As of 10:00 pm 7/15/98
Kristoffer had a real good day, eating and sleeping. He got a bath from his dad and to showhis aproval he pooped during it. Now all my training from the fire department taught me how to react to something like this. So I went to the firehouse and gotmy gloves and flame retardent coat and helmet, plus the air tank, and cleaned him and the bath up.
We sang Happy Birthday to him since it was his one month birthday (can you believe it!?) and he spent the evening helping his dad set up his new TV.

Lindsey is doing great, so says Dr A. He called again to tell us she is doing great he said she is having an impressive weight gain (3lbs 4.2 oz) and he sees her home in a maximum of two weeks.(YAY!)
She gets 3 bottles per day now, the nurses filling the bottle give her (and all the babies) 5cc extra for "spillage". So she had 33 cc (a little more than an ounce) in her bottle last night when her mom fed her. She sucked it down in ten minutes, pausing to burp, and never spilled a drop. Hopefully they will give her more today.
We had read that preemies that are dressed and listen to music do better than ones that dont. I think with Lindsey doing so well, as the Dr says "wonderfully" and "impressive", that is showing that there is truth to that study.
In looking through the paperwork last night, Lisa noticed that the Drs had revised Lindsey's age (and Kristoffer's by default) to be 34 weeks at birth "upon examination". Originally they were 32 weeks. They also revised Lisa's due date from 8/14 to 8/7. Just something else that helps the kids do better I suppose.

As of 10:00 pm 7/14/98
Kristoffer got his first real bath last night. He did not cry as much as he usually does during his bath, and was so relaxed afterwards he was like a wet rag. His mother gave him the bath while his dad sat nearby with white stuff on his nose and a whistle around his neck, just in case he went too far out.
He ate after his bath, because he would have had to wait 1/2 hour after he ate to take it. He has been taking 2 ozs regularly, and a little more sometimes, even up to 3ozs. Yesterday he gobbled up 4ozs at one feeding and then 3 ozs on the next. He was HUNGRY!
Kris is looking foward to tonight when he gets to help his father set up the new TV!

Lindsey was so excited to see her dad last night she almost woke up when he got there!!
She looked bigger to me, and when she got weighed she was 1455 gms or 3lbs 3.5ozs. She is doing a little better than an oz a day at this point.
Dad got to give her a bottle for the first time. She was gobbling it down pretty good (Oh, 28cc! Almost and ounce!) and when she slowed, an attempt was made to burp her. It didnt work. AND she fell asleep with 10 cc to go.
Having learned a bit, I waited it out. Looking for the yawn that would let me slip it in there or for her to wake up a bit.
The yawn never came, I think she was on to me, but she did wake up after 1/2 hour and went after my finger like a bluefish! (snap snap snap!) So I grabbed the bottle and she finished off the last of it in a minute. Wish I could have given her more.
She spent the next 1/2 hour watching me and looking around. Doing the eye thing. She wants to know what its all about already. Her eyes seem to say "tell me how, why, what". So expressive.
After that she fell asleep and off to bed she went.

As of 10:00 pm 7/13/98
Kristoffer is enjoying his stay at Club Fed. He gets 8 square meals a day and all the sleep he can ask for.
Last night, I was too tired and out of it to go to the hospital so Lisa filled in for me there while I took care of Kris. I think it might have been easier to go to the hospital! Kris was awake for a long time, which is contrary to how he was most of the weekend. He sat there (he uses his car seat like a recliner) and watched me on the PC, watched me get his bath ready, watched the dogs, watched the ceiling. A lot like his sister does actually. We had a much better night last night (OK I had a much better night). He has taken a liking to the Budwieser Lizards lately.

Lindsey is up to 3lbs 1.5ozs! She is a weight gaining, food eatin', lookin' buff maniac!
She got to listen to more music last night, and as usual, look around. Lots to look at last night, mom said there were 14 visitors in the unit last night. (1 scale, 3 nurses, 5 chairs..getting the picture?)
She likes having the blankets from home in her isolete, they give her some color to look at.
Dr A called yesterday to tell us again how wonderful she is doing. Dr A is the Dr that said he and his wife have two boys and always wanted a little girl, and since Lindsey the most precious he has seen, he said if we felt too crowded he would gladly take her off our hands. We said we would let him know, about the time she graduates high school.

As of 10:00 pm 7/12/98 weekend update
Kristoffer has been doing great. Eating sleeping and making messy diapers. He has been making all his "Kris noises" especially at night when we are trying to get some sleep.
Dad took over the late night feedings on Friday and Saturday so mom could get some sleep. It wasn't too bad, except for the lack of sleep. Mine not moms!
He has been averaging 2 ozs per feeding, sometimes more and sometimes a little less, hence the average.

Lindsey was 1310 gms on Friday, 1370 on Saturday and 1360 on Sunday. Thats 3lbs!!! (Yay!!) We were so excited to have her break that 3lb mark, its such a milestone at this point! She gained almost 1/2 a pound over the course of the week. Everyone is happy with her progress. Dr A even called us Saturday, after the initial thought of "Oh my God why is the Dr calling!???" he stated quickly that he just wanted to call and let us know how "Wonderful" Lindsey was doing. He said her weight gain was impressive (probably becuase of the music and clothing!) and that they would be looking to release her probably between 1800 and 2000 gms. Nice of him to call I thought.
The really BIG news is that Friday she got her first bottle! She took 20 minutes and was exhausted afterwards, but she got it down! She is on a bottle once a day, and on Saturday she sucked it down in 10 minutes and was looking for more! Sunday they waited for the parent of the night to give her the bottle! Lisa got to feed her. Said Mom, "She took about 15 minutes and could have gone for more."
I assume she lost the 10 grams on Sunday because of the effort for her to use the bottle. I am thinking they will up her formula amount, which was raised to 26cc over the weekend.
Lisa held her for 1.5 hours including the feeding. Playing music and talking to her. She has been getting dressed every night, has a new animal in her isolete with her, a pink bunnie, and last night got her bath with a wash cloth (1st time) instead of the hospital pads they give us. She also got blankets from home for her bed. Choo-choos and bears and blocks and giraffes. Colorful and lively.

As of 10:00 pm 7/9/98
Kristoffer is eating all the food he can get. Dont walk too close or you will be sucked into the bottomless pit. I'd rather have him ravenous than not!
He spends his day eating and sleeping and eating some more before taking a nap which makes him hungry so he eats before bedtime etc.
He actually cried before mom got the bottle to him tonight. THAT was amazing and a FIRST!
Other than that, he is doing great and has stated that he can't wait to meet all his friends and family.

Lindsey gained again, she is up to 1280 gms (2lbs 14ozs). Now its possible she was a little more, I like to weigh her three times, but due to a crowd in the unit and other parents awaiting the scale, I only weighed her twice. I took the weight closest to what she was before (1245 gms).
She was awake when I got there, and she got her bath. Then I held her for more than 1.5 hrs. She got fed, which goes really quick, 5 minutes maybe, and I held her and rocked her and told her about her cousins. Also, a first, I brought in a cassette player and played some music for her. To think that for the past 3.5 weeks she has only heard "beep, beep, beep, buzzzzzzz, mumblemumblemumble, beep" bothered me. So last night she listen to piano music "Claire de Loon", "Music of the night" etc (You guys know, the Black and White tape). She seemed to like it and actually other parents all picked up and noticed and liked it so I turned it up. I was the last to leave the unit, it got nice and quiet in there after 10, so I concidered that quality time.
Squirmy is a little angel, dressed in her pink pajamas with feeties that she couldnt even reach anyway.

As of 10:00 pm 7/8/98
Kristoffer had a nice trip to the Drs office yesterday. He did not get any shots and was heard to utter a "whew!" when the Dr said that. He is doing great according to the Dr and they said not to worry about his feedings, feed him when he is hungry, dont worry about what he eats. He wont get dehydrated without vomiting and that other stuff (the "D" word). He weighs 4lbs 14 ozs (3 ozs more than 7/3).
His mother tried to tell the nurse to cover him up when they were weighing him, he doesnt like flashing, and she didnt. So he gave her a squirt :) hehehe..good boy.(br)

Lindsey greeted her mom with some tears last night. It seems that the kid was starving at 8:00pm last night. An hour before she is supposed to get fed. Everything was digested so I think its time to increase her formula! (Dr R, I'm talkin' to you!)
Speaking of Dr R, I talked to him yesterday and he gave me the following information :
Lindsey is doing "real well"
Her weight gain is good
Looking for her to gain 150 gms per week (approx 5oz)
Expects that to increase once she hits 1500-1600 gms (3.5 lbs)
"No signs of problems at all" Sees it possible that she will be released in 3 weeks
She does not have to be 2000 gms to be released
All good news eh? He said all she has to do is gain weight and once she is eating more and bottle feeding he said she can do that at home just as well as she can in the unit. He said he wants her temperature stable so she can come out of the isolete, so hopefully that will be soon.
Hopefully she will be home by 7/31.

As of 10:00 pm 7/7/98
Kristoffer is slacking off on his feedings, he ate 70 cc at one point but had been getting just 30cc since then before falling asleep. Its got his parents a little concerned since we have to make sure he gets enough to grow and not get dehydrated.
He has his first Dr appointment tomorrow, so we are hoping he has gained and the Dr says its normal. He got to spend the night (as well as all day) with his mom. He listens to music, sleeps and eats. Not a bad deal.

Lindsey has broken the 1200 mark, her weight as of last night was 1245 gms (2lbs 13.8 ozs) which is almost 1 lbs greater then her birth weight. Its hard to describe here how, emotional or exciting, it is to hear that news to us. All the nurses get really excited when Lindsey or any of the babies in the unit gain really well, so you can imagine the parents. Everything she gains brings her that closer to going home plus makes her healthy and gives her strength.
The magic number is 2000 gms. Thats when they will send her home. She was increased to 24cc (as predicted by Dad) and she no longer keeps a tube in her nose. Its now a 'regular' gavage feeding. They slide a small tube into her stomach through her throat instead of using a pump over 1/2 hour, they let us hold the tube and it just runs in. This is how she was first getting fed two weeks ago. 755 gms is all she needs to gain, and to get her on a bottle which I will be calling the Drs about later on the 8th. I think they will try a bottle per day when she is over 1300 or 1400 gms because babies burn more calories during a bottle fed then using the tube. Wisely the Drs dont want her to burn the calories.

As of 10:00 pm 7/6/98
Kristoffer stayed home with dad last night. He had a real good day yesterday, eating more than 60cc at a couple feedings. Of course, he countered that with taking only small amounts last night.
He was awake for a long time, something new, after eating last night. So I entertained him with my singing and dancing act. After 3 seconds of that he was about to bo sick so I had to stop, and instead introduced him to the internet. He also go to listen to me talk on the phone and he really seems to like the Kenny Logins CD "Back to Pooh Corner". (not Pooh, not Poop!)

Lindsey Got a visit from mom. She got all dressed up in what she believed was a Ralph Lauren outfit.
She was awake for awhile too, and mom amused her quite well. (Yay Mom!).
She has really got the sucking thing down, now all she needs is the chance to try a bottle. Her weight is up to 1195 (2lbs 10+ozs). Thats 5 ounces since the 1st of the month! She digests all her food now, this is the 2nd day in a row of doing that, last time she did that they increased the amount she took. Increase the amount increase her weight, Go Lindsey!

As of 10:00 pm 7/5/98
Kristoffer did well at home for the first day/night. Far better than his parents (especially his father). Every noise gave his dad another jumpstart. I think now though, his noises have been identified and a much easier night can be had by all.
He got fed regularly, and his parents learned to pick up on his little sounds. When he stirs a lot it means its getting close to feeding time and he is feeling hungry (Pay attention here future sitters! (Erin Lauren Caitie)).
He is totally captivated by his new surroundings. He loves the colors and is amazed by them. Of course it quickly tires him, and that is understandable.
He is enjoying life now, and dines each time to classical music. Oh and the DOGS! They finally realized this thing is a little person when Lisa was bathing him. They saw him and started barking and whining and running around. Now they sniff him a bit and sit close by during his feedings (getting ready for those crumbs to be dropped I suppose).

Lindsey got a visit from her dad. It was nice, just the two of us. Less hand washing. I bathed her and dressed her in a the cutest outfit, she got all the attention from the other people in the room. I told her it was a Halston (actually provided by Sue & Tommy) and she looked like a runway model.
As she got fed and I held her, she did her Maggie Simpson impression and we watched the Long Branch fireworks display (which were rained out on the 4th).
To say she improves each day doesnt quite sum it up. She just seems like a contented kid, though squiggly, and the main thing for her is her weight. Yesterday she weighed in at 1165 gms (2lbs 9.1 oz!!!) she gained more than an ounce. If she is now officially over 2.5 lbs! Another two pounds and she is homeward bound. We expect her to gain more than an ounce a day in the coming weeks.

As of 10:00 pm 7/4/98
Kristoffer came home today! What a trip that was. We went to get him and I spent some time with Lindsey. He got his hospital photos taken this morning and when we got there it was time for his feeding. So we (Lisa) fed him and away we went. (Christina Cipriano's friend Jeannie was his nurse (and lindsey's) today and she helped us a lot and gave us good advice. She also carried him to the car where she could make sure we had a car seat.
Now let me tell you, a car seat in a sport sedan doesnt sit so well. Lisa had to ride in the back to hold his head off his chest the whole way home. Once home, the problem was solved with some well positioned towels.

Lindsey Said "See ya soon" to her brother as he left and settled in for a nap. She weighed in at 1106 gms (2 lbs 7.7 oz.) and had her food upped to 22cc.
She gets a little outfit on after her bath and while she eats, and maintains her temperature really well. Talk of smuggling in some Hershey's bars for her are heard around the kitchen table.

As of 10:00 pm 7/3/98
Kristoffer is doing so well that they are talking about sending him home. It may be this weekend however we dont want to get our hopes up. He weighs in at 2130 gms which is just a bit more than his 4lbs 11oz of yesterday.
He has been starting to take more formula, about 50 cc now, with each feeding.

Lindsey gained again, up to 1095gms now. The Drs. are saying she will start to double her weight gain soon and we are hopeful for that. She is a little sweetheart, watching everything and doesnt cry. Big eyes looking around and of course, she is squirmmin' and squigglin'.

As of 10:00 pm 7/2/98
Kristoffer Has increased his weight by .5 oz he is up to 2125 gms (4lbs 11 oz.) and the Drs have said there is no limit on the amount of food he can have. In other words, give him 3 ozs (90cc) and see what he eats. As long as he takes more than an ounce and a half he will be doing great. They are also shifting his feeding to every 4 hours instead of every 3. This stuff is being done to prepare him to go home.
Last night he was a good boy and ate his 45cc (1.5 oz) for his mom and then passed out. He was a sleepy sleepy boy. Now with his feeding going 4 hours after that one he may be more hungry at 1:00am and take more, more formula = more weight.
Oh, and Kris was 16" in length when born, he is now 18".

Lindsey is still on 20cc of formula, but now there is nothing left in her stomach so I think they will increase that amount on 7/3. Her weight was up pretty good, 1070 gms (about 2lbs 6oz) and her length is the same as when she was born, 14". She hasnt gotten longer, but she is heavier and looks it.
Last night for the first time we got her dressed in a little outfit for her feeding. This to help her stay warm and make her feel snug. Her mom assisted (took over) her dad in getting her dressed. I told her we were dressing her in an original Versacci and she seemed quite pleased.
As she received her feeding, she looked at me, her eyes just pull you in, its amazing, someday soon you all will see what I mean. She also continued with her Maggie Simpson impression on her pacifier. When she gets her first bottle, she is going to drain it in 4 seconds.

As of 10:00 pm 7/1/98
Kristoffer is up to 2110 gms (4lbs 10.5 oz.) which gets him close to the 5lb mark. Drs spoke at length with his mom today, saying he is doing great and would just like to see him do better with his bottles (Not JD or Southern!). Currently he sometimes falls asleep when eating and it takes him awhile to finish it off. Last night as Dad's frustrations grew trying to get him to eat and not drown, Mom rescued him and within two minutes he had finished off the last 10cc of formula.(Bravo Mom!)
Kris showed how much he loves his dad last night when he was being carried to the scale. I guess the chill in the air got to him because he proceeded to get dad wet, hands, gown and shirt. All Kris had to say about that was "brzz". Meanwhile dad needed a towel and new gown.
Not to be outdone, his mother was later treated to what she called a "carvel machine" type poop. As she cleaned him from the first one, he proceeded to dirty the new diaper, another cleaning, another poop etc. Throw in a non-covered pee and Kris needed another bath and his bed changed. Upon our arrival that night the nurse informed us of Kris's lack of bowel activity that day. Well, four diapers in 10 minutes later, I let her know she didnt have to worry about him anymore (maybe I was trying to hard to burp him?).
Speaking of shirts, Kris got to wear his first outfits yesterday. When dad got there he was dressed in a blue stripped jumper thingy with Bugs Bunny on it. Kris is the fashion icon of the unit.

Lindsey is doing great. The Drs. stated that they just want her to gain weight. They dont even want her to expend the energy required to bottle feed. Dr R stated that she is maintaining her own temp well, and we can hold her as long as we check her temperature after she eats when we put her back to bed. We did this last night and her temp was the same as when she got her nightly check. (All babies are checked, temp, heart, lungs etc after the shift changes at 7:30 am and pm). Dr R also stated that the contact she has with us is important and to keep it up.
Lindsey was up to 1040gms (approx 2lb 5oz) yesterday. They havent increased her food since there is a little undigested in her stomach from her previous feeding each time. So she still gets her 20cc.
She was a good girl for her mom last night (she is always a good girl). Again she loves to look around and squirm around, I cant wait to see what she is like at two (sheesh!).