Oct. 31, 2007

Emerson says Peak-a-BOO!

Emerson's a pumpkin!

Stella's sticking her tounge out at all of you!

Stella is a pumpkin too!

HAPPY 1st HALLOWEEN!! The girls celebrated their first Halloween today. They wore their pumpkin hats for the big day. The girls stayed about the same weight, Emerson is 3 lbs 4 oz and Stella is 3 lbs 3 oz. They're also a little longer Emerson is 14 1/2 in. long and Stella is 15 in. long. We learned infant massage yesterday and the girls seem to really like it. We put the second crib together and got their room straightened up...a little wishful thinking!!

Oct. 30, 2007

The girls had another great day. They increased their food to 32 cc's every 3 hours. I was able to feed Emerson with a bottle for the first time today! Emerson is 3 lb 4 oz and Stella is 3 lb 3 oz. We got the cribs for the girls today and put one together. I'm starting to feel more and more like a Dad, I love it!

Stella (L) & Emerson (R)

Stella

Emerson

Mommy holding Stella

Daddy feeding Emerson

Oct. 29, 2007

The girls are doing great. Emerson weighs 3 lb 2 oz and Stella weighs 3 lb 1 oz. Emerson finally passed Stella! Their feedings were increased to 30 cc's every 3 hours. The girls met their Great Grandma and Grandpa Benson and their Great Aunt Karen and Uncle Larry! They loved it! There will be more pics tomorrow.

Oct. 28, 2007

Here's our boxer Rambo enjoying Emerson & Stella's passy

Our girls were officially 3 lbs yesterday! It's amazing how a 3 lb baby can look so chubby! They're doing great!

Stella & Emerson sleeping

Stella & Emerson

Our little angles!!!!

Oct. 27, 2007

THREE POUNDS!!!

Stella and Emerson
Stella

Emerson

Oct. 26, 2007

The girls are creeping up on the 3 lb mark quickly. Stella is 2 lb 15 oz and Emerson has almost caught up at 2 lb 14 oz. They absolutely love being together and are thriving. It's amazing seeing how much they've grown in the two days I didn't see them because of class and parent/teacher conferences. I am used to not seeing them maybe once a week, but not seeing them two days in a row just killed me. It was so nice to see and hold them today. Here's our little angels!

Emerson (top) & Stella (bottom)

Stella

Emerson

Oct. 25, 2007

The girls are really enjoying each others company. They were downgraded from the high flow nasal cannula to normal nasal cannula. Their feedings were increased to 28 cc's. They are doing great. They were 2 lbs 11 oz and 2 lbs 13 oz last night. I'm pretty sure they are the cutest little girls ever!!

Stella (L) & Emerson (R)

Oct. 24, 2007

Well, apparently our daughters enjoy spooning. They are doing great. Their feedings were increased to 27 cc's. They are in a bigger bed so they have more room to relax together. They really enjoy being with each other. They seem much more relaxed and at ease being with each other. Here are the girls laying together.

Emerson & Stella spooning!!!
Our pretty little girls!!

Oct. 23, 2007

It was another great day for our little girls. They are both doing great. We are definitely grateful and happy for the days that nothing goes wrong. They seem to really enjoy being in the same bed. It's fun watching their personalities come out. The girls had their first eye exams today, but we haven't heard any results yet. Emerson weighs 2 lbs 9 oz and Stella weighs 2 lbs 12 oz, so they have both gained a full pound since being born! Here are my little girls today!

Emerson (top) & Stella (bottom)

Stella sucking her thumb!

Emerson's pretty face!

Oct. 22, 2007

Another great day! No changes, which is a good thing. The girls loved being in the same bed together. It's fun watching them interact with each other. They are both making great progress and growing. We're definitely grateful for the good days!! The girls were given a break from each other this evening so the nurses could do their assessments. They seemed to like the break from each other because they both fell right to sleep when they were put in their own beds! Here are the beautiful girls today.

Emerson

Stella

Stella & Emerson

Oct. 21, 2007

Today was another amazing day. Emerson is off the nose prongs and is on the nasal cannula and doing great. Stella is still doing great. Both their feedings have been increased to 25 cc's. As you can see by the pictures they were able to be put in the same bed and they loved it. Things are looking up and going great. Emerson is 2 lbs 7 oz and Stella is 2lb 11oz. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Here's a couple pics and videos of the girls big day.

Stella (left) & Emerson (right)

Stella & Emerson

Emerson & Stella

Stella & Emerson

October 20, 2007

Stella resting
Emerson sucking her thumb

Another great day! Our girls are still making progress. They are continuing to gain weight and seem to be getting stronger every day. Emerson weighs 2lbs 5oz and Stella weighs 2lbs 10oz! Emerson will hopefully transition to the nasal cannula on Sunday. Once they are both on the nasal cannula, they should be able to start sharing a bed soon! We are so thankful for all of the love and support that we continue to receive daily from all of our friends and family.

Oct. 19, 2007

Daddy got to hold both Emerson and Stella today!! They are still doing great. Their feedings were increased to 24 cc's. Emerson is 2 lbs 5 oz and Stella is 2 lb 8 oz. They have started lowering Emerson's vent to try and get her off of it. Here's a few pics from this evening.

Daddy holding both Emerson & Stella

Emerson w/ Daddy

Stella w/ Daddy

Oct. 18, 2007

Emerson Ann

Stella Louise

It was another great day. No changes!!!! They still seem to be growing and progessing by the day. Here are a few pics of them today.

Oct. 17, 2007

The girls are doing great again today! Their feedings were increased to 23 cc's every 3 hours and they are handling it well. Emerson is 2lb 4 oz and Stella is 2lb 7 oz. Emerson is still on the nose prongs and is staying around room air and Stella is staying around room air on the nasal cannula. The girls are doing great. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. Please continue to pray for our girls to keep progressing. Here they are with their pumpkin hats on today!!!

Emerson hanging out with her pumpkin hat on!!!

Stella smiling with her pretty hat on!!

Oct. 16, 2007

Today was another great day. Emerson was taken off of the chest tube vent and is doing great. Stella is still doing great on the nasal cannula. Stella gained another ounce and is up to 2 lbs 5 oz, and Emerson is up to 2 lbs 4 oz. They seem to be growing by the day. They are still very small babies, but compared to what they were, they seem huge!!!! Thank you to all our friends and family that are still praying and supporting our girls and us. (More pics tomorrow!)

Oct. 15, 2007

Today was a much better day than yesterday. The girls are doing great today. Emily got to hold them both at the same time. They are probably going to be taking Emerson off of the chest tube vent again tomorrow. She seems to be over the pneumonia and doing great. Stella should be taken off of her IV and be done with it. She is still on the nasal cannula and handling it well. They are both up to 22 cc's of food every 3 hours. Emerson is 2 lbs 3 oz and 13.5 inches long and Stella is 2 lbs 4 oz and 14.25 inches long. Here's the little angels resting today.

Chunky little Emerson resting!!

Stella posing for the camera

Oct. 14, 2007

This was a very eventful day. The day started good and the girls were making progress. Emerson was off the chest tube vent and Stella was on the high flow nasal cannula. Mid-morning Emerson had a heart rate drop that took the doctors bagging her to get it back up. Stella had a couple little episodes as well. So, Emily and I get there and are told we can't hold them because of their eventful morning and they didn't want to stress them out by moving them. After we leave, the girls seemed to be doing well. The doctor called us and said they had to put Emerson back on the chest tube vent because she had a couple other episodes and they are going to be doing more tests to see if she needs some antibiotics. Stella had a pretty good afternoon and seems to be doing good on the nasal cannula. Please pray for our girls to continue to be strong and to continue to fight and progress. Here's a couple pics of our little stinkers.

Emerson resting

Emerson trying to open her eyes

Stella looking around

Stella smiling for the camera

Oct. 13, 2007

The girls had an OK day. They both had a few heart rate episodes today. The doctors found out the Stella has a little bit of an infection and needed some antibiotics. As you can tell, they had to put the IV in her head to give her the antibiotics. Emerson was also having some the heart rate issues and the doctors thought that she was getting tired of the ventilator. She was taken off of the ventilator and she is doing great! Emerson is 2 lbs 3 oz and Stella is 2lbs 1 oz. Here's a couple pics of the girls

Stella resting

Emerson resting

Oct. 12, 2007

The girls are doing good today. Emerson's doing a little better each day and Stella is continuing to progress as well. They're going to try and take Emerson off the chest tube vent this weekend. They are both over 2 lbs now. Here are a couple pics of the girls.

Stella resting

Daddy holding Emerson

Oct. 11, 2007

Happy Birthday girls...1 month old!!! They both had pretty good days. Stella was downgraded back to the CPAP respiratory because she was having too many episodes and was acting very tired. Emerson is doing much better with her pneumonia, the doctors said it was almost cleared. I found some micro-preemie outfits online just after they were born and we were able to put the outfits on them today for the first time. Here are a few pics of them with their clothes on.

Stella's matching hat

Emerson's matching hat

Stella's bow

Pretty little Stella

Emerson's bow

Pretty little Emerson