Our first week home has been all about ME!

Not a week for the weak! Madelaine and Eleanor have surpassed (by mere hours) their first week’s stay at the Gore Family Household as of today. Not leaving anything to chance or forgoing a dull moment, the girls keep us on our toes-as expected-24 hours a day! After the breaking in period of their first weekend home, M & E had their first doctor’s visit on Monday. Ms. Eleanor gained roughly half a pound since leaving the hospital, while Ms. Madelaine is watching more of what she eats (singular) as she has only barely gained one quarter of a pound. To compensate for this and keep her right up there with her big sis (size, not age) we’ve added an extra feeding (Happy Meal) that will hopefully add the calories necessary to put on more weight by next Monday’s appointment. Sleep has been a blessing for the girls, consuming most of the daytime hours-though nighttime has been a different story. Sleep patterns at night have been very inconsistent for all Gore members of the household, with Mom and Dad waking up every 2-3 hours for feedings and/or attending to routine fussing. In rare instances when the girls are having a bad dream, Mom and Dad, in their weakened state of sleep deprivation, allow M & E a little respite with them in bed! When the girls decide to wake up and do a little exploring of their humble abode, they pass the waking hours away rocking in their Jungle Boogey swing and bouncer seat or boppy pillow. From the looks on their faces and a few mumbled words that they’ve yet to fully put together, Mom and Dad can safely say that the girls love their newfound play toys! All of our love, hugs, and kisses to our adoring fans out there and thanks for everything you’ve done for us! Love ME

WE ARE HOME!

I don't have much time to write tonight but just wanted to let everyone know our family is together at home as of 3pm today.  It was a wonderful day, indescribable really, as we pulled into the garage and brought the girls into the house.  Thank you for the continued thoughts and prayers which brought us all home healthy.  

Ms. Eleanor 

Our last photo in the level 2 nursery!

Ms. Madelaine

I 

Our first snuggle time at home.

2 weeks old!

We are still in the level 2 nursery but each day brings progress and steps closer to going home.  The girls are growing, growing, growing - Madelaine is now 5 lbs and Eleanor is 5 lbs, 14 ounces.  We want to thank the local Mothers of Multiples group for lending us their preemie closet which has provided the girls with some much needed pink outfits!  We also need to send a huge thank you to our dear friend, Beth, for picking up and washing all these clothes.  This is the first post I have written without Cris, so I just have to include a picture of his new favorite past time being I find it adorable and know the girls will love to see these pictures someday when they are older.  As often and for as long as able, Cris does "Kangaroo Care" with the girls which is skin-to-skin contact to promote early bonding.  Although I am likely biased, he is the only male in the nursery I've seen do it so of course I think he is a pretty wonderful Dad already!  Hope you don't mind the photo on the blog spot dear!!!

1 week old!

The past week has gone by both slowly and quickly and we have much to be thankful for, the birth of our daughters and their continued progress.  We also continue to appreciate all the calls, visits, and prayers we have received.  The photo tonight is of the girls modeling the caps they received from the auxillary hospital volunteers this morning.  They were apparently trying to fit the size of the cap to weight and were looking for the smallest baby in the nursery...which was Madelaine.  And because Madelaine received one, Eleanor just had to have one too (welcome to the future of our lives right?). 

Hoping everyone has safe travels in this current lovely Minnesota weather.

We're finally together again!

Mom w/Madelaine and Dad w/ Eleanor

Yeah, no more isolettes - cribs rule!

Madelaine and Eleanor

Our first secret!

Madelaine and Eleanor continue to make progress and already amaze us each day with their differing personalities.  Yesterday was a wonderful day being they were finally able to be taken out of their isolettes and put into a crib together.  They both immediately loved their new home as noted by their looking at each other and snuggling as close as possible with one another - they even reached out and touched each other's pacifiers (but of course we didn't capture the exact moment on camera).  They are now on room air and maintaining normal body temperatures, respiratory rates, and heart rates.  Both receive feedings via their ng tubes with the volume gradually being increased as tolerated.  Our new temporary home is the level 2 nursery and as a house guest at the hospital, but we are extremely thankful to have this as an option so we can spend as much time as desired with them.

Thanks for stopping by!

The girls have arrived!!!

Madelaine Lee and Eleanor Lee arrived a bit early, coming on Monday January 5th, 2009.  We were just planning on a routine weekly MD check with ultrasound but things took a different path and the girls were delivered via c-section in the afternoon.  Madelaine arrived at 4:03 PM weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 16 inches long.  Eleanor arrived at 4:04 PM weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces and measuring 18 inches long.  Both are currently in the Level 2 nursery and are doing well but will need to remain in the hospital a bit longer due to a few breathing and feeding difficulties.  

We will eventually organize this site but wanted to get some pictures out for everyone to enjoy.  We thank you for your love, support, and prayers.

1st pic (Madelaine top, Eleanor bottom)

2nd pic (same)

3rd pic (Eleanor)

4th pic (Madelaine)