Update!

So I just wanted to post a quick update! We went to the doctor tonight so the kids could receive their RSV (synagis) vaccination. The good news is that the kids are receiving this vaccine! They were originally declined because they missed the cut off date by weeks, but luckily I filed an appeal and we won! (Big news!!) So this is the second year they are receiving this and that is great news!! RSV is similar to the flu for kids - and can turn very bad - quick. So we are very lucky they are getting it!

Also, Ellie is gaining weight! She was weighed tonight and was 18lbs 4ozs! So she is doing great! Jack is also gaining weight (but we were never worried about him!) He weighs 21 lbs 12 ozs.

Both babies are all over the place now...it will be very soon that they will be walking. Ellie is even starting to take a few steps here and there! We are very scared for when they start walking...they will be into even more!! Ellie is starting to talk too...She can say a few words (Jack, baby, ball, George (our cat!) Dada) no mom yet! she somehow does not say her m's yet!!! Jack is not far behind her, he is starting to really talk now too, but not as clear as Ellie.

We had a great Halloween. The babies were lions this year and were adorable!





We also went to the Aquarium for the first time and they loved it! They even met a penguin!



We also went to breakfast with Santa at Maggiano's this year and it was wonderful! I can not say enough good things about this breakfast and am already looking forward to next year - and will be making my sisters come!!! The kids met and liked Santa! They were so good an entertained the entire time!





We had a wonderful thanksgiving over Sally's house- where last year it was just Patrick ---this year it was Patrick, Jack, Ellie, Charlie and Bridget! Needless to say it was loud and crazy!!! But all the kids were so good and loved playing with each other!

Pictures of thanksgiving will be coming...this quick little update just turned into an real update!!

We are getting really excited for Christmas this year and can not wait to celebrate with the babies! Because we have so much to celebrate this year!

Fall Update!

The babies are 13 months old! I can't believe how fast time is going! They are doing very well! We have had a lot of medical appointments over the past month, and I am very happy to report that we received all good news!





Ellie went to the neurologist and they have no concerns. She needs to return back in six months as a follow up, which is good - even though we were hoping for a successful discharge! Hopefully next time!





Both babies went for their one year Pediatrician appointment and everything looked good! Jack weighed in a little over 20lbs and Ellie weighed in at 16lbs 9ozs. Ellie is on the tiny side, but has been consistently on the tiny side, so the doctor was not concerned. He did say we could do one pedisure a day to make sure she is getting enough nutrients, since she is such a picky eater! She likes almost everything, just decides to eat only a little bit of it! We also got the go ahead to start whole milk and slowly get them off the formula.





We then went to the developmental clinic where again we received all good news! We also saw some old friends of Ellie and Jack's from the NICU. The twin girls who were with them since the beginning and the triplets who were there even longer but shared a space with Jack and Ellie their last month there. It is truly amazing what a difference a year makes. I regret not getting the contact information for the parents of these children b/c I would love to keep in touch with them and know how they are doing and how the kids are doing. The twin girls actually had the exact same due date as Jack & Ellie but were born 2 weeks prior (exactly). I did not get to see them, Mike did, and am hoping they will be there at our next appointment!

So at the developmental clinic Jack and Ellie passed all tests given and no concerns were noted. The doctor stated that Ellie is not gaining weight as consistently as she would like so she recommended 1 pedisure a day, same as our pediatrician.

Ellie has been doing great with the pedisure. She takes it every night before bed, and actually seems to like it. She even looks like she is getting a little belly (but don't tell her that because we secretly joke she doesn't eat to watch her figure!).




I took the babies to the aquarium this past weekend and they loved it! They are also fascinated by older kids, especially their cousin Patrick. Everything that kid does they find amazing!

Tomorrow we are going to breakfast with Santa and I am very interested to see how the babies react to Santa. They are very good with people and strangers, but not sure how they will do with Santa!

We have a very busy few weeks ahead so I will post lots of pictures soon!

Celebrating A Great Year

So the babies are 1! I honestly can not believe it! So much has happened this year! We are truly so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends and 2 amazing babies!




So it has been a while, and I apologize for that. It has just been so busy! So in September we had a lot going on! The four of us went back to Avalon for a few days for a second vacation. The weather was wonderful and the babies were very well behaved - they even slept for us!






We spent some time visiting some great friends, and the babies even had their first sleepover at Granny and Pop's. They were very well behaved and even slept through the night! Mike and I enjoyed a night out celebrating a close friend's wedding! We also hired a photographer to take some pictures of the baby. We have over 500 pictures and they are all truly amazing. I can not believe how amazing they look.








The next weekend the babies turned 1. We had a party for them and it was great. On their actual birthday we went to the NICU to visit the nurses and doctors and we also went to see Dr. Manara. Everyone was so excited to see the babies, and both Jack and Ellie were eating it up. They were full of smiles and even reached out for some of the nurses to hold them - it was too cute! It was an emotional weekend with lots of memories coming back to us. It amazes me that it was just a year ago..sometimes I feel like it was yesterday and other times it seems like a lifetime ago.




The babies are doing so well and learning new things all the time. They are both super crawlers and are all over everything! Ellie is also clapping now and pulling herself up on everything....she loves to stand! She is also sitting up very well now too. Jack loves our cat George and chases him all over the place. Both babies are also starting to really talk - even to each other. They both say da da da very well and lots of other things we can't make out. But they definitely understand each other because at times they are both cracking up laughing and Mike and I are left thinking "what is going on over there." It is by far the cutest thing ever when they interact.

We have a big week this week. Ellie goes to the neurologist tomorrow, for her yearly follow up - I am hoping this is her final follow up as we don't see any need for a neurologist at this time, but we are not experts. On Wednesday we go for their 1 year appointment and on Friday we have a follow up at the developmental clinic. So needless to say lots going on this week. We are hoping for all good news!

10 Months!

August was a busy month! The babies are getting into everything and moving all over the place! Ellie is doing the army crawl everywhere and is days away from full out crawling! Jack is almost crawling. He takes a few crawls but then falls over. He gets around just fine though rolling! Jack is sitting up on his own from a crawl position, he has not mastered sitting up yet and still falls over, but is doing so well with it! The babies are really starting to play together and our house has turned into one big playroom! Toys everywhere!














The babies got a jumper from their big cousin Patrick and LOVE IT!! The developmental clinic does not like jumpers, but we are limiting their time spent in it. It was hard not to bring it home from Aunt Sally's when the babies LOVED it so much!





The babies also got a really cool sit and stand toy that they LOVE!





The babies went to the eye doctor this month and had a great appointment. No more crying! They even got great news from the doctor - we don't follow up for another year! We hope the babies eyes continue to develop on this track.



The babies continue to teeth - Jack has two more teeth, this time on top! However, because of the teething there have been many sleepless nights! We do have our good nights but we also have nights where we are only sleeping 2-3 hours! It is very hard to function when you don't sleep at night!

The babies took their first trip to Johnson's Farm where we took a hayride and picked peaches and corn. Both were delicious! The babies were so good and loved being outdoors!





We hope the babies continue to grow big and strong and are looking forward to the new adventures September will bring!