18 Weeks Old

Hello Again!

Another day late and another day older! It's getting tough keeping up, even with the extra help. My Aunt Susanne is down visiting until March 1st. She has been a big help. Ava is now eating with the rest of them, but still getting her two medicines. We started giving the kids rice cereal in their bottles at night so that they sleep. So far so good. The last feeding is between 10:30-11:30pm at night and the first two up are usually Sarah & Ava. I guess because they only eat between 4-5 oz. a feed. They are up around 5:00am-5:30am. Not bad, huh? Lily & Luke eat between 6-7oz. a feed, so they sleep a little bit longer. They all seem to be adjusting well. It's quite a learning experience! Frustrating as well...who are we kidding?

They did go for their shots and check-up on February 19th and the results are::::::
Sarah: 9 lbs. 8 oz. 22 in. long
Luke: 11 bs. 13 oz. 23 1/2 in. long
Ava: 9 lbs. 2 oz. 21 3/4 in. long
Lily: 11 lbs. 3 oz. 23 3/4 in. long

They have grown a great amount since the last visit. They doctor is very pleased. We are still not allowed to take them out in public, but Nick and I snuck them out to have their first portrait done today....a spring picture! They look so cute...we get them in a few weeks. Of course I will post a few. I never realized how expensive it is! I guess that's why most people only get it done once a year.

I forgot to mention that Early Steps came out to evaluate them to let us know where they are all developmentally. Because they are preemies, they develop at the gestational age (Dec. 21st) versus the day they were actually born (Oct. 11th). Right now, they are all right where they are supposed to be as a whole. There were a few above averages....Sarah & Ava are above average in their cognitive abilities, Luke is above average in motor skills, and Lily is above average in the social/emotional areas. It all averages out in the end they said. They all look great though!

They have inherited some new nicknames as well over the past week. Luke, since his head has gotten extremely large and most of his hair has fallen out with the exception of a little in the back, has been called everything from Peter Boyle (the father from Everybody Loves Raymond), to Humpty Dumpty (egg shaped head), to Lex Luther (courtesy of my Dad). Luke just laughs at it all. He thinks everything is hilarious. Sarah has been called Bino (my name as a baby) and still holds the title of the Screaming Mimi (she can be a little fuss budget!). Ava has a few nicknames as well...Miss B (because she has a case of bulimia...she loves to puke after she eats!) and she also earns the title this week for drama queen. She is constantly whining for attention and her cry sounds so fake. Lily has been called everything from Lily the Load to Jumbo and Beefcake. I know, it sounds mean, but we mean it in the cutest way possible...she will never get those names when she knows what's going on. It's a way that we all laugh to keep our sanity. She is however, the most complacent baby right now! She smiles a lot and is very happy most of the time.

They have a few choice places to go for fun....swingtown (which my Aunt Susanne named because of all of the swings going at the same time) or Romper Room (which my Mom named the gyms that lay on the floor). My Aunt Susanne and I took them all for their first wak yesterday. They had a great time. We can't use the big quad stroller because they are too small just yet, so I bought two double strollers to hold us over until they can fit. I guess they will come in handy incase we can only take two at a time somewhere or we have to split up. I just couldn't sit in the house anymore. I had to get out and I had to exercise! I haven't been out in the sun so long that I got extremely burnt after only an hour and a half. I should have worn sunblock I guess. I just didn't think the sun would be that strong this time of year. I was wrong....and very pale! Now I am a lobster.

Oh, one side note...I forgot to mention that my friend Jenny gave me a pedicure when she came over the last time...it was great! She did a great job and it felt wonderful! What great friends I have....who would be willing to touch my feet?

Ok! I guess I'll talk to you all again next week! Enjoy the pictures! I did.
Kelly