Addie takes big steps, tells big bro she can do it too.

Yesterday, both kiddos make big steps forward, especially Addie. First Alex, he took two bottle feedings yesterday and has reached his maximum amount per feeding for his size, 40 mL. He is on a schedule now to have 2 to 3 bottle feedings a day as he shows interest. He is still in his isolet, but is expected to be moved to an open air crib later today or early Tuesday. These are big steps in coming home. For both of the kiddos, in order to come home, each little one must be taking all feedings by bottle and be able to maintain its temperature while in an open air crib.


Now for Addie. She made large strides quickly telling her brother she can do anything he can do. As of last evening, Addie was up to 19 mL and her maximum amount per feeding of 28 mL will be reached either later today or early Tuesday. She also took her first bottle yesterday and now is on a schedule to take 1 to 2 bottles per day as long as she is showing interest. Her IV was also planned to be removed early this morning.

Can you tell who is who?

Today, Jen called to check in on the kiddos and was told that they are continuing to do well and that Addie is now down to room temperature in her isolet so that is the beginning in transitioning her to an open air crib. If both continue to make this amount of progress, we were told that they may come home next week. We will know better late this week.



Daddy gives his little sweatheart a kiss

Mommy kisses her little boy

Alex makes more firsts!

The kiddos continue to do wonderful. Addie is now up to 14mL on her feedings and continues to add weight. Alex is now up to 34 mL and even had his first bottle feeding and tub bath today. This evening mommy took both Alex's and Addie's temperatures, bathed Alex, changed his diaper and clothed him. Mom and I also learned how to swaddle.

Alex getting his 1st Tub Bath

Mommy drying Alex off

Alex all clean and looking at mommy

Alex clean and happy

"Ok, what's next?"

Alex starts to wear clothes

Yesterday, Alex came off of his IV and is now on only milk for his feedings. He is now up to 34 mL and continues to make great progress. Since he is no longer on the IV, he is now able to wear clothes so yesterday was the first time he wore an outfit.

Alex waves to his admirers

Alex is also doing well with his body temperature and may soon be moved from the isolet to a crib. On of the major steps he needs to make in order to come home. The other is eating all of his feedings through a bottle.

Addie is also doing quite well. She is now up to 9 mL for her feedings and is starting to add a little body fat. She is so petite and cute.

Grandma and Grandpa came up to see the little ones again yesterday and were able to hold the opposite grandchild from the previous day. Right now we are only allowed to hold the little ones at feeding time and when we do we are suppose to remain holding the same little one and not move them around. So that is why on Thursday grandma and grandpa each only held one little one and yesterday were able to hold the other one.

Grandma holds Addie for 1st Time

Grandpa holds Alex for 1st Time

Jen and I also visited the babies but it was late evening yesterday. And that is the reason why this post was delayed until this morning. We wanted to be there for the babies baths and feedings. Jen is still a bit timid about jumping right in but I am not. I took both babies temperatures, changed Alex's clothes and bathed Addie after watching the nurse bathe Alex.

Mommy and Daddy learn how to bathe the little ones

Daddy dressing Alex for 1st Time

Almost Done

Oh so Cute!

Mommy and Alex

Addie increases her feedings

Today Addie increased her feedings from 4mL to 7mL being the first time that her amount has increased. She still has a long way to go to catch up with her big bro, though. He is now up to 23 mL! He is still doing well with increases of 1 mL every other feeding and that plan is expected to continue through the next 24 hours. Both are gaining weight and are real close to their birth weights. Addie is now above her birth weight! Here is how their weights have been over the past week.

Addie

Birth: 3 lbs

12/20: 3 lbs

12/21: 2 lbs 14 oz
12/22: 2 lbs 12.6 oz
12/25: 2 lbs 13.7 oz
12/26: 2 lbs 13 oz
12/27: 2 lbs 15.8 oz

12/28: 3 lbs 0.5 oz

Alex:

Birth: 4 lbs 7.5 oz

12/20: 4 lbs 7 oz

12/21: 4 lbs 4.4 oz

12/22: 4 lbs 2.8 oz

12/23: 4 lbs 2.3 oz

12/24: 4 lbs 1.1 oz

12/25: 4 lbs 4.1. oz

12/26: 4 lbs 5.3 oz

12/27: 4 lbs 6.4 oz

12/28: Not available at time of post

Also, Jen just spoke with the nurse and she said that Alex is now up to 1 oz (30mL) on his feedings and has been removed from his IV.

The other big news today was that Grandma and Grandpa were able to hold their little grand babies for the first time. Here are some photos.

Grandma holding Alex for 1st time

Grandpa holding little Addie for 1st time

Happy 1st Week Birthday

Well Alex and Addie are 1 week old today and both are still doing great! Alex is now up to 20 mL per feeding and they are increasing his intake by 1mL every other feeding. Additionally, they are reducing his need for the IV. Little Addie remains at 4mL but is still doing well.

Tonight Jen and I spent over an hour holding the little ones. Alex was the one that was alert while Addie played occasional peak-a-boo. Normally it is the other way around. Alex also began sucking on his binki tonight. I have some photos and a video from tonight so enjoy.

Regarding Jen, today has been the first day she has not spiked a temperature. The last few days she had been doing so for a few hours in the afternoon and evening hours and they were normally between 100.4 and 1o1. She is feeling really good, though. She said that today has been the best she has felt in a long, long time and she even had her cute smile and laugh going this afternoon.

Alex smiles at mommy

Daddy taking Alex's temperature

Addie Sleeping Tight

Mommy and Alex and his binki

Merry Christmas from the Bader Family

Jen finally was released from the hospital late last evening, around 7 PM. She was very happy to finally be leaving after nearly 3 weeks. She was able to spend some time with family last evening and today and was able to enjoy her holiday, although, sleeping through much of it. We stopped in this morning to wish Alex and Addie a Merry 1st Christmas. Of course, this was a very special Christmas for Jen and I as we truly were not expecting to be parents, yet. But instead we now are and our best Christmas presents ever were provided to us. I am attaching some photos of the little ones and their 1st Christmas wears. Also shown are the first presents Jen and I received from the little ones for Christmas.

Regarding on the latest stats on the babies. Alex is up to 15 mL (1/2 oz) for his feedings and his is gradually being removed from an IV. His weight is now back up to 4 lbs 4oz. He is doing very well and if all goes well he may be off of his IV and even out of the isolate and in a crib by the end of the week. Addie is still at 4 mL but is expected to be increased to 5 mL, tomorrow. she also continues to do quite well.

I hope all of you had an enjoyable and Merry Christmas this year, too. From Jennifer, Alex, Addie, Bradyn, Dakota and myself, Merry Christmas everyone.

Bader Family 1st Christmas Family Photo

Addie and her Stocking

Addie 1st Christmas outfit

Alex and his stocking

Alex and 1st Christmas Outfit

Jen's Going Home :)

Jen had a chest X-ray and has met with the infectious disease doctor and the decision has been made for her to go ahead and go home and enjoy the Christmas Holiday. So we will be going home sometime tonight. She will revisit with her OB and the infectious disease doctors on Friday as a follow up.

We will go and see the kiddos before leaving and take some cute photos and I will post them as soon as possible.

Still Here

Well, here is the update for this morning. Jen's DR was planning on sending her home later today but she again spiked a fever shortly after noon so she is her for at least another day. She is going to have a chest X-ray, more blood work and a infectious disease specialist is to stop by. Right now her doctor is stumped as to why she continues to spike a fever for a few hours each afternoon. She is feeling really good though and is up and moving so we just wait for the green light to go home.

Regarding the little ones. Addie continues as is and is feeding at 4 mL. Alex is now completely on room air and now up to 10 mL. As soon as he is up to 12 mL they will begin weaning him off of the I.V. I hope to be able to take some photos later today and post them so please check back.

Sunday AM Update

Well, last night after getting back from the 11:30 and Midnight feedings of the two little ones, Jen once again spiked a low grade fever. It only lasted for a few hours but it means she will have to stay here at the hospital another night and maybe two. It also means that she will likely not be able to see the babies again until late tonight or tomorrow morning. If all goes well, hopefully she will be able to go home on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Regarding the babies this morning, both are continuing to do just as good as we could hope for. They have slowly backed of the O2 for Alex and this morning he is on room air and breathing without assistance. Addie just keeps on chugging along and is doing fine.

Mom finally gets to spend some time with Addie

Jen was finally cleared to go see the babies this evening after being fever free for 24 hours. I have attached a few videos of this time where Addie hears mommy and looks at her and Jen starts to get comfortable with touching her. I also took a picture of Alex sleeping tightly. Respect to how they are doing, all continues well. Alex is still on 5 L 02 but only at 23%. Normal room air is 21% and so he gradually working closer to breathing on just room air. Addie continues to breath on only room air just fine. They are also eating better today. Both are eating every 3 hours and Alex is currently getting 5 mL and Addie 4 mL.

Addie listens and looks at mommy

Alex Sleeps Tight

Addie sucks on Binki with the Hiccups

Jen touches and speaks to Addie for first time

Alex with a verry happy mommy as mom holds him for 1st time

Alex sees mommy for 1st time

Update for Saturday 12-22-07

Well, since I was in a rush the other day, I appologize for not giving on the important info here on the site but here it is now. On Wednesday, December 19, 2007, Jennifer gave birth to two beautiful angels, Addelynn Elisabeth and Alexander Gabriel. Addelyn was born at 19:14 and was 3lbs, 14.5" and Alexander was born at 19:16 and was 4 lbs 7.5 oz and 19.5". Some of you may not be aware but Jen had been in the hospital for 12 days prior to the delivery on bed rest due to preeclampsia. The goal we had was to get to at least 34 weeks which would have been 12/26/07. We came up just a week short, but that is just fine. On Wednesday, Jen had been complaining of a severe headache and her blood pressure was up so the decision was to go ahead and deliver the babies. And now, this gets everyone off on the same spot.

Today, Jen is feeling much better. Her temperature is gone but she will still be on the antibiotics for a while longer. She broke her fever around 11 PM last night so if she can keep the fever away through 11 PM tonight she will be able to go and see the little ones for only her second time and she is hoping to be able to hold Addie for the first time.

With regards to the little ones. Both are doing just fine for this stage of the game. Alex is gradually being switched to room air and less dependant on O2. Sounds like he will be on O2 for a bit longer but things are progressing nicely.

Addie and Alex first photos

Hi all,

Here is a site for you to come to get the latest on the development of our two buddles of Joy. Please check back often for updates, pictures and videos.

Here are the first photos for Addie and Alex. Enjoy.

Addie and Daddy

Addie sees the world for the 1st time

Little Addie

Alex and Daddy

Little Alex on his belly