Two Weeks

We are happy to report that there is not much to report. We have kept up our routine of visiting the kids at some point everyday-I skipped out on a visit yesterday because I was having too much fun at my baby shower:

It was the first day I had my hair done and makeup on, and it was so fun to open little outfits and be able to picture the kids in them. We also got some of the best pictures framed including these:

Evidentally, we love Adam more since we have held him 3 times to 2 and have more pics of him. We'll have to do something about that.

Medically, they are still working on breathing-(although they are both on room air most of the time) and eating (although they are increasing their feedings everyday). And...they now weigh just over 3 lbs!

They're both experts at sneezing, pulling out their feeding tubes, lifting up their heads to change position, and crossing their eyes which Dad thinks is hilarious.

In other news, we took a time out and saw Get Smart (The NICU nurses make really good babysitters) I don't have any idea if it was good or not-it was just nice to be somewhere fun!

And...Ryan and his friend went to a local casino to try out for Who Wants to be a Millionaire. One of them passed the test. One of them didn't. But out of the people in this picture, only Meredith will be appearing on the show. Don't worry-we'll make sure our kids are smarter than their dad :)

And...we want to wish a belated Happy Birthday! to our dear Tate. We love you! From, your two new favorite cousins!

All is Well

Nothing much to report today. The babies haven't changed too much in the last couple of days. They adjust their feedings and their oxygen levels slightly, and they are on and off their lights, but that's about it. Today is the first day that I have stayed home from the hospital, but Ryan went and reported that they looked good. It was hard to stay away, but it was nice to get some much needed rest and to get caught up on a few things at home. Can't wait to go tomorrow though.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support. We really feel them, and it helps through the rough moments-because despite the great reports, there are still definitely rough moments.

Everything is worth it though when I look at these faces:

Note that the nurses cut her bandages into hearts. This makes me happy.

1 Week

Amy got to hold Adam for the first time yesterday. It was adorable seeing his little head rest against her, and his tiny hand reaching out to her, before settling peacefully asleep against the warmth of Mom's skin.

Adam's breathing continues to improve. They're both off ventilators now, but still receiving some additional air pressure through their noses. Rachel's breathing's improving, but more gradually than her brother's. We're hoping to be able to hold her soon.

We got to change both their diapers yesterday. With their breathing tubes out, they can finally cry. And it's music to our ears. Adam's been getting milk through a stomach tube for about 2 days. Rachel just started on feeding today. Before that they were just receiving nutrients through their IVs.

And here's Rachel sporting her new shades. She had a blood transfusion yesterday, and is feeling better. Each little blood sample they take is about 10% of their blood volume, so they can't replace it fast enough. They're both off the jaundice lights now and are continuing to fight and improve.

Quick Update

This is from my Mom's blog...if you don't see something here, you might want to check there for updates too...

Home at last
Hi all. Amy came home last night around 11. We were all exhausted and could not get to bed fast enough. Ryan, the night owl let me sleep until 5 or 6 ish which was heaven. We tag team and try to balance the load. The babies are great - see the link to their blog which will give you more in the way of pictures and update. I have a shopping list to do in between bottle washing and meal making. We are so glad the VTs are bringing dinner tonight! The babies are doing well today. Adam is back on bili lights, they both had their ventilators taken out, and are breathing with the help of a nasal cannula. Adam is on room air but Rachel is on 25% oxygen. The have been moved from warmers into incubators - the kind you stick your hands in the holes to touch them. This is all a phone report and we hope to go see them this evening. It is fun to see their personalities. Adam looks a lot like his Daddy and Rachel has some of his features but leans towards Mom. It is hard to sort out the hairlines and cowlicks as they come from both sides of the family. Poor kids! Thanks for all your prayers - we sure need them.

Other News from the new Mom:

• Adam had a blood transfusion Wednesday which was normal and expected, but very hard to watch. He had an IV taped up his arm and it takes 3 hours for the blood to go in.




• They both had a PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters) Line put in which will be used to give them nutrition. They will be in for a few weeks. This is also normal and expected




• Adam is ready to be given a few drops of milk today. We'll see how it goes.




• No chance of holding them yet...they still have to get more lines out of them, but the prospect is definitely on the horizon. We can touch them gently, but try not to because it may be too stimulating, plus the risk of infection.

It is hard to be home and further away, but it will make each visit more meaningful. We are so grateful for the miracles and blessings from Heavenly Father. Everyone is amazed at how well they're doing, and I know it is a tribute to the wonderful friends and family we have who are praying for us.

Adam's hand

Rachel's leg

Good Hearts

Both Adam (top) and Rachel (bottom) were born with a heart condition that may have required surgery if the medicine hadn't fixed it. After 3 days of treatment, we got the test results and both their hearts are now functioning normally! So no surgery necessary. We also found out today that neither of them are showing any signs of bleeding in the brain (another condition common in preemies). We couldn't be more grateful. As heartbreaking as it is to see your little babies poked and prodded with needles and tubes, the joy of seeing them progress is overwhelming.

They're already starting to show their own personalities. Adam will grab anything in reach... his blanket, your finger, IVs, and his favorite past-time, trying to pull out his breathing tube.

Rachel's favorite past-time seems to be crying. She can't get out a sound with the ventilator in her throat, but her little face scrunches up and she opens her mouth to yell at the world. And yes, she does have a left hand. She's just shaking it so angrily the camera couldn't pick it up.

Amy came home from the hospital tonight. Her recovery's going well, though it's not without the expected pain following a natural birth and a cesarean. And here's my beautiful family...

Thank you all so much for your kindness and prayers. We feel them. Our kids' health reflects them. And that means everything to us.

Ready or Not...

Here they are!

No time or energy to explain the details...but at 29 weeks and 2 days my water broke right after sacrament meeting. I'm just glad I was in enough pain to come home first-otherwise my primary kids probably would have had quite a shock!

Adam Lewis Fitzgibbons

June 15th, 2008

2:40pm

2 lbs. 13.5 oz.

15.5 inches

Born vaginally w/no drugs (thankfully not in the car!)

Rachel Ellen Fitzgibbons

June 15th, 2008

3:00pm

2 lbs. 14 oz

15 3/4 inches

C-Section

So needless to say, Ryan got himself a very surprising and happy Father's Day present. Both babies are doing really well. They will be in the NICU for up to 2 months (prob. until their due date). They are both on ventilators and other numerous tubes and meds, but the outlook is good. Both have received father's blessings (so has their mom). And they open their eyes and squirm when we go see them.

Sorry for leaving you all hanging for more details, but I am one tired mama who needs to go say goodnight to her kiddos. Thanks for all of the support, love and prayers. We really appreciate it. More to come when we feel up to it...

A Dad's Hands

My Dad and I recently applied for licenses to expand our business to the State of California. Along with the applicable forms and fees, we also had to submit fingerprint cards for a background check. My license arrived in the mail a few weeks later. My Dad received a letter about the same time notifying him that his fingerprints had been rejected, and his license application denied. When the police dept. re-fingerprinted him, they commented that the FBI would have a difficult time ever running prints on such rough hands.
Decades of hard work had left his hands scarred, calloused, and cracked. While my hands, I'm embarrased to admit, are soft and smooth. And I guess that's what Dads do. Work hard so their kids' lives will be better than their own. I hope to do the same. I hope that in thirty years my hands will bear the marks of a Dad whose worked hard to sustain, protect, play with, coach, bless, and comfort his family. And one day, I'd like to be rejected for a California business license.

Gma Jean to the Rescue!

Ryan and I are two grown adults who I'm sure could have conquered this baby stuff buying thing pretty well on our own, but...it sure is nice to have a mom around to help!

In the 4 days she was here, we procured:

• 2 car seats
• a double stroller to fit said car seats
• a changing table complete with pad and baskets for stuff

• 2 cribs complete with vibration and flashing light mobile
  



(we only put together one)



• big and small diaper bags
• the swing of all swings
• the breast pump of all pumps
• a portacrib for our room
• sheets and mattresses for all of the above
• a rocker glider w/ottoman, and:
• a few more maternity clothes since I am rapidly growing

(Do you have any doubt as to where our government check was spent?)

I'm sure I'm missing something, but our week was not spent purely for the children. My mom and wonderful husband also spent time:

• cooking for me and making sure I was fed (not an easy task I assure you)
• doing the laundry (mine and the babies)
• cleaning, doing dishes
• scrubbing the faucets, and
• caulking the shower! Thank you!
• 
  It was not all work. We also took a trip down Memory Lane as Mom bestowed me with many of my past baby clothes-most of them are pink dresses with matching bonnets, but not all!

And we had a quick doctor's appointment in which we saw our little guy give us a little blink!And...the fun continued as we headed up to Utah for a joint baby shower with my lifelong friend, Katrina. She is having a baby girl due in just a short month! It was great to see everyone and I am so grateful for every one's generosity. I am especially grateful to have these: Blankets made by my late Gma Livingston...almost 60 years old and still in almost perfect condition! Thanks to Gpa and the rest of the family for allowing me to have them. I wish I had more pictures of everything, but there is only so much you can do about that. I am definitely worn out from all of the above, but feel like this whole thing really is going to happen. The next 10 weeks will probably be the longest of my life (up to this point) but it will have been worth the wait!

Pregnancy Perks

After one of our long days of shopping, we decided to eat at Sweet Tomatos. While waiting in line at the register, I guess my hand went automatically to rest on my belly. I also must have looked pained because the waiter/manager glanced at me and said, "You're not going to have that baby today are you?" Then he immediately mocked into his headset, "Start boiling some water, we're going to have a baby here!" After informing him that it was twins he corrected, "Make that double the water...we're having two!"

But alas, the only water that was involved was the glass of cold ice water that magically kept getting refilled and the relief to my pain was not giving birth, but rather the tray that was swept from my hands and brought to the table for me.

And as we left I was wished good luck and the reminder that, "We have food to go if you find that you can't get out of bed soon"

What a nice guy.

And...it might interest some of you to know that our lovely "usual" waitress at the Harvest Cafe has twin girls of her own. I think Ry picked the right place to frequent.

Are You Smarter than a 3rd Grader?

As a 3rd grade boy I stared in awe through the glass at the printing machines below. I was on the US Mint tour in Washington DC. Never before had I imagined so much money could exist. Large sheets of hundred dollar bills whisked off the printer several times a second. "You must have a bazillion dollars here!" I shouted to the tour guide, "Can I have $1,000?" "That wouldn't be fair to everyone else," she explained. "Well, you could give everyone $1,000 and then it would be fair," I retorted. "But if we gave everyone $1,000 the price of everything would just go up, because people would have more dollars to spend. So everyone could still buy the same amount of things. It would just take more dollars to buy them. It's called inflation." My 3rd grade mind turned that over for a minute. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense."

Fast forward twenty years. This arrived in the mail today.....

And I'm left to wonder; fellow American, are you smarter than a 3rd Grader?

We're Alive...and Kicking

Well, the babies are at least. The Mom, Dad, and Gma are very worn out from our week of adventures. As soon as I can get a decent night's sleep and download my pictures, I will post about the latest happenings. Hint-nursery furnishings and baby clothes to be featured.