registration.aspx?registrationcode=337bbel

Home Sweet Home

The time has finally come...we are all home!!! What an exciting day for us. Sydney was released from the hospital today, Tuesday 1/8/08. It will be so nice to be at home and not have to visit the hospital any more. To the left is a photo the hospital took before we left with both girls.

Even though the hospital was not a fun place to visit everyday, I will say the staff was wonderful. They are the nicest group of people and truly understand what us families are going through. The love and care you see them give the babies is great! Most of the staff in the Special Care Nursery have worked there for years and love what they do...you can tell it in their work. Even though we didn't really want the girls in the nursery, we did learn a lot. During the time we were there, we received so many tips and suggestions on the girls it was GREAT!!! For first time parents, they lead us in the right direction. It was great for Chad as the nurses fell in love with him. He'd ask them questions all the time about parenting (even though I just gave him the answer) and they even did a little 101 training for him on many different things...such as bottle feeding, diaper changing, etc. We will never forget the staff that worked there, even those that did not handle the girls.

Here is a picture of the girls in their car seats when we got home...they look so little.

Flu/RSV Season

Unfortunately with our girls being preemies and given the time of year, our doctors have strongly recommended we stay away from public places and try to keep children away from the girls until the flu/respiratory season is over. This typically goes through March/mid April.

The girls immune system is very weak right now. If they were to catch something, they'd most likely end up back in the hospital. To prevent this, the girls will be confined to the house through the spring.

We hope they still have some visitors from you healthy adults, they would love to meet more people...and we'd love to show them off!!!

Exciting News on Sydney

Our wishes have come true...Sydney is coming home!!! The doctor just called to inform us that we can do room and bed with Sydney tonight at the hospital. She should be discharged tomorrow. It is finally happening!!! Tonight will be the BIG test, both girls with just Chad and I. Well we are in the hospital, so if we have questions we have experts right there. We are sooo happy and cannot wait to have them both at home, where they should be!!!

I'll send another email in a day or so with an update on her discharge and how we are doing with both babies at home!

Set of 2

We got the girls together and took a picture of them as I was holding them at the hospital. Hope you enjoy the photo as much as we do!

Kendall is Home!

Kendall was discharged from the hospital on Friday 1/4/08. Chad and I were so excited to bring her home, where she belongs. Below is a photo of us at the hospital, right before we left with Kendall.It was a bitter/sweet kind of day, as Sydney was not able to go home with us. However we know she will soon follow.

Kendall has been adjusting to home very well. Sleeping well at night and seems to like her new "digs." She had her first set of babysitters this weekend, so we could visit her sister. Her Auntie Missy watched her on Saturday, while Mommy, Daddy and Grandma Karen visited Sydney. Then on Sunday, her Grandma Shelley watched her for us.

Hopefully by the end of this week, we'll be able to have her sister join her at home!

Guess Whose Coming Home?!?!?!

We have been informed by the doctor that Kendall will be going home tomorrow, Friday 1/4/08. The doctor said that she is doing extremely well and a head of the curve. Chad made sure of this by cross-examining her on many questions. Not sure if that's the attorney in him or the daddy in him??? I just think Kendall was eager to go home with her parents. We cannot wait to bring her home...and hopefully her sister will be home soon.

Sydney should be home within a week, if all goes well. The doctor stated, she is doing what most babies do on average, so there is no alarm.

Again, we have a feeling that Kendall will be the go getter and Sydney will be the laid back child...telling her sister to "calm down."

We'll keep you posted as we have more news.

Homeward Bound

The girls continue to grow and get stronger every day. Yesterday, 1/1/08, Kendall weighed in at 4lbs, 10oz (this is over a pound more then her birth weight) and Sydney weighed in at 5lbs, 1oz. We had a little celebration for Sydney for making 5 pounds.

Sydney is nursing 3 times a day and taking a bottle in the middle of the night. She is a bit more laid back about the whole nursing thing, but does increase her volumes each day. I think she will have the attitude of, "I'll let you know when I'm good and ready." She's a lot like her father!!!

Kendall was moved to que-based feedings. She tells us when she wants to eat, versus being on a schedule. She has been so successful that we now get to move to the next stage. This stage being room and bed at the hospital. Chad and I stay at the hospital for 2 nights with her in the room. If she continues to eat and grow well, we get to bring her home. Hopefully she will be home this Friday or Saturday!!!

Sydney is not far behind her sister. We are hoping by the end of next week, we'll have Sydney home as well. Both Chad and I cannot wait to have them home. We can actually be a family at home!!!

Attached is a great photo of Sydney. They took this when they were replacing her feeding tube. It's nice to get photos of the girls without the feeding tube in their nose. We hope to have some updated photos of Kendall after today with her coming home.

We'll keep you posted as the girls continue to make steps forward!