A New Year

Wow ~ It has really been awhile since my last update!!  Hard to believe how quickly time flies when you aren’t counting days.

The girls turned six months old on New Year’s Day and are truly a blessing.  Corrected, they turned three months on Thursday, January 16th.  And on Friday, they celebrated day of life 200.  For most, these milestones probably do not mean much, but for us, every day is another sign of just how truly blessed we are. 

I will do my best to just hit the highlights for updates for you:

Spectacular Spectacles

Zoe and Isabelle still travel to Rochester to have their eyes examined and in December we found out why they were not tracking as well as we had hoped - they are both near-sighted!  This is a forgone conclusion of their ROP (and honestly just their extreme prematurity), but none the less it was still a shocker for us. 

The girls needed glasses and not just in the future but immediately.  Without glasses they would not be able to watch our mouths when we spoke to them or follow items in front of them or see toys to grab - glasses were an immediate necessity!

A parent never wants their child to be different but I must say the girls are quite adorable in their pink frames!  Zoe and Isabelle will never know any different and as long as we act like this is normal they will feel confident. 

The glasses will hopefully work to cease the decline in their vision and maybe even provide a little correction, however the girls will always need to wear either glasses or contacts - The hardest part - keeping the dang things clean!! 

Christmas 2013

We spent Christmas in the NICU this year.  Grandma Jamie, Popa Tom, Grandma Jan and Grandpa Mark all joined us for the celebration.  Zoe and Isabelle were troopers making the trip over and we even enjoyed some quality time as a family for pictures.  Cecilia was thrilled we were there and loved moving from person to person being snuggled. 

It was incredibly difficult leaving Cecilia in Rochester that evening as we had all hoped she would be home for Christmas.

Cecilia Hope

Our little peanut is still in the NICU.  Her stomach/gut/intestines must have missed the memo that she is wanted at home with her family.  On December 23, Cecilia underwent another surgery to have a more permanent line placed to allow for TPN (IV nutrition).  She was having a difficult time gaining weight and growing - neither of which is a good thing in an infant, especially a micro-preemie!  The TPN has already shown wonderful results as Cecilia now weighs 3455 grams (or 7 pounds, 9.8 ounces).  Our little peanut is getting bigger!!

Unfortunately, Cecilia is just about to age herself out of the NICU.  This is an incredibly hard step for Adam and I, as the NICU is the only home Cecilia has ever known.  The doctors and nurses of the NICU have become her family - often stopping by for social visits or calling in to check on her.  I think it is safe to say that they have fallen in love with our little girl!  (And let’s be honest, how could you not??)

The next step would be a transfer out of the NICU to the Peds Floor.  We would love to have Cecilia transferred to Eau Claire Mayo if she has to leave the NICU but unfortunately we have been advised that Eau Claire Mayo is incapable of providing her care.  Needless to say this was not the news we wanted to hear. 

The date and timeline for her transition is not set yet but it will be happening.  Not because we want her to leave her Mayo Family, but because Cecilia is getting older and the Peds Floor will be able to provide her with more developmental tools.  Miss Patti agrees with this and she is the expert. 

Adam and I would like to make a list of residents, consultants and nurses to follow Cecilia to the Peds Floor, however this was nixed almost immediately!!  I guess the Peds Floor will just have to get used to seeing Neonatalogists and NICU nurses on their floor as Cecilia will have lots of visitors.

The hardest part is once again putting her in the hands of strangers.  Nurses who do not know Cecilia likes her butt patted when she’s upset, or that she loves music.  Nurses and doctors who haven’t been with her since she was a mere 520 grams, who haven’t watched Adam and I agonize over her medical state, sitting bedside for hours on end, who do not love Cecilia. 

Cecilia is an amazingly bright, brave, courageous little girl.  She is the bravest woman I know.

We are hopeful at this time that Cecilia will be able to celebrate her birthday at home with us in July, but for now she will stay in Rochester.  We continue to be forever grateful for all of your prayers and support.

Isabelle Grace

If pressed, I would say Isabelle is more like me.  She is stubborn and demanding, loving and caring, quiet and hungry!  Definitely still my monster baby.  


She can roll over, holds herself up - incredible strength in her neck and torso, and loves her swing. 

Zoe Elizabeth

I see so much of Adam in Zoe that it is almost scary!  Zoe is the quieter of the two - often sitting back and just observing that is going on.  Unless she’s hungry!!  She is the baby who wakes us up in the morning to eat. 

Zoe is much more laidback than Isabelle.  I know she can do all of the same things but she will only do them when she absolutely has to - however, she does love to kick!

Life at Home

We are often asked how things are going at home and the truth is, things are wonderful.  Yes it took a little bit to remember how to live together.  Yes we are still the same stubborn, determined people who fell in love.  Yes we do still love each other.

I was blessed to be able to stay in Rochester with the girls while they were in the NICU and then to have two months at home with them.  But all good things must come to an end and I returned to work on Monday, January 6, 2014. 

Work is a blessing and a curse - but I think most moms feel that way.  It is a blessing because I still have a job and I love what I do: a curse because it forces me to be away from my little miracles.  Thankfully I have this ability to compartmentalize and while I am at work, I work and then when I go home, I go into “Momma-mode” and enjoy each moment with the girls before they drift off to sleep.

We are very lucky that Grandma Jan is retired and able to watch the girls for us when we both work.  She drives down to stay with us at the start of Adam’s 9 day stretch and then heads back to the farm when he begins his 5 days off.  While we know this is an inconvenience on her life, we are incredibly grateful that she (and Grandpa Mark) are willing to provide us with this benefit.  Going back to work was made infinitely easier knowing the girls were with someone who loves them rather than with a stranger.

Rose Petals

I am a member of Alpha Xi Delta and I was completely touched by a gesture of my fellow sisters.  Led by Sarah Kristine Koenenkamp, a group of newer alumnae sent cards with words of inspiration and hope, along with a gift card to Target.  These words touched my heart and help strengthen my reserve to keep going ~ While I haven’t had the opportunity to thank each of you personally yet, please know, your words meant more to me than I will be able say ~ thank you.

Announcing...

Adam and I finally agreed it was time to share our little miracles with the world and posted our announcement on Facebook this past week.  I shared photos with my co-workers and clients and friends.  It was amazing how much love we felt for the girls.  We are truly very blessed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you

The past 16 months has been an incredible journey for us - from losing Madison and mourning, to celebrating our unexpected pregnancy, to the debilitating fear of delivering the girls at 24 weeks and 5 days, to the uplifting joy of hearing their first cries (albeit months after their delivery).  We now have two “healthy” babies at home and await the time when Cecilia can join us completing our family. 

Many of you have sent gifts or dropped off dinner, our fabulous neighbor dutifully plows our driveway at each snow despite having an infant of his own at home, and you have just been there for us, for this we cannot thank you enough. 

All our Love

Adam & Daneille
Madison, Cecilia, Isabelle & Zoe

Ps.  Gus too!