Home Again, Home Again

We came home on Monday from the hospital, but let me back up and give more details. For those of you who don't know, Catherine had a low hematocrit (spelling?) level (not enough red blood cells to bring oxygen to the body). As such she was totally fatigued and would pass out (literally) almost every time she got out of bed. The doctor came to see how she was doing, and she was so proud of herself because she stood up for 30 seconds while holding on to the bed without passing out or falling over. The doctor wasn't so proud of that achievement. In fact it convinced him to give her a blood transfusion to get those red blood cells back up. Afterwards, she felt like a million bucks compared to before. She is a happy mama and is doing so well.

Just before going to the hospital. The darkness of the dresser makes it difficult to see how big her tummy actually is.


On the way home


Catherine and Caitlyn


Catherine admiring her "back-to-normal" feet


Mama giving Caitlyn her second-ever bath (first one for mommy)


Little Bryant had to spend one day in the NICU for low blood sugar. Poor guy had to get an IV stick so they could drip sugar water in his blood. He got out after 1 day and 2 nights in there. He has been eating wonderfully! He has high bilirubin (kidney not filtering as much as it should) which is common for newborns. It gives him his jaundiced yellow hue. To fix this, he is put in a little suit-case looking bili light. The light helps the body get rid of the bilirubin until his kidneys can catch up. He started last night, and his bili number dropped from yesterday to today. I think every new dad to a baby boy discovers quickly the joy of old faithful shooting off when a diaper is changed. He's got good aim (he hit his dad), good range (hit the wall and the crib), and good timing (started peeing the second dad unlatched his diaper tabs). It's funny in retrospect... not so funny in the line of fire.


On the day we came home 1


On the day we came home 2


At home


Fashion is everything... wanting a good tan at a young age (they're really the bili lights).


Our little lady Caitlyn also had to spend time in the NICU for low blood sugar. In fact she had to go in first but got out after 2 days and 2 nights. She is spared from the bili lights. She has been having a hard time taking anything but the bottle. Catherine fortunately discovered that her nasal cavity was all filled up. We don't think she could breath, thus making it hard to eat! She is so fun to watch because of the myriad of facial expressions she has. She will go back and forth from a little smile as she's waking up to a furrowed brow, back to a crooked smile, then a "I'm just about to burst into tears" face. She is beautiful and dainty and is very much a girl (no confusing her for a boy).


Her frequent "one eye open" face.


One of many fussy faces


Our girl's pretty eyes.


Dainty sleeper

I am doing well. I am tired. It is difficult for me to wake up to their whimpers (not that I'm not willing, just not capable without a nudge from Catherine). Hopefully that changes as time goes on. I really wish I could skip school every day and stay at home with out little ones, but on the bright side, I am learning a lot about their development in my classes. I am just worried about the 3 research papers that are due at the end of the semester :-(. I am a very proud papa and am so happy to have these little ones here, healthy and strong.


Dad feeding Bryant for the first time.


Dad burping a sleepy Caitlyn


Caitlyn Stopping the Paparazzi (she's learning young).


Dad giving an unhappy Bryant his second-ever bath (first one for dad).