August 11

stranger than fiction

I am writing this entry late, because this is weird enough to share at this hour.

We left the girls at 4:30 pm this afternoon to do some errands. Today was really the first day we got to see Ava's face, because of all the CPAP equipment. We noticed that the two girls shared some commonalities, such as eye color (brown) and a somewhat similar nose (unfortunately for them, like their loving father had when he was a lad), but that was about it, other than them sharing a striking cuteness factor. Needless to say, we could tell them apart. Ava was slightly heavier in the cheeks, her coloring was different, and her hair was slightly lighter.

Today was also the first day they were put in the same crib.

When we returned from our errands at 7:30 pm, I thought the nurses were playing a trick on me, because Harper was laying in Ava's spot. They assured me that no, they had not moved the girls, because in order for them to keep them straight, they always keep the babies on the same side of the crib. As you face them from above, Ava is on the right, and Harper is on the left. What I saw when we returned was that Harper was in Ava's spot, or so I thought.

It turns out that while we were gone, Ava somehow changed into Harper's image. It was one of the weirdest things I have ever seen. I was slightly dumbfounded, so much so that the nurse mocked me for being a weirdo. Not the first time someone has leveled that charge at me.

So, I took some pictures. You should notice a difference between the girls in the first pictures (reverse order, though), the differences are fairly obvious. Afterward, they seem like identical twins.

To end the evening, Kelly and I got to lay with the girls on our chests, as we have been fortunate to do for the past few days, if only for an hour a day or so. When we finished at around 11, the nurse placed the girls in the crib facing one another. They STARED, even though we know their eyes don't focus properly, if at all. The nurse then moved them from the ward they were in to a new one farther away that is set up for improving preemies, like ours.

When they got to their new destination, they had both started sucking on their hands. Neither of them had done so up to this point. Not only that, but they had the exact same fingers in their mouths, and would not take them out. They looked like a mirror image of each other.

I know this is probably some temporary phenomenon, but it was WEIRD.

I also like the picture where Harper is whispering something to Ava. There will likely be much more of that in the future.

Pictures

Here are more pictures. We are starting to see differences in them.

They are both off the CPAP machines now, and breathing on their own. Soon they will be off the IV, and then they will put them next to one another. For now, they are separated by about ten feet. Kelly and I get to hold them on our chests once or twice a day--they call it "kangaroo care." It apparently speeds up their development to have close contact with parents. We can't wait until we get them home so we can hold them like that every day.

Mom is still doing well. She's pumping milk right now. The babies are on her milk exclusively, and we are hoping we can begin nursing next week and get them off the feeding tubes.

SURPRISE!

Well, they simply couldn't wait. Last Monday, July 27th, Kelly had some contractions, so we went to Southwest Medical Center and spent the night. They thought they could control them, and we were glad because we didn't want to go into early labor.

However, last Thursday, she started having some contractions again, so we again went to Southwest. They discovered that she had dilated some, so they put her on medication to try to slow or stop early labor.

We signed up for a "preparation for birth" class, and we were able to attend one meeting. Our class was supposed to go on a tour of the hospital's maternity facilities that afternoon, and as we were laying in the birthing rooms, our tour group passed us.

Kelly was taken to St. Vincent's, down in Beaverton, by ambulance, because they apparently have the best neo-natal facilities around. We spent one night, and the next morning around 5, she went into full-on labor. Ready or not, we were about to have babies. I stayed remarkably calm, though inside I thought I was going to explode.

Ava Ann Gourde was born at 8:18 AM on Friday, July 31st. She weighed 3 pounds, 11 ounces. Harper Dianne Gourde was born at 8:29, and she weighed 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Both babies are doing well, but will have to stay at St. Vincent's until they can eat on their own, breathe on their own, and gain weight steadily. Kelly did a great job, and the doctors and nurses were amazed at her. Since the babies come from tough women, we assume they will be fine.

I will attach some pictures, even though many of them seem the same. The girls look remarkably alike, although we are told they are fraternal.

ultrasound

Had another ultrasound today, and everything looks fine. Both girls are about three pounds, and are growing at the right rate.

Couldn't get much of a picture of Ava's face. She is uncooperative already, which she must get from her mother, because her dad has always been a happy, cooperative guy.

The first one is Ava's scrunched face. It's difficult to make it out, but it's there. The other is Harper's profile, which is cute. She opened her mouth and stuck her tongue out.

Not much new to report. Went to the doctor today, and everything seems to be going well. We have an ultrasound scheduled for Thursday, so hopefully I will have new pictures.

Kelly had a work shower on Saturday, so the girls' room is full of stuff, waiting to get organized. I'll get right on it.

Here's the week 28 tummy.

Emmy's demand

Emmy insisted I post something else, though there's not much to add. Took a picture of Kelly and the babies today, so I guess that will do. Plus there are our other two babies. We will all be together soon.

The pictures are kind of fuzzy for some reason--I'm a rookie with the camera.