Four At Once!!!

There isn't too much to report today, but everyone is doing great, and their weights are still going up little by little! Now we just need to get them eating well and they will be headed home!!

Jim had the distinct privilege of being the first to hold all four at once. I was a tad envious, but he's back to work now until the babies come home, so he doesn't get to spend as much time with them as I do. I was glad he got the honor of being the first to have all four piled on his chest! It was so sweet!

From left to right we have Teddy, Ollie, Audrey, and Melanie all snuggling with Daddy!

Jim also got to work on his multiple parenting skills as he held Melanie and Ollie while bottle feeding Ollie.
Finally, because I'm told that the world just can't get enough pictures....here are some cute ones I snapped today.

Trunk or Treat!

Tonight was "Trunk or Treat" at our church. This was a fun time for Bonnie, and gave her the opportunity to trick or treat for the first time in a safe, and distance-efficient manner.

Bonnie had two costumes from which to choose. Currently, her two favorite animals are puppies and frogs, and my mom happened to find the frog costume on the same day I bought a puppy costume off of ebay...so we first tried on her costumes at home and then took them both to the church, so that she could make up her mind when she got there....this way we avoided any last minute tantrums about not having the right costume available at the church........she trick or treated as a frog.

Bonnie caught on to this free candy gig pretty quickly, and her purse became a prized possession. After it was all said and done, she wouldn't let that purse out of her sight!

Quick Baby Update

All of the babies are doing great, and they are all now gaining weight! It is great to have them on the upslope!!!

They are also doing well at maintaining their body temps...they might be able to move to cribs soon!

Today I worked on mastering a new skill, holding two babies while giving one a bottle...here's a photo. The shot of me is not-so-flattering, but alas this is life.

I held three babies at once today!

Today was another great day in the NICU! All of the babies got to try out bottles today, and Ollie got to try out breastfeeding. They are doing so well! We are basically at the point that we just need to get them eating well and gaining weight. It is so exciting to think that they will be home in just 2-3 weeks! Above are some new shots, including one with me holding all three little nubs (Ollie, Audrey, and Teddy left to right) while I was doing skin on skin care with Teddy!

Big Baby Update!

The babies are doing GREAT!! I couldn't be more pleased. I spent most of the morning at the NICU, and when I got there the nurses reported to me that the babies were all done with their IVs and that they would come out later today (for Melanie and Ollie - Teddy and Audrey's were already out) and then the babies would be ready to bunk together!!! I got to hold them all during their feedings, and had a good chat with the neonatologist. Dr. Ceasar also told me that Audrey should be ready to try breastfeeding later in the week!

When Jim and Eyad went in for the afternoon feeding, they were in the process of getting the kiddos bunked together, and they got to hold them two at a time. You are about to see the first pictures of all four babies together!!! Jim and I will be going back tomorrow to get more pictures!









The Boys in their new digs:

The Girls in their house!

Pictures from the 22nd.

Here are some pictures from the 22nd when I was able to make a brief visit to he NICU.

Melanie

For Jimbo, My Rock!

Jim, you are the best husband and father anyone could ask for! This has been a difficult pregnancy for the whole family, and you have definitely stepped up to the plate. You started a new job this summer and are excelling in your new position, and you did all of this while being an outstanding father to Bonnie and picking up most of the slack left behind by your wife who just wasn't able to move as quickly or do as much as she usually did to keep the family running.

You provided for Bonnie, the Quads and me in every way and we are so lucky to have you as the glue that holds us all together!

The last two weeks have been especially stressful for you, as you suddenly became a single father to a bright and active two-year-old while your wife was having a mini-vacation at the hospital reading and knitting at her leisure! You handled your single-fatherdom with grace as you shuttled back and forth from home to daycare, work, and the hospital and back, over and over again. All of this falling upon you just two weeks before your board exams.

Your exams are tomorrow, and I know this has been weighing heavily on you. Even though you have not been able to study nearly as much as you would have liked, I have every confidence that you will do well!

You've earned a huge reward in heaven for all you have done. Your perseverance under a great deal of pressure has not gone unnoticed. I am VERY lucky to have been chosen both by you and by God to be your wife and mother to your children. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives. The depth of our love for you cannot be measured.