I'm a BIG Girl Now

BIG NEWS...Burkley is a BIG GIRL now! She has transitioned from the small bottles she was taking in the NICU to a big girl Avent bottle. After her doctor appointment on Tuesday, we upped her feeds from 1.75oz to 2oz and she did an amazing job. We continued that all day on Wednesday and then bumped it again this morning from 2oz to 2.5oz and she inhaled it in about 6 minutes! What can I say...she's a growing girl. I even noticed a "little" bit of a double chin this morning! I will keep her at 2.5oz for another day or two and then I will bump it up again to 3oz. She'll be out of her preemie clothes in no time at all if she continues to eat like a little piggy! Cory and I are so proud of her!!!

GOODBYE NICU "baby" bottle...HELLO big girl bottle!!!

Sister in action this morning!

Burkley's Weigh In

Just wanted to give everyone an update on Burkley's weigh in today. She has gained 2 ounces in the past week, so she now weighs 4lbs 15oz. Dr. Judice was a little concerned because she would like for her to gain at least an ounce a day (sounds like an awful lot to me, but I'm not a doctor...just a teacher). She said one of two things:

1. Burkley isn't eating enough (ounce wise)

2. She's burning calories by trying to stay warm

After explaining how I swaddle Burkley in 2 flannel blankets at night and a third blanket is draped over her and she wears a hat at all times, we came to the conclusion that she more than likely is not cold and therefore is not burning calories trying to stay warm. So, we are upping Burkley's intake from 1.75oz to 2oz for a day or two and if she is able to tolerate that, then we are going to increase it to 2.5oz. Hopefully this will help pack on the ounces. So far, Burkley is doing great and has guzzled down two 2oz bottles! I'm taking her back next week for another weigh in. Let's pray that baby girl gains a lot of weight!!!

XOXO~

Hay

3 Week Pictures

Well, Brooks and Burkley celebrated their 3 week birthday yesterday. Where on earth does time go? I cannot believe they are already 3 weeks old. Man, it has gone by super fast (heck, they are almost one month old). Things have been just great around here. Cory and I have our schedule down pretty good and I've managed to make it through the day alone with Brooks and Burkley. I feed Brooks first (he's always hungry...in fact, we are about to up his feed 1/2 an ounce tonight-so he will be taking 3.5 ounces) and then I feed Burkley and then I pump (we upped her feed yesterday from 1.5 ounces to 1.75 ounces and she has done great). She's starting to become a little piggy and you sure can tell that she is putting on some weight! I'm taking her tomorrow afternoon to see Dr. Judice to check her weight and to get her Hep B shot. I can't wait to see how much she has gained since last week...and I'm not looking forward to the shot. If Cory is able to sneak away from the funeral home and go with us, he's going to have to do the honors of holding her for the shot (I will be hiding and crying in the corner).

I know you are more interested in seeing our little bundles of joy, so here they are. Have a great week and stay warm. I'll post more pictures later.

Hay

Big sister Holly protecting her baby brother and sister!

Isn't that sweet?
His shirt says it all!

And so does hers!

My sweet babies together...it's hard to get a "good"

picture of the two of them together...someone

is always moving!

Mommy with Brooks and Burkley

(Please excuse my appearance...no time for make up these days)

Daddy and Burkley pooped out from

watching football ALL day long!

Brooks in his BIG BOY jammies (they are newborn)!

He's grown out of most of his preemie clothes!

Sweet little puppy feet!

Sister in her NEW Moo Cow preemie jammies!

2 Week Doctor Appointment

Brooks and Burkley had their 2 week check up today with Dr. Judice. All went well...except for the pricking of their tiny little feet. I did not like that one bit and neither did they. They both are growing like weeds and Dr. Judice said they are both just as healthy and precious as can be. I'm taking Burkley back next week to check her weight and to get her Hep B shot. She was supposed to get that vaccine in the hospital, but she did not weigh enough (we are thinking she should weigh enough next week). Here are a few pictures that Grammy captured to document our trip to the doctor today.

My Two Sweet Peas...

Aren't they PRECIOUS?!?!?

Brooks' Stats...
6lbs 8.8oz
18 1/2 inches long
He's grown so much in just one week!
Dr. Judice said he's probably going to be a linebacker!

Burkley's Stats...
4lbs 13.4oz
17 1/4 inches long
Baby girl is growing (she's gained a pound since birth)

Brooks getting some TLC from Nana

Burkley getting TLC and Mommy's milk from Grammy

Brooks' tiny little foot...OUCH!

Burkley's tiny little foot...OUCHIE!

Brooks and Burkley tuckered out after their trip to the doctor!

Cory and I are doing great. We are loving every second of parenthood and are adjusting well. Nana (Cory's mom) helps me out during the day and my parents have the night/weekend shift (mainly the weekend shift now since mom is keeping Kyla). The babies are sleeping well and only waking up twice during the night (between 2-3 and 5-6). Now that school has started back up, Nana has had to leave to pick up Colton and Avery in the afternoon..which means that I spend a few hours alone with Brooks and Burkley until Daddy gets off of work. So far, so good!!! I've managed to pump, feed and change Brooks, and then feed and change Burkley all by myself...and it's been pretty easy. They are just so precious and I still can't believe they are mine!!!!

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2009 has been a great year already and it's only January 1st! Around 2:30 this afternoon, I got the call I have been waiting for, for 11 days. It was Burkley's NICU nurse and she was calling to let me know that Burkley had been discharged and that we could come and pick her up! Brooks stayed with Grammy and Poppy while Mommy and Daddy headed off to get his little sister. I think we made it to the hospital in record time...surprised we didn't get pulled over for speeding! When we got there, we had to go over some paperwork with the nurse and then we were on our way. It has been an exciting day and we are praying that all goes well tonight. Here are a few pictures of our two little peas being reunited after 11 days. They are so sweet.

Two Peas in a Pod

Please disregard the pink bouncer...

their cousin Kyla was sharing it with them

She sure missed her big brother!!!

Look at their heads...tilted the same way!!

Sweet Baby Girl WIDE awake!!

Aunt T...we LOVE our glider!!!

Will send more pictures as they are taken (or really when I have time)!!!!!

XOXO~

Hayley