Colic x 2 = EXHAUSTION

For the past two weeks, this has been our life (make sure you watch the video!).  

We tried Mylicon...ha!  Yeah right!  We got gas medicine from the pediatrician...another flop (and it made the girls spit up).  We were all at our wit's end.  The girls were screaming incessantly for hours each day (I'm talking like 12 hours a day...and I am not exaggerating) and we had tried everything we could think of including eliminating dairy.  Finally, mom read about Dr. Sears' Elimination Diet to try and reduce colic.  For two weeks, this is all I can eat.  After that, I can add one food at a time every 4 days (off a specific list of foods).  

Plain chicken and rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, pears, squash, and zucchini

I started on Monday and so far the girls have done MUCH better.  We are crossing our fingers and praying A LOT.  I think we may still have some "high needs" infants on our hands...but anything is better than before.  I will hopefully be updating soon about some brand new babies:)

Way too fast!

How can it be??  Wasn't it just yesterday that the girls didn't even fit into Preemie diapers??  They have already gotten almost too big for newborn diapers, so instead of opening another pack and risking not using them all, we've started using size 1...my babies are growing WAY TOO FAST!!!

This is a picture of the tiny diapers the girls wore before they wore preemie diapers (the one on the right is a preemie)!  Look how small!!!  I can't believe how fast they have grown!

What am I gonna do without her?

Baby sitter, chef, grocery shopper, house cleaner...there is no match for SUPER MIMI!!

Tummy Time

Anna's Tummy Time

Kate's Tummy Time

We LOVE Miss Staci

Miss Staci has become a dear friend!  She regularly checks in to see how the girls are doing.  Today, she came all the way to our house for a visit!

Follow-up Appointments

Now that the girls have left the NICU, we have several follow-up appointments to go to.  The opthamologist, the cardiologist, the audiologist, and the physical therapist...just to name a few!  Yesterday, Mom and I carted the girls down to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for ultrasounds.  Anna had a head ultrasound and Kate a head and hip ultrasound.

All loaded up!

Anna getting her head ultrasound

I know that the pictures aren't very clear, but it was dark and I wasn't using my "good" camera.

Mimi Gives Baths

We are having so much fun with the girls at home!  Things have finally calmed down a bit (meaning the girls are not spending several hours each day screaming), and we are starting to SLOWLY get into what is almost a routine!  I honestly have no clue what I would have done if my mom wasn't here!!??  She has been such a trouper!  Those of you that know her know that she loves to sleep...well, she hasn't been getting much of it and she is still happy and willing to help with anything!  I LOVE YOU MOM!!!  The other day I jokingly told her she should just have her mail forwarded to our house:)
The other night, Mimi and I gave the girls their first baths at home.  They actually did really well and didn't even cry much...success!

Mimi giving Anna her bath

Anna's all clean!

Mimi giving Kate her bath

Kate's all clean!

Going Home!

Kate and Anna are FINALLY home!  We were so blessed by all of the nurses and doctors who took care of them while they were in the NICU!  Even though we were so excited and MORE than ready to leave, I cried as we walked out the door.  While I won't miss the routine of going to the hospital, I will miss seeing so many of the nurses whose faces and smiles have become so familiar.

Almost time to go!

Mimi waiting patiently for the doctor to arrive.

Kate gets the OK from Dr. Castillo!

Anna's not sure about the whole car seat thing.

Kate doesn't seem to mind.

Ready to go HOME!

Daddy looks a little tired:(

It definitely takes two...or even three!!

This is where we have set up camp!

I LOVE nursing my girls!

Daddy has been sooooooooo helpful!!

Don't let all of these pictures of the girls sleeping deceive you!  It has been quite a challenge since they have been home.  Mom and Phil have been working in shifts and it has definitely taken all 3 of us to take care of them.  In the hospital, the girls were never very fussy and would always sleep between feedings.  Since we have been home, they have barely slept and have had several hours during which they have not only been fussy, but have been screaming:(  We are working to try and figure out why this is the case.  If we can't, we will camp out at the doctor's office until we do!
Regardless of how fussy they have been, it has been sooooooooo wonderful having them home!!

First Baths

Yesterday and today I gave Anna and Kate their first official baths!  Up until now, they have gotten sponge baths from their nurses, but I was able to bring my little tub and give them a real bath! I was going to give both of them baths yesterday, but let's just say that our nurse yesterday was a little less than helpful during Anna's bath, so I decided to wait until Melissa came with me today to bathe Kate.  Unfortunately, I didn't get but one picture of Anna's bath since I was flying solo, but today we got lots of Kate's bath.

The only picture I got of Anna's bath:(

Getting ready for her bath

Taking off her monitor leads

Naked baby!!

This isn't so bad!

Kate's all clean!

A warm bath and a full belly...what more could a girl ask for?!

Our Favorite Nurses

While in the NICU, Kate and Anna had quite a few nurses.  While all were excellent, two stood out as exceptional.  Here are the girls with Miss Janet and Miss Staci...their favorite nurses!