High Risk Infant Follow Up Program

This program is a service provided by the city to follow up on the progress of infants that were admitted to the NICU after birth. Our hospital referred us to the public health agency for a nurse to make house visits in order to follow the girls' progress and make sure they are reaching optimal growth and development. Because they were 6 weeks early, we want to make sure they "catch up" to their age group by the first year of life. Our first visit from the RN was on Tuesday. She evaluated both the girls and took measurements and asked a lot of questions about how they were doing and progressing. She played some games with them to check their responsiveness and said they were doing all the things that a 2 month old should be doing (the girls are hitting the 2 month milestones right now even though they are technically 3 months due to prematurity). We'll have more visits from other therapists to do more physical and developmental assessments over the next several months.



Here we are working on our daily tummy time to strengthen those neck and back muscles.

Brrrrrrrr! It's COLD!

It has been miserably cold here in Chicago. Tomorrow's high temp is NEGATIVE 2 degrees! Yuck! With all the snow and blustery temps, it makes it impossible for the girls and I to get out. I literally haven't stepped foot outside my condo since Saturday! Definitely looking forward to Spring already.

Charlie doesn't mind the snow at all

Rob's Jeep

Our Stanger - doesn't get used much in this weather

And we have a smile!

The girls just started to give us some smiles in the last few days. It's really too cute. Hard to catch a good one on camera, but here are a few attempts.

Olivia

Caroline

Sisters!

Mommy & Livi

SLEEP, oh heavenly sleep!!!!

No - the girls are NOT sleeping through the night. However, my parents insisted on sleeping in the girls' room last night and getting up with them for the night feedings so that Rob and I could have our first night of sleep. I went to bed and the next thing I knew I turned over to look at the clock and it read 7:00AM!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. 7.5 hours of straight sleep with no interruptions! It was pure heaven. This is a first since we brought the girls home from the NICU. When I got up I peeked in the girls' room to check on them. I smiled to see all four - dad, Linda, Caroline and Olivia - all together asleep on the air mattress. With bottles and blankets strewn about the room, it didn't look like it was such a peaceful night for them. =) They said that the girls slept in their cribs for most of the night but they were just too fussy in the wee hours of the morning so they put them in bed with them. This made me laugh because that is exactly what happens every night for us - the girls almost always end up in our bed after hours of crying, and my parents always gave me such a hard time for it! This morning they conceded that it's not so easy and that they "just don't know how I function after night's like that". It's hard work! Nonetheless, Rob and I greatly appreciate their bravery and them sacrificing a night of sleep for us.

Last night Rob and I got to get out on our own while dad and Linda watched the girls. We hit up a few stores and then went to dinner where we had margaritas, appetizers and a delicious meal. It was so nice to be out with my husband alone, but we were laughing at ourselves that all we did was talk about the girls the whole time. It was fun to have a chance to actually do my hair and makeup and wear big girl clothes (by this I mean something other than sweatpants and a t-shirt covered in baby spit-up). Nice little date night!

3 Months Old!

The girls are three months old today! My maternity leave was officially up and I was actually supposed to return to work this week. However, I couldn't imagine leaving them with a Nanny just yet and also with the nights we're still having I couldn't imagine getting up and going to work in the morning! My boss has graciously given me an extension and I now have more time with my girls.

My dad and step mom are on their way in town again to help out with the girls. It's wonderful that they live close enough to jump in the car and come see us. I already have a hair appointment set up for tomorrow and some gym time penciled in as well! And tonight Rob and I are going out to dinner BY OURSELVES to a favorite little mexican place of mine to have margharitas!! This will be a first since the girls have been born. Then this Saturday is Rob's company's Holiday Party and his parents are babysitting for us so we can go and enjoy ourselves. Gotta love grandparents!!!!

Weigh-In

We had a pediatrician appointment this morning for more shots :( another round of Synagis and also their second round of Hep B. Poor babies were not happy.

Caroline - 9lb, 7.5oz - almost at the 5% on the full term chart
Olivia - 11lb, 0oz - at the 15% on the full term chart

Eating Issues:
Caroline continues to eat less than her sister and it always turns into a scream/cry session EVERY time she eats (keep in mind they eat every 2.5 hrs around the clock). It takes me a full hour to feed her 2-2.5oz because she'll drink a little, cry a lot, want to burp and be held for a few minutes and then drink a little more, cry a lot more, etc, etc. Whhhheeeeww. It's hard work and I'm worn out after she finally falls back asleep. Olivia is a little easier. She eats about 3-4oz at every feeding and gets it down in about 30 minutes. We still fight them from falling asleep before finishing, but they're getting better. I always start each feeding off by feeding both of them together at one time (this is my wishful thinking that maybe one day they'll both just quietly drink all of their bottles in a few minutes without crying and I'll have them both finished and be able to have some downtime between feeding sessions.) But I usually end up having to put Olivia on "hold" and put her bottle down while I deal with Caroline and finish her before I can go back and finish with Olivia. By the time I have both of them fed to content, burped, calmed down and back to sleep it's been about 1.5 hours. and then guess what... I only have maybe 45 mins to an hour before they'll want to eat AGAIN! I'm basically feeding all day long. Ugh.

More Christmas Pictures

Here are some Christmas pictures of us with Rob's family.
~Thanks Uncle Jay!

Our little Family of Four

Mommy's Little Reindeers

And Cousin Katie too!

All the Krupa's Grandbabies

James says, "PRESENTS!"

We love Aunt Kari

Mama Diane

Papa Bede and Katie