Happy Birthday Daddy and Happy Halloween!

Today is Daddy's "golden" birthday and the babies' first Halloween so we took lots of pictures. They wore two different outfits today. Yesterday we put on their "Baby's First Halloween" onesies that Mia and Grampa Dave bought them and took pictures. Neither one really wanted their picture taken, but we made it through. :) They wore them last night and until we got there today. Then we changed them into their first costumes that Jeremy, Bridgette and Carter Caughman bought them. They look so cute and we had a pretty good day.

Rider Jeffrey

Both babies grew quite a bit last night. It's always exciting to see a gain on the board when we get there, but today was quite a surprise. Josie gained so much weight that the nurse weighed her twice just to verify it wasn't a mistake. She gained 96 grams, and that put her back up to 3 lbs. 12 oz. Rider is back up to 4 lbs. 15 oz. They continue to get closer and closer to their birth weights. Josie didn't take her bottle very well, but the nurse reiterated that it is normal for her to need some help sometimes since she is so small. Rider took all his 40 ml in about 6 minutes.

Josie Nell


They turned Josie's Isolette off last night, but she got a little cold so they are leaving her heat on for a while longer. The nurse thought Rider might be in an open air crib as early as tomorrow.









They haven't said so, but it is looking more and more like we will be bringing Rider home before Josie is ready. Please pray that Mother and Daddy will be able to handle leaving sister at the hospital by herself and learn to care for Rider at home.















Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers and your encouraging emails and comments!

1 week old

Today Rider and Josie are 1 week old. Mia (Toni) picked me up this morning and took me to the NICU, and Jeff met us there after he worked in Miami, Vinita and Grove. Mia and I got there just after the babies had physical therapy. Josie took her bottle great again today, but Rider was TOO tired to eat. They both worked really hard.

Rider is really doing well, and is back up to 4 lbs 12 oz. This picture is right after PT when he was so tired. They bumped him up to 35 ml of milk today. He no longer has an IV, they took out his feeding tube, he isn't taking any medicine, and he is currently maintaining his own body temperature. The temperature is the newest developement, so they will continue to monitor him. If they need to turn his Isolette back on they will. If he is able to continue maintaining his temperature on his own, they will move him to an open crib.

His sister is improving quickly as well. In the picture above she is getting mad at Daddy as he tries to convince her to open her eyes for a picture. :) She is up to 3 lbs 10 oz. Josie is taking 30 ml of milk, she is working hard to keep up with her brother. She still has her IV because they are still giving her fluids. She takes an oral medication that helps with her digestion, but the nurse told us today that she won't need that much longer at all. Josie also got to get rid of her feeding tube, which is outstanding for her because she is still so small. The nurse said that statistically she is way ahead of where she should be. They are continuing to drop the temperature in Josie's Isolet and she is doing well with that as well.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and your sweet comments and emails.

Jeff and I visited Rider and Josie in the NICU this morning, and we had a couple of "firsts". I got to change my first diaper. Josie had a good heavy one that the nurse said shows improvement in her digestive system. Jeff is already a pro at the diaper changing, he has been taking care of that duty since day 1. :) Jeff got to hold both babies at the same time for the first time as well. I took a few pictures. I am hoping maybe I am becoming a better and more consistent photographer now that I'm a mother.

Josie is up to eating 15 ml and Rider is eating 20 ml. To get to come home they will need to consistently eat 2 oz. in 15 minutes or less. They both took their 2 o'clock bottles quickly as we cheered them on!

Twins

These are pictures from Birth to Day 3! Rider and Josie were born on October 21st. Rider was born at 12:32PM--he was 17 inches long and weighed 5lbs 1oz. Josie was born at 12:33PM--she was 16 1/4 inches long and weighed 3lbs 14oz. Everyone is doing great!

Josie was allowed to join Rider in the NICU so we could all be together. Both babies are breathing well on their own and are learning to take a bottle. When they are able to eat on their own they will get to come home. Robbi is doing well and going home on Saturday in time to watch the Cowboys on TV. Thanks for all of your love and support and enjoy the pics! Some of the pictures are graphic, Jeff got really excited. ;)



Click on the link below to see pics!!!

Snapfish
Create your own username & password
Room Code: rider&josie

Rider & Josie Pics