My what big kids we have!

The babies have gone a couple 4 hour stretches between feedings and we are hoping to get them to doing that every time. An extra hour sleep would be AMAZING at this point! Last night all but Brady did a 4 hour stretch he thought he needed to eat every couple hours and did it ever show at his weigh in this morning...he gained 10oz since Monday!

Our home health nurse came today to meet the babies and check in on their weights, I think she was pleasantly surprised to see them all doing so well and gaining at a perfect rate. Everyday we are so grateful for how healthy all four of them are, it is very rare to have a preemie with out having any health issues and even more rare to have four. We talked about things that they should be doing between birth and 6 weeks and they are doing them all already without correcting their age. They all can lift their heads and turn them side to side when on their belly and back, it amazes me! They love tummy time and most of the time after playing for a bit they end up falling asleep on their belly. I wish that they could sleep like that at night they sleep best on their bellies. Here are their latest weights...

Matthew 7 lbs 4 oz (up 9 oz since Monday)
Brady 8 lbs 5 oz (up 10 oz since Monday)
Aubrey 5 lbs 10 oz (up 6 oz since Monday)
Cameron 6 lbs 1 oz (up 5 oz since Monday)

I was thinking that having preemies they would stay small for quite awhile but I was so wrong. They are all already out of the preemie sized clothes and Brady needs me to dig him out some 0-3 month stuff for him and they haven't even reached what would have been their due date yet. I think I need to find a time machine to keep them small awhile longer!

Next week is Ben's final chemo treatment! We are hoping that his pet scan and blood work show that he is in remission and ready to start feeling well again. I know that he will be able to enjoy the babies much more when he feels like his old self. His physical therapist said his strength in his legs is starting to get better so we are hoping that there is hope for a recovery of that as well. It has been quite a year for our family and we are ready to go into 2010 healthy and happy!

Our first outing

Yesterday all the kids had pediatrician appointments in St. Johnsbury and amazingly we made it there on time! It was quite a chore getting 4 babies ready and loaded into the car thankfully we had my mom here to help. The doctor checked them all over and confirmed that they are perfect, LOL! Cameron's hernia incision looked perfect so he didn't have to go with me and Aubrey to Dartmouth today. They are all growing so quickly their latest stats are:

Matthew 6 lbs 11 oz
Brady 7 lbs 11oz
Aubrey 5 lbs 4 oz
Cameron 5 lbs 12oz

After the pediatrician we went to Walmart and everyone looked like it was some sort of circus show at all the babies in the strollers. Luckily everyone kept a look but don't touch approach in the check out line but 3 registers closed down to come take a peek at the babies.

Today my dad, Aubrey and I went to Dartmouth for her eye exam while the boys stayed home with Ben, my mom and Marlene. Aubrey did great on the ride and did better at her eye exam than I did. As soon as she started crying so did I, I hated seeing her eyes clamped open and her uncomfortable. The good news is that her eyes are getting to the mature stage and they don't think she will need any sort of surgery but she gets rechecked in 2 weeks.

Picture Day

1st Family Picture


Matthew


Brady


Cameron


Aubrey


Four little angels


Who's who?


Double duty

WE'RE HOME!!!

The babies and I gave Ben quite a surprise last night when we showed up at home at 7:00. He didn't expect us because Cameron had failed his car seat test but one of the nurses had him try a car bed and he passed!

Kate and I picked Cameron up at the hospital then went and got my mom's car loaded up and the other babies and we were on our way! It was a long ride, the car bed takes up 2 seats so I sat on a milk crate in the back so I could keep an eye on the kids while Kate drove.

We had to stop and get them out of their seats every hour so our first stop was in Concord at Michael's. People were in amazement that there were four of them and everyone asked questions about them. Next we stopped at Allison's office to change and feed them all then finally home. They all slept well and adjusted to the new surroundings.

I was given a great surprise when I got home too. Our friends and family did a beautiful cleaning on our house. Our dryer was burning up so my mom got us a new one, thank god, I don't know what we would do without one of them. We had a new microwave and toaster oven, a new step on the porch and a new bedroom that looks like it came straight out of Extreme Makeover!

We don't know how to even begin thanking everyone for all they have done for us, we are so fortunate! We are so happy to be home!

Peaceful night!

All the babies decided to treat us to sleep last night! The three at home were all asleep by 10 pm and only woke up at 1:30 and 4 for bottles. They decided to get up for the day at 7:30. Mom and Dad are relieved to get a great nights sleep!

Cameron is doing well even though he is still in the NICU until tomorrow. No spells for him since Saturday morning!

Ben is headed home today so Kate is here to help out and my mom came down for a bit too. The babies are going to be so spoiled this week! LOL!

Change of plans

Cameron had a bradyacardia spell last night and he stopped breathing for a few seconds at a time several times before it so they aren't going to let him come home on Monday. So we are on a five day spell count down now and hopefully will be home on Thursday.

Brady has adjusted to being home with us quite well. He is sleeping great at night and is no problem waiting his turn to eat or be held. He is such a good boy hopefully he stays that way. He is starting to be awake a little more during the day, maybe now he will stop getting so chunky from being so lazy.

Matthew is doing good too. He thinks 9 pm to midnight is play time but other than that he sleeps well at night and is alert for small periods in the day that seem to get longer each day. He sounds like a little chipmunk when he starts making noises and Brady does it back to him so I think they are speaking in their own language.

Aubrey is having a hard time adjusting to life outside of the hospital. She decided to stay up until 5 am this morning and now thinks she need to sleep all day long to make up for it. I hope she has a better night tonight.

Ben is headed home on Tuesday for his next to last treatment so Auntie Kate is coming to spend some time with the babies. Ben and I think we should stick Aubrey with her and I take the boys...LOL!

Remembrance Day

Today is pregnancy and infant loss awareness day. I am sure all of you know someone who has suffered this type of loss, keep them in your thoughts today. I know that
I am even more grateful for our little ones today.

It is looking like the 6 of us will fnally be coming home Monday! Aubrey is on the schedule for release tommorrow and Cameron on Monday. Let the fun begin!