Preemie Steps...

AAAHHHH!

I'm starting out this entry full of cute pictures with a not so cute one...yes, this is the current condition of my legs and feet! Carrying twins comes with extra fluid and to boot, I had surgery with general anesthesia, AND I've been on bed rest for 11 weeks. I guess it will be about 2 weeks until my sausage-like feet will re-appear as normal walking apparatuses...good thing I own a lot of flip flops!

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~ODE TO AUNT DEBBIE~

As I have been posting all the picures I have taken over the last few days, I realized I don't have any of my sister, Debbie. except this one my mom took of her and my dad in my hospital room. Not having any pictures of her here is like not having any of my husband! She has stuck by my side through this whole thing. She even slept at the hospital with me the first couple of nights so I wouldn't have to be alone while Tom stayed at Children's with Brooke. We stayed up late (much to my nurse's chagrin. She told me to get a good night's sleep) talking and crying and laughing. She has been by my side for every baby born and this time was no different. Things went so fast though, she missed going into the OR by about 5 minutes. A nurse pointed her in the right direction and told her there was a bench she could sit on to wait. She went down the hall and couldn't find the bench. She said she just started bawling hysterically...she didn't know if I was all alone, or if Tom had made it in time. A nurse comforted her and Debbie asked if she could just stay by the wall and wait, then go with me to the recovery room. The nurse said "I don't think dynamite could tear you away from this spot" and she let her stay. When I woke up in recovery, Debbie was sitting by my feet and checking out my painted toes and shaved legs, which by the way, were only possible because of some sweet friends who had pity on my enlarged belly :) It was really nice to have her there since Tom was with the babies...it made such a hard situation so much easier. I have now found out that it is a general policy for no one, not even husbands, to be allowed to stay in the recovery room with a surgery patient. I guess they could see that she was so incredibly devoted they couldn't keep her away if they tried. Since the first couple of days, she also came to visit and brought me food for the fridge in Summer's room and fed me while I held her for a while. Debbie lives in Monroe, which is only about 15 minutes from here, and is one of the many reasons we chose to have the babies at Evergreen. I am lucky to have her and I don't think I tell her enough...so now you all know :) Thanks Deb :)
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And now, an update on the cute little ones...

We always hear of things happening in baby steps, our lives are currently taking preemie steps...

Summer's diaper, shades, binky, and foot and hand prints

Summer is progressing very quickly without any complications. All the nurses say she does not seem to be so young. She is getting breast milk through her feeding tube, pooping, and peeing nicely :) It all comes to the importance of bodily functions eventually! I have held her twice so far :) The hospital does what they call Kangaroo care. It is something started in Brazil when they had a shortage of incubators. They put the babies on the mom's chest skin to skin for as long as the baby can handle it. The warmth of the mom's body automatically increases to give warmth to the baby. In addition, the baby can hear mom's heartbeat and smell the familiar smells from when they were in the womb. This is so cool. Not only is is great for Summer, but it doesn't hurt me a bit either! All those who have held a sweet baby know how good it feels :) She had been under the UV lights for jaundice, but got taken off yesterday because her belly rubin was low enough. She had her breathing tube taken out on Wednesday and just has something called a CPAP. It goes over her nose and delivers oxygen to force her to remember to breathe. She is breathing very well on her own and has even had her level turned down to 21 percent at times, which is room air. She is finding her voice too...little tiny voice (yes, I know it will get much bigger!) Here are yet more and more pictures...sorry, can't resist the cuteness!

Our family, minus Brooke...hopefully all 7 of us will be together soon!
I first did Kangaroo care with Summer on Friday, July 18th with Grandma Norris looking on Sat. July 19th Kangaroo care without the CPAP
Sweet little Summer...all the nurses like to comment on both of them having so much hair. Apparently it is uncommon for a preemie to have so much, and is definitely uncommon for our babies!
Andrew meets Summer...he is very gentle Little Tom really wants to hold Summer. He has always loved the name Summer and begged us to name one of the twins this . We had actually decided on Autumn, but when Daddy saw her, that name didn't fit...Summer did. Little Tom is thrilled. I am so happy he gets to have that special bond with her. He has been through a lot with this pregnancy and this is a great reward for him, and us too.
Tom and Summer...he loves this tiny little one

Morgan loves the baby too...especially because mom wasn't holding her! She kept climbing up on a stool and peering in at her saying "baby migh"-translation baby sleeping :)
Grandpa Norris admires grandchild #15, Summer Marie. Her middle name is in honor of my Grandma, Bertha Marie Norris

Summer's first smiles...no it's not gas! She is truly content these days with a full tummy and diaper to boot!

Here Summer is in action...no gas sounds here, haha :)

Brooke still has not had her heart surgery. We aren't sure when this will happen since she is still so tiny. They also want her respiratory issues well under hand before they even attempt it. She has been stable though and had two good days in a row. She has been on an oscillating respirator (it sounds like a generator and shakes her body constantly to keep air flow going) because she can't breathe at all on her own. That respirator is about as last resort as they come, but she is due to try a different one maybe today :) They found a cranial bleed a couple of days ago, but are thinking that it isn't as bad as they thought in the beginning. This is something they just have to watch and see where it goes, but head measurements have indicated no swelling....we'll keep our fingers crossed! Brooke is still under the UV lights for jaundice, but her belly Rubin count is slowly coming down and her color is looking a lot better. She is doing amazingly well, considering all she has been through. Every day I meet another nurse that was in the OR the day they were born who says that Brooke worried them. She had such a rocky start, they were concerned she might not pull through. So far, so good. :)

Grandma Norris meets Brooke for the first time

Grandma and Brooke are stylin' together with their shades

Grandpa Norris admires grandchild #14, Brooke Ashley. Her middle name was chosen by Daddy when he gave her a blessing before transport to Children's Hospital. She was a very sick little baby that night and almost didn't make it...we are so lucky to have them both with us!

When I visited Brooke yesterday, she heard my voice and her eyes popped open. She is getting more responsive and I can't wait to hold her!

Brooke was taking a diaper breather when we were there to help expose her skin to the UV light treatments. You have to admit that is the tiniest little but you will ever see!

Brooke is getting stronger all the time!

While the boys took turns meeting Brooke, I sat outside with the other kids while they played. It is obvious who had a great time here! Morgan got her clothes wet and decided to strip...I managed to get her back into a diaper at least...the helmet was her idea!

Everything is better when done in a diaper!

Little Tom figured out how to get up to the highest point of the castle in no time at all

When Tom brought the kids up to see both babies yesterday, they were so cute touching them. I still haven't left Evergreen, not sure when I will return home. Visiting both babies is hard....the price of gas is killing us, blah....oh well, we have a couple of miracles on our hands here :)

The nurse showed Andrew how to touch a preemie. They can get overstimulated very easily so you can't stroke them, just place your hands on them gently to let them know you are there. Andrew took this very seriously and Brooke responded well to his voice.

What a sweet big brother

Last, but not least, Little Tom meets Brooke. He didn't want to leave the side of either baby. He is so tender and loving, he is going to be a huge help when they come home (I hope!)

I have been informed that I need to stay glued to my laptop reporting blow by blow, so I will do my best :) While I am stuck here (oh darn, I have peace and quiet and get to see my baby more!)at the mercy of gas prices, I have nothing better to do anyway! It is very peaceful here and I get to glance at my cute baby while I finish the two quilts I was supposed to get to do on bed rest! So, for all you inquiring minds who want to know, this is as current as you get for now! Thanks for all the support you are all giving us...we couldn't be doing this without it! :)