Bridgette

Here is Bridgette at just 10 days old.

Bridgette was the second born of my quadruplets. She weighed in at just 2 pounds 5 ounces and 14.5 inches long. Bridgette struggled the most in the NICU, she had a hole in her heart that thankfully cleared up without surgery, she endured many blood transfusions, she had a blood clot below one of her kidneys, Bridgette had stage 2 ROP while in the NICU, Bridgette had chronic lung disease, she spent almost her entire NICU stay hooked up to breathing assistance. She teased us with coming home on oxygen. She was given a couple doses of steroids a week and a half before coming home, which got her off of the oxygen. After 74 days in the NICU Bridgette came home. Unfortunately she had high blood pressure from the last doses of steroids, which called for weekly and biweekly home healthcare nurse visits to monitor her the first 2 months at home until her blood pressure became normal. Bridgette also suffered from reflux and was on medication for several months to help control it.

Bridgette had to endure 2 cold and flu seasons of getting monthly shots to help give her antibodies to fight off RSV. To most adults and full term children this is just a comon cold to preemies it can be life threatening. Bridgette's immune system will not catch up to a full term babies immune system until she is 2 years old.

Bridgette is now 19 months old, and healthy, Praise be to God, at her 18 month check up she weighed 21 pounds 8 ounces and 31 inches tall. She is reaching all milestones for her actual age.

Bridgette still suffers from a small stigmatism and may need glasses in the future, she also has reacurring torticollis, which can be from her placement in the womb and a sudden growth spurt, we are working on stretches with her. She also is very limber and double jointed another side effect from being premature. Also what I call "preemie Head", more narrow and long than an adverage full term baby.

Here is Bridgette now

We will be walking this Sunday for the March of Dimes to help raise funds and awareness about prematurity.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our team is walking in March for Babies because we want to do something about this.
Please consider walking with us or making a small tax deductable donation: Click here to learn more or donate

Funds raised in March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And they will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

Samantha

Here is Samantha at just 15 days old.

Samantha was born weighing a mere 2 pounds 9 ounces and was 14.5 inches long. Samantha was our "All Star" in the NICU, she needed very little breathing assistance for most of her stay. Samantha has over come many challenges of being born so early. She was sent home after 67 days in the NICU only to be taken back by ambulance in the early hours of the morning from choking on reflux and turning black. Samantha received many blood transfusions and ended up with another one the day she went back to the NICU. She spent an additional 7 days in the NICU before returning home for good.

Samantha had to endure 2 cold and flu seasons of getting monthly shots to help give her antibodies to fight off RSV. To most adults and full term children this is just a comon cold to preemies it can be life threatening. Samantha's immune system will not catch up to a full term babies immune system until she is 2 years old.

Samantha is now 19 months old, and as healthy as ever at her 18 month check up she weighed 20 lbs and was 29.5 inches tall. And was reaching all of the milestones for an 18 month old.

Samantha still suffers from reflux and has tight muscles due to prematurity. She is currently in physical therapy to help stop her from tip toe walking.

here is Samantha now


We will be walking this Sunday for the March of Dimes to help raise funds and awareness about prematurity.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. Our team is walking in March for Babies because we want to do something about this.

Please consider walking with us or making a small tax deductable donation: Click here to learn more or donate

Funds raised in March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And they will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

It's been a while.............

It has been a little while since I have updated. We have been busy as usual.

Alexis and Olivia are getting ready for thier dance recital next month. Alexis is looking forward to summer, she likes school, just does not like hving to get up early. Olivia is enjoying her class at ECFE, we only have 5 weeks left, WOW.

Samantha is in physical therapy once a week. She has been tip toe walking and we are working on stretching her muscles, and after just 3 sessions she has improved remarkably.

Bridgette and Teddy are growing like weeds, Teddy still is the heaviest but Bridgette has passed him in height. Both the little girls can say "Teddy", "Lexi", & "LiLi" (olivia), they all have a ton of words thier vocabulary has taken off. They are so much fun.

I am so excited that we will be walking in just 6 short days for the March of Dimes. It's not too late to join us in walking on Sunday or to make a small donation and sponsor us. Here is the link for more information: http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=1371944&si= .

After the walk we will be going to the NICU reunion. I am looking forward to seeing some of the Dr.s, nurses and families that I met on our 2.5 month stay.

Thanks for keeping up on our family.

Happy Easter!!!

This was a great Easter, Alexis wrote a note to the Easter Bunny and gave him a present.

Alexis then lined up everyones baskets and went off to bed.

Oh look he came, he came!!!

Then they came!!!

Alexis

Olivia

Samantha

Bridgette

Teddy

Then it was off to church. ANd I thought I could get a good picture of the kids at church.... welll....see my attempts that follow.

Alexis and Olivia

Teddy, Samantha, Alexis.

Samantha

Teddy & Bridgette

Olivia & Alexis

So the picture taking was a failure. But I did get all 5 of them togetehr and to sit still for 1. Just because they had cake.

Olivia, Alexis, Bridgette, Samantha & Teddy

Bridgette, Samantha & Teddy

Olivia & Alexis

Afetr an exhausting 30 minutes at church, never making it to the service, ughhh. We turned around to go home and got one last photo op of the big girls.

Alexis & Olivia

Lets burn some energy outside before we go in for lunch and nap. (maybe if we did this before church we would have made the service)

Samantha & Alexis

Bridgette, Samantha & Olivia

Samantha

Alexis Olivia & Teddy

Samantha following Bridgette

Time to head inside.

Finally after a long nap and more play and too much chocolate. They were ready for dinner.

And Daddy cooked a really YUMMY dinner!!!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter Holiday and remembered to be thankful for what Christ has done for us, we are thankful every day for His sacrafice.

Thanks for checjking in. :)