Let the Crazy Begin

What a week/past few days we have had.  Where to start?  We have TWO babies home with us for starters!  Irene came home on Friday 11/18 and Brooks came home yesterday, 11/20.  They are both doing great and are very sweet babies.

Little Anna is just growing and now is about 3 lbs 11 oz.  She is in the step down part of the NICU and has started taking some bottles which is huge progress.  We can't wait to have her home as well and hope that it will not be too long.  The NICU nurses are wonderful and are taking good care of her while she is there.  We have had one setback with our sweet girl that we hope is minor and will resolve soon.  They discovered last week that she has some bleeding on her brain (IVH is the technical term).  It is one of those wait and see situations - we are very hopeful that it will resolve on its own without any medical intervention needed.  They are scanning her every few days to try to determine if it is growing or shrinking.  Please keep her in your prayers.  We hope to know more this coming Thursday. 

Friday night was so exciting - our first night home with a baby!  And guess where we spent it....the emergency room (not for the baby).  Friday night in the emergency room on a game weekend in Oxford is not recommended, by the way.  Thank goodness Meme was here to keep Irene.  I've been having some issues with nausea the past few weeks that have now turned into pain and I can't really keep food down.  It looks like it may be gallbladder related (but not stones at least).   Not super fun, especially when I have new babies at home to take care of and one in Memphis I want to be with as much as possible.  Hopefully we can figure out what is going on and get it resolved soon.  I must say Jack is an incredible dad - not only doing his part but stepping in and doing a lot of my part also when I don't feel well, while he is still driving to Memphis to work every day.  I won't embarrass him any further but he is so sweet with the girls. 

Here are a few pictures.  More to come soon once I get them better organized.

Irene saying goodbye to Anna last Friday

Irene saying goodbye to Brooks last Friday

Brooks getting ready to leave the NICU Sunday

Hanging with Anna

Seriously, the NICU nurses are the greatest.  Kim, the nurse that often has Anna and Brooks made me a card with lots of cute pics of them since I didn't feel well enough to come up that day.  So sweet!

Brooks napping at home

Irene napping at home

It is amazing the progress they have made in less than three weeks.  When I look back at the first week of pictures they are full of IVs and tubes and wires - hard to believe how quickly they have grown and developed.  I'm so thankful for the NICU staff that has helped them get where they are (and on a schedule, too). 

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving this week and some visitors/helpers.  Meme is already here and helping out tons with the girls and around the house.  Anna Ruth and Fran are coming tomorrow, and Will and Dad will be here later this week.  It will be a chaotic but fun Thanksgiving!