My girls look more like their dad than me. It is quite amazing to see... especially because my son has more features from me than his dad...the most striking being the flat nose bridge typical of a lot of asians. But the girls, from the day they were born clearly has pronounced nose bridge like their dad. Everything about them looks like their dad. It will be very interesting to see if they change at all as they grow up.

I tell my husband that the girls really really look like him and he says, "poor girls".  The girls are also quite hairy on their backs (though I know these would fall off in a few weeks or months) just like their daddy. And to this their father said, "they will have a hard time getting prom dates." And their Nana said, "Daddy will have to invest in laser hair removal!" 

Of course we're just all having fun. The girls are quite beautiful!

A week and a half ago, I took the girls to the pediatrician so that they could make sure they are still gaining weight and in fact they have. They are averaging a weight gain of a little more than 1 ounce a day., which is excellent. Also, the nurse measured their length and she came up with 19 and 19 1/2 inches.

When the girls were born, we were told they were 17 and 17 1/2 inches long. We're thinking that they couldn't have grown 2 inches longer in just 1 1/2 weeks! I guess the nurses didn't stretch their legs too much when measured.

My son really loves his Jello pudding! No spoon required.

I am happy that my girls are home and that all my children are finally together and doing well. Though I do want to share one of the worst moment of my life while I was at the hospital a couple of weeks ago. It's even worse than the scare of a historectomy when I was bleeding badly.

On the day my twins were born, the only contact I had with my girls was the touch of my face against theirs and then they were off to the NICU. I didn't have time to sulk about not seeing them the rest of the day because I bled heavily. Early the next day, I started to think about when I would be able to see them. I couldn't sit up without getting dizzy so in my mind, I knew I wouldn't be able to see them. By the next morning/early afternoon, I was feeling absolutely depressed. It felt strange giving birth to 2 babies yet, I haven't really held them and to top it all off, I was missing my son. I remember calling my husband and crying over the phone.

But then, my nurse for the day came by and asked me if I had visited the NICU yet and seen my daughters. I told her that I haven't and that I haven't even really even touched them yet. She then turned ot the student nurse that was following her around and told her that the first thing they must do is to reconnect mom with her baby/babies. So she ordered a smaller simple bed that would fit in the NICU. I didn't even know this could be done, so I got excited and teary eyed. We worked on transferring me to that bed (it took a bit of work and a bit of time since I couldn't sit up) and then we were off.

The only thing I could manage was to touch my girls, but it made me happy. The next day I was able to sit up so all I needed that day was a wheelchair and then I was able to hold my daughters in my arms. It was very emotional for me. They were born on a Monday, and here I was finally getting to hold them on a Wednesday.

Anyway, that was the worst day of my life. I'm over the moon now..and all that bad stuff is over, thank goodness!

The twins have been home for a week and so far so good. Two days after they came home, we followed up with the pediatrician to make sure that they are still gaining weight, and in fact they did. As of Friday last week, they were about half an ounce from their birthweight. That is a gain of a little over an ounce a day since they've gotten home. Tomorrow we will see the pediatrician again for another weight check and I'm pretty sure they are still on the 1 ounce a day track.

It hasn't been so bad, since they are feeding about every 3-4 hours. I have been breastfeeding and a few times a day, supplementing with a preemie formula. Breastfeeding has been going well. I am surprised at the ease at which I can attach both babies on me without any help from the hubby (I'm sure the hubby is delighted not to have to get up in the middle of the night). It requires a lot of pillows, but it's managable. I've ordered a nursing pillow especially for twins, but it hasn't arrived yet.

The 3-4 hours feeding schedule has so far made life relatively easy. My son, as a newborn, fed every 1 1/2 hr, so it brings relief that the girls are not quite so hungry. I have such freedom with this schedule, that I was able to take my son out on Friday for a one on one time.

My mother in law has left, and my mother is now here. Though, I am not as un-able as I was last week. I have adjusted to the broken sleep and am able to do some cooking, laundry, and other household chores. Again, this is all thanks to the girls. They are excellent. They sleep all day, except for feeding and some moments of awake time.

It's been an eventful few days since I've been home. For first 3 days I've been home, I've been throwing up every day. So I went to see my doctor and he gave me a different pain meds because he said it could be that that's making me sick. I defended the medicine and said I was just fine last time with it with no reaction whatsoever when I had my son. But sure enough, I felt 1000 times better after I let it wear off. Just in time too, because last night the girls were released from the NICU. They started gaining weight and they were 35 weeks yesterday.

Big brother Matthew didn't know quite what to think of the babies but he was very interested. He gave them each a kiss. I got a couple of toys for him and told him his sister Jojo and Katey got them for him. He loved the toys!

Here are the girls with their going home outfit.

This is Katelyn, the bigger of the two.

This is Jordan.

This is their first pictures side by side. Katelyn on the left (with fuller cheeks) and Jordan is on the right.

I would like to thank everyone, first off. When my husband told me that he added an entry on my blog to tell my Minti friends what has happened to me, I was amazed by the amount of responses it got. I trully feel very blessed and very much loved by everyone here.

I was discharged Thursday, after waiting and seeing whether I would need a blood transfusion. I didn't need to have one, but it has been tough so far. I can barely move around at home because I'm so tired but thankfully, my mother in law is here to take care of me.

It was hard leaving the girls in the hospital, but considering everything else, they are where they need to be. I've been able to drop by every day so far since I"ve been home and it does my spirit wonders. Both my husband and his mother comment that I seem to get a kick of energy every time I go see the babies.

Big brother Matthew is doing well, with all the changes around him. He still points to my belly when we ask where Jojo and Katey are though. He can't visit the NICU as he is too young, so we are having to prepare him just by showing pictures.

The girls are doing well. Jordan (the smaller one) has a bit of a set back yesterday. She was put in an incubator because she couldn't get her temperature up. But we were told it should just be for 24 hours. Katelyn, is doing wonderfully well. In a matter 2 days, she has increased her milk consumption from 25 cc to 40 cc.  She has pretty much met every criteria for her to go home, except that she must be at least 35 weeks and gain weight. They are weighed once a week, and by Wednesday next week (when they are 35 weeks), I'm sure she would have gained weight by then.

Again, I want to thank you all for all the well wishes and prayers and thoughts. It got me teary-eyed at the hospital one day when my husband updated me on all the responses.

MonkeyDad here again.  The twins were born today by c-section.  In the past 24 hours they were unable to effectively control Izzy's contractions.  She kept progressing through towards full labor.  

Katelyn Marie was born 5 lbs 6 oz (2433 kg) and 17.5 inches long.  Jordan Elizabeth was born 4 lbs 8 oz (2035 kg) and 17 inches long.  Katelyn was extracted without trouble.  Jordan fought and kept trying to go higher under Izzy's ribs.  Both babies are in the NICU since they are 6.5 weeks early.  They are both breathing on their own without any trouble.  They do need a heat lamp at the moment and while not exactly needed were given a IV for the night.  They will remain in NICU until they learn to eat on their own, that is the ONLY restriction holding them back from leaving.

Izzy is doing fine.  She gave a bit of a scare this afternoon and almost needed a 2nd surgery.  Her uterus since it was so stretched out would not contract and she kept bleeding.  The OB thought he might have to go back and sew it up to hold it closed or in the absolute worst case perform a hysterectomy (sp?).   Fortunately, she was stabilized with medication and the surgery will not be needed.  Izzy is in good spirits and was able to make a few jokes.

I hope to get some pics up soon.

MonkeyDad here again.  The twins were born today by c-section.  In the past 24 hours they were unable to effectively control Izzy's contractions.  She kept progressing through towards full labor.  

Katelyn Marie was born 5 lbs 6 oz (2433 kg) and 17.5 inches long.  Jordan Elizabeth was born 4 lbs 8 oz (2035 kg) and 17 inches long.  Katelyn was extracted without trouble.  Jordan fought and kept trying to go higher under Izzy's ribs.  Both babies are in the NICU since they are 6.5 weeks early.  They are both breathing on their own without any trouble.  They do need a heat lamp at the moment and while not exactly needed were given a IV for the night.  They will remain in NICU until they learn to eat on their own, that is the ONLY restriction holding them back from leaving.

Izzy is doing fine.  She gave a bit of a scare this afternoon and almost needed a 2nd surgery.  Her uterus since it was so stretched out would not contract and she kept bleeding.  The OB thought he might have to go back and sew it up to hold it closed or in the absolute worst case perform a hysterectomy (sp?).   Fortunately, she was stabilized with medication and the surgery will not be needed.  Izzy is in good spirits and was able to make a few jokes.

I hope to get some pics up soon.

Hi MonkeyDad here again.  Izzy is doing okay so far in Hospital.  They are having to regularly giving her medication to stop contractions.  She can tell when the medication is wearing off as the contractions get stronger and more frequent.  She is currently in good spirits.  The hospital food is good she says.  She gets to order what she wants.  Right now Doctors are telling her she will probably not be able to leave the hospital until after she hits 35 weeks or the babies are born.  She wanted me to thank all of you for best wishes.  We both appreciate you thinking and praying for her. 

MonkeyDad here, Izzy's hubby.  Izzy went to her OB appt today and was immediately admitted to hospital.  She was dilated 2-3cm and having contractions.  They have stabilized her, and given her medicines to try and hold off the contractions for now.  On monday we will find out if she can come home, but Doctor is currently thinking she will be in hospital until birth.  Medicine has been given to make sure babies lungs are developed well.  She is 33.5 weeks and Doctor is trying to hold her off until week 35.  I will update as more information comes in...