Day Fifty Eight

I got to the hospital late, just in time for the 6:00 feeding, and much to my surprise big boy D had his feeding tube taken out. This was surprising, because as you have read, he thought it was so much easier to just be fed than to work at it. He has taken all of his bottles today, with no effort. He has also discovered his hands and mouth. In just two days, he has started sucking his hands, wrist and thumbs. Within two days, he went from baby to BIG boy, and the possibility of going home without his sister. I would be the first to admit, I thought this would have gone the other way. D's personality is I can do it, I just have to want to. Can't you see the report cards already?

M is still struggling with her congestion. I was able to feed her, but our little bird, took a while longer, due to having stop to catch her breath during breaks. She still did a great job, and will probably have her feeding tube removed tomorrow. She is still on higher oxygen levels, so it will be a few more days until that is removed.

Mom and I were listening to them make their little sounds tonight, and for awhile it sounded like they were having a twin conversation. When I asked M if they were talking, she just smiled. I really think mom and dad are going to have their hands full. I can't remember if I told you, that one night they must have had one of their twin conversations, and got together to impress their nurse with their medical ability. They pulled their feeding tubes out. When she came in D's tube in his hand, with the look at what I did look, and M had hers pulled out and laying in the bed. They were just so proud of themselves.

Remember when this hat was too big for our "little baby"? What a big boy he is becoming.

Day Fifty Six

D hit a milestone, they removed his oxygen, and took his tubes out of his nose, so all he has is his feeding tube. If only he would drink his bottle, he wouldn't have anything. Dad tried to feed him tonight, and he just wasn't having it. Dad was looking at D when he rubbed his nose and realized that the tube was missing, and gave dad a big smile. I'm a big boy now, dad.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned how their personalities are already so defined, but it is amazing to see.

M wasn't feeling well, but she is so sweet, she just kept smiling. She drinks like a little bird, just opens her mouth and doesn't stop until she is done. She acts like someone might take it away, if she stops. Tonight she wanted to eat, but was having difficulty. She didn't want to give up though. I also ran out of luck with M tonight too, she gave me her prize when I changed her diaper, and wasn't as neat as D, dad had to rescue me.

The nurse came in and checked on her and made some modifications that made M look better already. When the nurse assured dad that everything was fine and not to worry, M gave her best "got ya" dad smile. We all know, this will happen many more times to come.

Week Eight

Is it that long ago or just eight short weeks ago. I'm a little behind in posting, I added pictures to the last post from the wonderful grandma shower.

This was an exciting week D is now 6 pounds, and M is a solid 5 lbs. D is wearing his Santa boots, that are starting to fit better.

They are getting ready to come home, THIS WEEK!!! They are doing so well, it is believed they will be so much better off, with mom and dad taking care of them at home, even if they come home on oxygen. Mom and I were talking to several nurses who all had the same comment " Let them go home, it's better for them.

So, as you can imagine the rush is on to get something ready for them. The shower is planned, the invitations are going out, but M and D will be home first, so a little make do will have to happen first. The good news is the nursery is all painted, looking very good, the furniture is in, dad just has to build it, and I'm sure is busy doing this as I type.

I had the honor of bathing D yesterday, but when I took his diaper off, he had a present for me. Now I had been batting 1,000 in missing all of the goodies M and D deliver, so my streak is broken, and mom had a good laugh over it.

Day Forty Nine

The twin wall of famous twins. Second down on the right are M and D.


The best cake was also served.

What a day!!!

Grandma showers.

I was truly surprised and touched with the generosity of my coworkers. M and D will not want for anything when they come to grandma's house.

M is now five pounds

D is almost six pounds.

Will post pictures tomorrow.

Day forty Six

Three big things happened today. M and D learned all about the Cross-Town series, however they learned it from their dad. Now we love him very much, we're just not sure where we went wrong. He roots for the wrong team, he had the wrong radio station on while listening to the game. I know they are little, and this was an exciting day, but what's a grandma to do, when DAD didn't get it right,

The poor little guy will be confused when he sees this picture.

M has it right and we corrected the error in the picture above. for D.


The other big thing that happened was the room aroma, both of these children have terrible gas, and there is no hiding when they ........ M today tooted so loud, that for a moment mom thought it was an adult in the hallway. I did try to explain to her that ladies are a little more polite, but after that happened she was able to rest for a while, so all is forgiven.

Now that M and D are in their big boy and girl beds, there is so much more freedom, and we got some great shots. D always reaches out for M, he wants to be close to his sister.

Day Forty Five

I have been officiously trained in baby CPR today. I hope I never ever have to use it. I also went to car seat training, this was so much more that I ever thought there was to know. I did learn that Babies R Us will let you take the car seats outside and try them in your car. Dad also told me last week that if you mention you are buying for twins they will give you a discount.

D has such bad gas, that he spent the night laying on my chest, pulling his legs and fidgeting. My heart just broke for him. Our nurse brought in a little heat patch to put on his stomach, and that seemed to help. He actually sucked his pacifier for 15CC's of his feeding, then realized that he was being fed, without having to work so hard and just spit that pacifier out at me, like "Grandma, what are you trying to do to me" He was feeling a little better when I left a little while ago.

Our nurse told us that they think that colicky babies of the past, really had acid reflux, they just know how to treat it now, so colic is a thing of the past. Someone better tell D that, I'm not sure he would believe them tonight.

M was a good little girl, she inhaled her two bottles tonight and went right back to sleep. She knew her brother needed the attention,.

Pictures will be added tomorrow, including the rare site of a pacifier in D's mouth.

Day Forty Four

M and D are in their new beds and doing well, reported by dad. I wasn't able to see them today, so I don't have any pictures unless they arrive later tonight

The pictures have arrived. Look Grandma, no lids on us!!

Since everyone is telling me, I'm such a grandma, here I go. Little M is so talented, she is already playing peek a boo, as displayed by these pictures.

Dad has assured me she is talented, but being a grandma, I need no convincing.

D is sleeping perfect baby in his new bed.

They are so on their way!!!!

Day Forty Three

Big Kid beds are in the room waiting for two babies to move into. They will be moving in at 11:00PM tonight. Now why 11:00 PM? They had to maintain their temperatures for 24 hours and last night at 11:00 they turned the incubators off, and they are doing just fine.

M is still eating so well, she just guzzles her food right down. Mom was feeding her tonight and after she was done right down to air, she was still trying to suck her fingers and blanket, she was looking at mom, saying "please feed Me" They are on fortified mom's milk, but instead of giving her more of that she got 5CC's straight, and did really well.

Of course I'm not going to find a shirt that says "I'm a Hoot" so little miss Firecracker had to do.

I took D tonight, who is always a little harder to feed, he ate well for awhile, stopped to burp
, then decided he had enough, so I had to try to play mean grandma and well, you know, the nurse had to come in and finish the job. He did however, complete the whole thing, it's not that he can't do it, its just boys are a little lazier at it. Now, a grandma would never let a bad word be said about her grandchild, but there isn't a nurse in the hospital that doesn't' say it, so who am I to disagree.
Exhausted but fed.
Mom, wanted to mention this for posterity, M and D have terrible gas, not only do they pass alot, their little houses need to be aired out, and sometimes the room gets a little disgusting. When they go in the big kid beds, at least it won't be trapped in a small space for them. The nurse last night said it might be what mom is eating, she is trying to eat alot of vegetables, but the nurse tonight said it might be the fortification of the formula. So we will excuse them for this, because isn't this the only time in their lives that it really won't be embarrassing and they can get away with it.

The nurse this evening was making sure that all of the training classes that mom and dad have to take are in order. Like they better take the CPR and car seat class on Thursday night. Why, you would ask? It's possible the superstars could be home in two weeks!!!!! They could be home by their two month birthday!!!! This is good news, but mom and dad haven't had their shower yet, so we are cutting it so close, that they will be home before the party. They will not be invited to the party, they will be staying home for awhile.

In case you missed the article yesterday here is the link. http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/1009064,CST-NWS-preemie17.article

Day Forty Two

This has been a very exciting day for so many reasons. Aunt Donna visited, D is now five pounds, M ate at all of her feedings, D is probably going in the big boy bed tomorrow, AND the Sun Times came to take their picture with mom to be on the front page tomorrow morning, and interview her. How exciting for two thirty four week old preemies



Mom had the morning off, she went for her physical, and can now go back to work starting tomorrow, so Dad took the morning shift. D was not being nice to dad and kept D-Sating when he was eating. They are both very early to have started bottle feeding, but they are doing a good job, it's just very hard work for these little people. They have to breath, swallow and suck all at the same time. Mom took the 6:00 feeding and got half of his feeding before they had to quit. His 9:00 feeding was just perfect though, mom did a great job of coaching and feeding.

When D has his nightly feeding he was 5 pounds. He is just filling out and looking more and more like a big little boy.

Our 5 pound sleeping baby boy.

I think this is too cute, not to post.

M is having a little trouble holding her temp, so they had to turn the bed up for her, but at 9:00 she was better. M is 4 pounds, and loves her bottle. She actually was crying for her bottle at 6:00, she was sucking everything she could find, but her thumb was the best thing for awhile. I had to slow her down at 6:00, she ate so fast, at her 9:00, which I got to stay for, she was awake and waiting to eat, she was just working her little mouth saying "Grandma, I'm waiting for the food". I had stopped talking to her and was talking to mom and the nurse, so M had to start making some noise, so she was included in the conversation. I know your thinking I have spoiled her, and yes you are probably right, I'm still working on D, he is usually a little more laid back, but he always knows my voice and responds.

If you don't feed me, I'm going to suck my fingers.

All feed, now just resting on gram's shoulder.

I know, what about the Sun Times???

The Sun Times is doing an article about preemies, and the public relations manager and the Nurse practitioner thought of the superstar G twins. So they came up and asked if they could do the article on them. Now remember Dad is in the witness protection program, so mom checked and he said it would be fine. How often do your children get to appear on the front page of a major newspaper?

Mom did a telephone interview and then the photographer came up and took alot of pictures of them together. There are so many good ones, D reached out for M as soon as he realized she was there, and then M was all over him, I know she was thinking " I've been looking for you" she was reaching and at one point it looked like they were kissing. I hope he sends Mom alot of the pictures, because they were so good. The PR man, told him that would be the fee for the pictures, because of course no one can profit for this.



What a busy day. Wait till tomorrow, I wonder if they will give autographs.

Day Forty One Week Seven

Aunt V and I visited for just a short time today after we attended the White Sox game. Mom needed a ride home so on our way home we visited M and D to see how they are liking their new room.





Yesterday D was all dressed up and today M had her first dress on. She woke up for Aunt V and they had a great conversation. M showed her trick dad taught her on holding her pacifier and pushing it back in when it gets pushed to far out. As you can see, she holds it quite well.

D was very sound asleep, so we let him sleep, even though we did talk to him, his back was to us, so pictures weren't really an option.

They are both working on keeping their temperature, and breathing without too much oxygen, so they can make the next milestone of a big boy or girl bed.



Aunt V and I got a sneak preview of the nursery and M and D are going to love it.



Mom wanted me to mention a different type of milestone. Aunt V changed D's diaper all by herself. Aunt V also had to turn D over and did a great job.

Day Forty

Moving on UP!!

M and D are now in the Ped Care Unit, out of NICU.

What a great day, they came off of the study at 3:00 and were upstairs in their new digs at 5:00. Now they are being weaned off of their oxygen, and no longer have a nurse constantly monitoring them. They are in a room all by themselves with a nurse outside looking after two other babies. They are no longer Sick babies, they are getting ready to come home.

They are in a private room together. Don't let me lead you to believe they aren't being watched though, they are under camera watch and have huggy tags on, these prevent them from leaving the floor, in case they get over anxious to come home. Alarms sound if they are moved. Mom and Dad are busily working on the nursery and M and D told me they are excited to see it, Winnie the Pooh is their favorite too.

D was dressed up for the occasion, he had his first short outfit on. We also got news that M has now reached the 4lb mark. Our babies are just growing so fast, and its a wonderful thing.

Day Thirty Eight

It was a very quiet evening, D took his entire bottle, he seems to be doing better and growing every day. M slept through her feeding, but had two bottles during the day, and it tired her out.

Days like this are just so good.

Day Thirty Seven

Today is Dad's birthday, and he has said that he already has the best gifts he could receive, and I couldn't agree more. However, I was thinking that without all of the prayers and good thoughts from the many people known and unknown, that we might not have Dad's best birthday present ever, so in reality the best gift is all of you!!!

Thank you,


Maybe Dad will take this special occasion to put on a disguise and take pictures with his gifts that I can post for all of you. I would think a hat and shades, side profile, might work. WE would miss the big smile he has every time he holds them, but it would work.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

When I got M and D's pod today, it was all abuzz that M and D were moving on upstairs, out of the NICU and all the nurses were excited, because it is a big step on their way home. they are still on the study and have additional equipment because of it, so they were trying to decide if the equipment could go on that floor. In the meantime, they were packed up, bathtub and all. Well after the additional discussions were made, they are still in the NICU, but how exciting it is to think that they are no longer considered sick babies, and are stable enough to be considered for the next step. While all of the excitement was going on, here are their pictures, so you can see how they were handling it.

I think they were just exhausted from celebrating Dad's birthday earlier in the day.

Day Thirty Six

updated this evening

Day Thirty Five

I spent the whole afternoon into the late evening with M and D, mom and dad were off doing other important things, although we know there is nothing more important than M and D. I did enjoy the time, I got to feed M and D bottles, change M's clothes, and just spend quiet time with each of them. While I was there the tornado warnings were sounded, so I learned a little hospital disaster processes, although we were never in danger.



I had missed a couple of days of not visiting so this was very welcome time. Dad called me to make to let me know when he was talking to M and D about their grandma, they just looked at him like "who", but they remembered me, no doubt about it.



M just loves her bottle, but it is hard work, for her. They are doing so well, that they started them a little early. The first bottle I gave her she just tried to suck down, when we had to give her a little break, she started sucking her thumb, yes, she has found it very well. When her thumb didn't do it, she was trying her blanket and saying "Grandma, give me the bottle!" so she finished it and went right to sleep. I was holding D during turnover, so I was able to meet the night nurse, who wanted me to see some of what happens at night, so we visited and I stayed for some of the evening duties. One was changing M's clothes, she was just a little trooper, while I was trying to maneuver around the tubes that she has left, of course, she immediately fell asleep after I was done, we were both tired after that. I was able to feed her the second bottle of the night, and she did okay, but did get tired and we had to hang the rest. It is really hard work for them, and they have to be watched for awhile because they will lose weight if they work too hard.

M's little outfit says Pretty Girl, which is what I call her, so how could a grandma not by that outfit and make sure she wears it everyday, matching cap was also provided.

Exhausted after grandma changed her clothes.

This was so exciting to have another milestone reached.

Modeling the new outfit after her second bottle.

D is just getting to be the little man, he is filling out and looking just like a little boy. I also got to feed him one bottle, and he worked at it, but when he was done, he was done. You have no idea how tight a 4 pound, 32 week old baby can hold their mouth.

Our four pound little boy after his bath.

Mom and Dad are learning being taught home skills for preemies, so they gave baths, the other night, the pictures are not the type that M and D would like you to see, or be on public record for the dating years. I'm sure mom and dad would know what to do, but a little extra coaching can't hurt. I did hear something about D letting someone know about what happens when things become uncovered, and no it wasn't the nurse.

Dad called and said the weather is really bad and the street I have to drive down is flooded, so he has told me to stay home today. I'm sure someone will send pictures to me.

Day Thirty-Four

Exciting things are happening, after our visiting blogger posted last night, the call came in that M and D had real bottles. As anticipated M did very well, remember she has had a pacifier since her early days, so she was ready for the bottle and the three more that she had had since then. She is just finishing them right up. D likes his, but gets tired and has the rest of his feeding hung so it drips, there is no doubt that he will bet there soon, though. I know he won't let his sister get too far ahead of him.

D also weighs four pounds today, another big milestone met. M is 3 lbs 13 oz, and will be there soon with the way she is eating.

Dad spent the day with them, while mom and Aunt V did some shopping and lunching. He was in on bath time for both of them, and by the looks of the pictures really enjoyed it, and they didn't mind either.

Day Thirty-Three

This post is being written by Aunt V because Gram had the opportunity to spend time with a cherished friend. Aunt V doesn't ask all the technical questions, so all she has to say is THEY ARE SUPER CUTE!! (As a side note, Dad just called to say they were going to try to feed M via bottle. Hopefully someone is there taking pictures of this monumental event). Here are today's pictures.

Your regular author will be back with you tomorrow. Thanks for letting me visit.

Day Thirty Two

There was a jail break tonight, Aunt V and I broke mom out and had some fun. Pictures will not be available.

Dad took care of M and D, we will get a report later on his survival.

One Month Old Today

Doesn't it just seem like yesterday that the call came? The worry, the scariness of the situation? The concern for the babies and mom and dad? It was such a joy to visit with M and D today, they are just getting bigger and bigger every day. I know they knew it was a special day, and you will too, when you see all of the pictures I post here tonight.

Once again, I am saying thank you to all of you who supported all of us, with kind words, tears and prayers.

Here we go, it was a special day.

Gram and her babies.

Don't bother me!!

Love you, take my hand.

Aren't they just the sweetest?

Happy one month birthday, M and D!!!

Many more to come.

That story AGAIN grandma?