Pokey, But Oh So Cute!!

Avery and Aubrey are now 4 weeks old (wow, where does the time go?!) and are 36 weeks gestation today. While we were hoping to share with you that our girls have made progress in the bottle feeding department, it appears that our girls are a little pokey....but they are so darn cute you can hardly blame them for not hurrying up to get home! They both now are offered two bottles a day and they definitely are learning that eating from the bottle is much more tiring than getting fed by the tube. Although they are pretty content being fed by the tube, we are hopeful every day that the "light might turn on" and they will start taking the bottles one after another. Avery is a little more pokey when it comes to bottle feeding...she has only taken two full bottles all together, but we know that it is all just a matter of time. Aubrey has completed a few more bottles than Avery and has had several chances to nurse this week, although once again, a little pokey with that type of feeding experience too!! However, rest assured, if these babies are anything like their parents, they will learn to love to eat! Once again, we really hope that this coming week is the big week that they start to make progress with bottle feeding--an important part to be discharged to home!!

Both the girls are doing very well and we are so thankful for every day that they are healthy. Both Avery and Aubrey are treated for reflux, which is commonly seen in premature infants. Aubrey continues to be treated with caffiene for her spells with holding her breath. She will be coming home on a monitor and we hope that Avery is able to get away without one. I wish we knew when they were coming home--but it is all up to them. As I have learned through the pregnancy and this bottle feeding experience--it is not on my time and they already rule the roost when it comes to their own schedules! They better get it out of their system now, because we are huge supporters of a schedule--Baby Wise here we come!!

This week the girls have really taken off in the growth department. Both girls have double chins and Avery is pushing a triple chin!!! Avery is now 4 pounds and 15.5 ounces (just shy of 5 pounds!) and Aubrey is now 4 pounds and 7.6 ounces (just shy of 4 1/2 pounds!). They have really packed on the weight and and it is amazing to see how much bigger they seem this week. Avery is actually even starting to feel "heavy!" Both girls are still sporting their beautiful "preemie clothes" and probably will remain in these clothes for a few more weeks until they can move into newborn size clothes.

Both girls are getting quite a reputation in the NICU. Despite being careful not to eat offensive foods, they have some serious stinky diapers, and many of them!!! It is pretty much a daily event to quarantine the trash can that the girls diapers go into...they might be small, but their smell is mighty!!! Aubrey especially has been known to have several explosions, both on nurses and doctors--she better get that out of her system now!!

We have a few pictures to share this week and hope you will enjoy them. 



Thank you Jodi for these beautiful boppy covers with the monogramed names. What a special gift that I love!

The next few pictures are new decorations in the nursery, which is coming together piece by piece:)

 Avery:

Check out my double chin! 

 This is what I think of bottle feeding--simply exhausting!

 Avery loving her time in daddy's arms.

 We catch a glimpse of her eyes open--a rare occasion after a bottle feeding attempt!

Oh so pretty. Seeing if we like a side part in our hair. Sure beats the crazy bed head that is her norm!

So precious is all that comes to mind.

Aubrey:

I'm getting a double chin too, but just everything about me is a bit smaller. I'm small but mighty-don't you worry!

Checking us out while she enjoys her time being held.

She is starting to get some crazy bed head like her sister. Look how much her face has filled out in this picture.

 This picture and the following picture show Aubrey sacked out after her nursing attempts. She looks like she just ran a marathon!