Two Months Actual Age Today

The girls are two months old today for their actual age.  Their adjusted age is 1 week, because it is one week past their due date.  The milestones the girls should be achieving are related to their adjusted age instead of their actual age.

Both girls like to move their head when you hold them on your chest.  They are getting stronger every day.  They cannot move their head side to side on their tummies yet, but it is wonderful to see their muscles developing.

This week Sam's Mom came down to help out for the week.  It was so nice to have an extra set of hands around the house.  She made us wonderful meals, did laundry, fed the girls, you name it.  But most importantly she showed the girls a lot of love. 

 

Sam and Mormor feeding the girls

Mormor practicing tummy time with Kathryn

 

Today we went to the pediatricians for a weight check and ohh how the girls are growing.

Anna weighed in today at 5lbs 10oz and 17.5 inches long.

Anna starting to get chubby cheeks like her sister.

Kathryn weighed in today at 9lbs 1oz and 21.5 inches long.

Both girls had considerable weight gain from only 17 days ago.  We are so thankful the girls are both growing, healthy baby girls.  It is amazing that the stats today for the girls would/could have been their birth weights if we would have made it closer to full term.  I think we have future scholar athletes in our family because the girls seem very alert and very tall.  :)

This past week we celebrated St. Patty's day as well as IU Basketball.  The girls are looking forward to a potential Indiana Victory of the Big Tournament.  :)

Sam and Kathryn (Sammy JR)

Katie and her two girls

 

Future IU Hoosiers, GO IU FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

More Visitors

Greta was the first visitor to see both girls at home.  It was so nice of her to come over and hang out with us and meet the girls.  Greta is holding Kathryn below.  It was so great to see Greta, as I had not seen her since the beginning of January, I think the girls missed her too, even though this is the first time they met her in person.  :)

 

 

Then Annie flew in from South Carolina to visit the girls and help out.  It was SOOO nice to have Annie visit.  She helped me get out for the first time and feel like a normal person.  It has been 20 weeks since October 18th, when I was put on bed rest for 14 weeks and 6 weeks were spent recovering from surgery and visiting the girls in the hospital.  So 20 weeks have gone by, but I am on my road to recovery/normalcy.

 

Annie (Anna) holding Anna

 Annie snuggling with her buddy Kathryn

 

Annie after feeding Anna

 

 

We were able to go out to breakfast on Sunday morning in between feedings, while Sam stayed home with the girls.  We were also able to go on a walk outside as it was finally nice out.  This is the first time I have "exercised" in 20 weeks, yikes.

 

Annie was super helpful and she stayed home with Kathryn while I took Anna to the eye doctor.  Everything is perfect with Anna's eyes, yeah!  No more premature eyes for Anna.

 

We even were able to go out to dinner and watch the finale of the Bachelor together.  How crazy as it has been about 10 years since we watched the first bachelor finale together in our apartment at IU.

 

Both girls loved having Annie around for feedings and extra cuddling.  Her extra set of hands were much appreciated.  She even made us a dinner, what a treat!

 

Then Brittany stopped by for lunch on Friday and met both of the girls too.  It was so nice to catch up with Brittany, as it had been to long since we hung out.  Both girls enjoyed meeting Brittany, but I only got a picture with Brittany and Anna.

 

 





The girls have loved all of the visitors this week, and so did I.  I am very thankful for such wonderful friends.

First Week at Home with Both Girls

This week has been GREAT!  It was wonderful to have both Anna and Kathryn home together.  We were fortunate to have my Mom spend the week with us to help out and provide us with an extra set of hands.  It was much appreciated!!

I took both of the girls to the pediatrician on Tuesday.  Anna weighed 4lbs 5oz and Kathryn weighed 7lbs 8oz.  We are so thankful they are both eating and growing appropriately.

We tried to take a few pictures to capture the girls personalities with their Great Grandma Berger's blanket she made for them.  We love the blanket, but I think we will need to have another photo shoot.

Anna

Kathryn

Girls holding hands

Anna (L) Kathryn (R)

Girls side by side

Anna (L) Kathryn (R)

We all watched the IU game together and the girls showed their spirit by wearing the outfits Auntie Greta bought them.  The girls are getting ready to college in their IU gear and skinny jeans!  Unfortunately IU did not win, hopefully they will be better in the big ten tourney and March Madness.

Anna (L)  Kathryn (R)

It was so great to have my Mom home with us.  I was able to go to run errands each day and know the girls are in good hands.  Sam and I even went out to dinner together.  It was nice to spend couple time together just the two of us.  Our lives have changed, and we love it.

How cute is Anna sitting in her chair, ADORABLE!!!

Anna is Home!

On Friday we got the call from the doctor that Anna's going to be able to go home.  She passed her car seat test over night and her feedings had continued to be a great eater.  Before I left for the Hospital, Brenna stopped by to serve us with a meal and meet Kathryn for the first time.  It was so thoughtful of her to bring a great meal for us as well as spend time chatting with me.  I realized on Friday how much time I had been spending at the hospital, and how wonderful it was to spend time with Brenna.

Brenna holding Kathryn

 

 Samuel fed her at lunch per usual and I brought Kathryn for the 2:30 feeding.  It was our last feeding in the hospital.  I packed the room up along with both girls and away we went to our new lives together.  Two weeks after Kathryn went home and five and a half weeks after their birthday, Baby Girl Morrison 1 and 2 are no longer residents of the St Vincent Carmel NICU.  We appreciated the care the NICU provided for our girls, and are so excited for our future together at home.

I am holding both girls before we head home

 

 



 

Anna in her car seat, waving Good-Bye to all of her friends in the NICU.

We quickly added Anna to our routine and have not looked back since.  Samuel and I enjoyed holding, feeding, and changing the girls in our home.  It is amazing how relaxing it can be to stay at home and not have to worry about rushing off to the hospital to make it on time for the next feeding.  It is also amazing to see how many bottles we go through in a 24 hours period.  :)

We were able to give both girls a bath, how cute and little are they all wrapped up in their towels??!!

 

We feel so blessed to have made it through our pregnancy journey, and journey in the NICU.  We are amazed at the love and support everyone has provided to our family.  We appreciate the care all of the medical community has provided to all of us.  Our lives changed on Oct 18 when we found out our girls had twin to twin transfusion syndrome.  Shortly thereafter on October 24, I had laser surgery that saved the girls lives.  Since then, we had doctor's appointments twice and sometimes three times a week to follow the girl's progress and make sure they were ok.  I rested at home on modified bed rest to ensure my body to continue to be a safe place for the girls.  They were born on January 22, and now are both home and healthy on March 1.  We Praise the Lord everyday for everything he has provided to our family.  We continue to pray for the girls that they will continue to grow and become healthy little girls.

 

 Look how cute they are, SISTERS!! 

Aunt Margaret comes to Town

This weekend Margaret came up to visit us and spend time with the girls.  She was able to be the first person (beside Sam and I) to hold Anna.  It was very special as one of the people Anna is named after is Margaret Anna.  :)

Margaret Anna holding Anna Lucile

Aunt Margaret holding Kathryn

We were grateful for Margaret's company and help around the house.  She went to the grocery store for us, and made us a delicious dinner on Sunday.  It was wonderful to have her around and be able to hold the girls.

Yesterday Anna took 90% of her volume via a bottle, which is a sign she is learning how to eat more and could come home in the near future!  SO EXCITING!!  Today she weighed 3lbs 11oz.... soon she will be in the 4lb club.  It is amazing how she grows each and every day.

She is usually alert during her feedings and looks up at us with her big bright eyes, which just melts your heart!

She has been under exceptional care lately, as she has kept the lights on in the NICU as the ONLY Patient in the NICU.  What a special girl!  We love the attention the nurses and doctors provide to Anna whether she is the only patient or if she has friends in the NICU.

She passed her hearing test yesterday, which is great!  However we knew Anna could hear because she enjoys the music we leave playing in her room in the hospital..

Kathryn is becoming more alert during most of her feedings.  I am attempting to transition Kathryn from bottles to nursing, however she often gets very tired by the third feeding.  She also continues to eat more and more and grow.  I know she is gaining weight, but it will be interesting to see how much she weighs at her next doctors apt.

Sam and I are attempting to plan for Anna to come home and finally have all 4 of us together at the house.  We have adjusted easier than expected to having Kathryn home and visiting Anna at the hospital, but we anticipate having Anna at home with Kathryn will be a new and exciting challenge for us to conquer.

I tried to take a few more sister pictures in the NICU... enjoy!

I am holding Anna... look she is as big as Kathryn... not quite but maybe soon