Graduation Day

Today was a busy day. Stacey was discharged and is finally home for the first time in almost three weeks.

We're hoping that the girls will get their first graduation day tomorrow, from the highest level of intensive care area to the "intermediate" area. This means that they need less treatment and spending time with them gets much easier. We had an awesome nurse named Sandy taking care of them tonight and she reminded us that we aren't leaving them alone because they have each other.

Holiday gifts for the girls

The NICU staff here at Brigham and Women's is amazing. Our girls are under constant supervision and the nurses are so helpful and answer all of our questions. They help Stacey with feeding the girls and are always patient when I neurotically ask what every line or number on their monitor means.

It's remarkable to see all of the pictures, cards and other memories around
the NICU from past families who have spent time there. We are lucky to have two babies that were born with such good size and lungs. There are many babies in the NICU that were born much earlier or with more serious conditions. We see many pictures of toddlers who weighed less than 2 pounds when they were born!

When we went down to say good morning to the girls yesterday, in with each of them was a stuffed dog and a note. It was a gift from a family that had a baby in the NICU two years ago. They left a present for every single baby in the NICU.

I was touched by how these parents thought of all of us while we are here. Here is a picture of one of the dogs and I've included the text of the note below.

NICU Family,

Two years ago we spent our holidays in the same place you are today. During our two month stay, we would find gifts left for our baby from a NICU alumni. It was such a blessing to know that other people out there knew what we were going through and how we were feeling, especially during the holiday season - where Christmas (for us) was just another day and the New Year came and went without a blink.

So, here is our gift to you and your baby. It is soft and cuddly and full of love for your newborn. And know that you and your child are being thought of in this time of your life and we hope your day to take your baby home is just around the corner.

We wish you the best in 2008.

Audrey Corson and Family

NICU 59 days, alum January 2006

Big Happy Family

All four of us together (Hailey is on the left)

All good news from Brigham and Women's today. Both Hailey and Riley are feeding orally now - at least some of the time. They both took their first bottles this morning and are doing well with it. This picture is the first of all four of us together. Actually getting to hold them both at the same time was pretty special - panic inducing! - but special.

They are identical, we swear!

Riley on the Right

Hailey on the left

Hailey had a little bit more blood when she was born, so she's a little darker. They will even out over time - they've already gotten a lot closer. This may be the only time we can tell them apart!

Sneezes and Poop

Riley with the sneezes

More good news from the B&W NICU today. Hailey has joined her sister in breathing totally on her own! Dad has already had the pleasure of changing dirty diapers. It turns out that preemies tend to poop more when they are stimulated...say from someone changing their diaper. So there was lots of poop involved for a novice diaper changer. I have a feeling a lot of my life will involve poop over the next couple of years. Right now it's pretty thrilling, though I don't expect that to last.

Mom is going to try feeding them both today!

Two days old

Chris and Riley

Stacey and Hailey

Today was an exciting day at the hospital. We were both able to hold Hailey for the first time. She even opened her eyes for the first time right in front of us.

Both girls are coming along great. Riley has been breathing totally on her own for a while. Hailey is still getting a little room air forced in to keep her lungs nice and inflated, but they are hoping to take her off that very soon.

New Arrivals!

We are very happy to announce that identical twin girls Hailey Renee and Riley Josephine arrived at 5:29 and 5:40 p.m. on December 26. Hailey was 5 lbs. 5 oz and 18 inches long and Riley was 4 lbs. 13 oz and 17.5 inches. Both will be spending some time with the excellent NICU staff here at Brigham and Women's, but both are doing great!


Hailey Renee



Riley Josephine