Feb 25, 2006

Kathryn and Margaret are doing well! Dr. McKenzie, the pediatrician for the girls, came to the house today on his weekly visit and Margaret weighed in at 7 pounds 3 ounces and Kathryn at 6 pounds 12 ounces! They are both doing really well with feedings! Both are up to almost 4oz every feed! Erin has been amazing with them and is the most loving and doting mother I have ever seen! Grandma Quinn has been over to help several times and Grandma Shannon is on her way tomorrow! Maggie the dog has consumed about 10 pacifiers but other than that - an angel!

I will get Erin to post some new pictures! Thank you for everything - we could not do any of this without all of your support.

Dave and (Erin)

February 19, 2006

Both Kathryn and Margaret have broken the 6 pound mark! Margaret is 6 pounds 8 ounces and Kathryn is 6 pounds 1 ounce! Both girls seem to be settling in very nicely. Our daugthers received the very best care available in the NICU and are receiving great care while at home. Even our pediatrician makes house calls! Unheard of, I know.

Thank you, all of you, for you love and support.

Erin and Dave

February 17, 2006

As you can see by the photos below, Kathryn is home!!! How appropriate for her to come home on Erin's birthday! Her surgery went well. She ended up having bilateral hernias repaired and fortunately, she did not have to go under general anesthesia.

We were filled with a lot of mixed emotion while leaving the NICU at Beth Isreal Deaconness. We spent over two months there between Erin's stay and we became accustomed and attached to a lot of the staff there. To say that these people were incredible would be an understatement. I can see now why very wealthy people donate entire wings to these people and what they do. They are truly miracle workers and such a friendly and competent group of people.

Our experience over at Children's Hospital was equally fantastic. The Doctors that worked on Kathryn were very calming and informative and they were so down to earth despite the fact that they are all geniuses. The nurses were amazing as well and special thanks goes out to Jackie who was the NICU nurse who travelled to and from Childrens with Kathryn.

Today starts yet another new chapter in our lives. We are happy to have Kathryn and Margaret home but we will miss the people that helped vitalize these two little lives. I would love to mention all the special people we would love to thank but we don't want to leave anybody out. Everyone was just amazing.

As always, thank you to all of you for your support, kindness, generousity and love. We would have never been able to make it through all of this without it. We can't wait to share these two beautiful girls with all of you whether in person or by this blog site. Erin and I promise to keep this site up to date so everyone can track how these two angels are doing.

Thank you,

Erin and Dave

Kathryn is home!!!!

Leaving the NICU

Everything went great with the surgery and Kat will be home today!!! Here are some new photos...

February 15, 2006

Hi Everyone:

We were all very excited to bring Kathryn home yesterday but unfortunately and fortunately, during her discharge exam, the excellent nurses, doctors and specialists found a hernia near Kathryn's groin. After meeting with the nurses and doctors, the decision was made to surgically repair the hernia. Therefore, Kathryn will be going in for surgery tomorrow morning at 10a.m.

Please help us pray that she gets thru this like she has gotten thru everything else that has been thrown at her. She is one tough child! I was holding her today and could not believe how strong she was! She nearly jumped out of my arms!

Margaret is transitioning very well at home! She is quiet and sweet baby. After the first few days of 24 Dave and Erin NICU care (and let's not forget Grandma Quinn care), we have settled down to having her sleep in her bassinet beside us and take turns getting up to feed her.

I will ask Erin to post some more pictures on the blog site and I will keep this blog going so everyone can see how these girls are doing.

As always, thank you for your support, generousity, love and compassion.

Erin and Dave

Meg is doing great and Kathryn will be home tomm. Thank you everyone for my beautiful shower and generous gifts...They will sure be put to good use...xoxox, Erin & Dave

Kathryn being fed, Meg in her car seat and Meg and Erin outside the house...

February 6, 2006

Margaret is home! Erin will load the new pictures we have of her and Kathryn and of Erin bringing Margaret up the steps to her home! Margaret had a nice trip home and is doing well. The report in Kathryn is good - she will be about a week or two behind Maragaret.

Erin is on first shift tonight and I am on second! No Maggie tonight! She is staying overnight at the vet's as she was "fixed" this morning.

Thanks,

Erin and Dave

February 05, 2006

It looks like Margaret is coming home tomorrow! She passed her hearing test and carseat test and we will be bringing her home after the noon feeding. Kathryn is catching up really quick and is almost 5 pounds now. Margaret has her beat by only two ounces! Kathryn will probably stay another week or maybe less. We are very excited about all of this - and a little nervous too!

We will keep this blog site updated to share in their progress. It is really amazing to see the difference in them in just the few weeks we took the photos!

Thank you everyone for your support, generousity and love.

Erin and Dave

February 2, 2006

As you can see, the girls have graduated to a crib! As indicated, we think Margaret is coming home very soon - possibly this weekend! We have been hustling to get the room ready and figuring out a schedule so Erin and I can care for Kathryn while she is still at the NICU. Kathryn had a pretty bad "spell" last night. We had spent the whole afternoon with them and according to the nurses, she had a spit up and a poop simultaenously and that caused her heart rate and oxygen saturation to drop to a point that she required oxygen to get her saturation level back up. She is one tough cookie though and we are confident that she will get these issues behind her like she has everything else. We expect that she will be about another week or so to be coming home. Margaret is taking her bottles at every feed and has not been having any spells. She is over 5 pounds now (her birthweight was 2.9#) and she looks like a totally different baby. Both girls look exactly alike! We will have to mark one of them so we don't mix them up! It is easy to distinguish them at the hospital but when they come home, it won't be as easy!

We will keep you posted with any new information. Thank you for your generousity, kindness and concern.

Erin and Dave