Dinner time!

Maddy had her first official bottle tonight. She looked a little confused at first but with in a few seconds jumped right in and finished it off. Hopefully Zoe will be doing the same in a few more days.

Zoe and Maddy also had their first big eye exam this morning and they both passed it with flying colors.

Nap Time

We snapped this shot right as we were leaving this evening. It appears Zoe had a big day and was settling in for the night.

IV free

This morning Miss Zoe's IV was removed, and she is now on breast milk only. We're hoping next week to start breast feeding . . . big steps :) Maddy made it one day oxygen free, she had to go back on at very low setting over the weekend. Nothing to worry about, they assure us it's normal for their early age. They wanted to see if she could handle no assistance last week, but she got a little tired on her own.

Here she is . . .

Here is our little Maddy, officially free of assisted air as of this morning at 8:30am. They will keep a super close eye on her for the next 48 hours to see if she can tolerate room air on her own. It's 50/50 a lot of kids go back on some oxygen for a little bit after being taken off.

Sweet dreams

Little Miss Zoe catching some zzzzz's during the day yesterday. Her hair is really coming in reddish - which side of the family that's from we're not sure :)

A to F

Big day for the Ladies, they moved from nursery A to F. Nursery F is for more stable infants, and it is right next door to the carpeted nursery "G" - you get to go home when you hit the carpet . . . just a few more weeks :)

Snug as bug

The girls really love the Kangaroo Care. This is Maddy, snuggled up and asleep within a minute of being placed on Jim's chest.

Quiet Weekend

We had a nice weekend. We got to hold each of them on Saturday and Sunday for over an hour. Overall they are both doing very well. Zoe was weighed right before we left tonight and is 2lbs 13 ounces which is a nice gain from her last weigh in. Maddy gets weighed later tonight so we will update you tomorrow, she is currently 3lbs 2 ounces.

Getting to know each other

Maddy and Zoe are officially neighbors. They were moved next to each this morning. So... we were able to hold them side by side tonight for the first time which was great. They appeared to be a lot more interested in sleeping then catching up with each other. Once again another great day for the McCarthy's.

Maddy Time

Big day for Maddy, and Mommy; finally, I got to hold little Maddy for almost two hours today! Only a Mom could think all the droll Maddy produced was precious. Maddy took to the Kangaroo Care time like a champ. Zoe had a good day as well, Jim cuddled her this evening . . . a little Father, Daughter time.

Squeaky Clean

Miss Maddy got a much-deserved bath tonight, and is resting in her new digs – a yellow covered isolet. We are happy to report each of the girls had a weight gain.

Too cute!

Zoe had another good day, Jim held her while she got a new freshened up isolet for the next two weeks.

Maddy back online

Sweet Maddy is doing better, and was resting peacefully tonight as we said goodnight :)

Comrade Boris

Tonight Zoe looked like she has joined the Russian army (in purple style), we called her Comrade Boris during her Kangaroo Care time.

Quick update on Maddy, she is back on the Oscillator ... she faked out the Doctors the other day when they took her off too soon. Once again she is responding very well to the treatment, and was resting comfortably when we left tonight.

All is quiet (and clean)

We are pleased to report both Maddy and Zoe had another great day. Maddy is getting stronger each day and there is a chance that they will take her breathing tube out tomorrow. This evening Ursula read her Cinderella . Zoe and Mom had a fun today as well. At lunch time Urs was able to hold her for 40 minutes and this evening she gave little Zoe a bath.

Little Pink Houses

Ahhhhh, the color pink. Zoe's new home is pink inside, and pink on the outside. I wonder if we are now committed to painting the nursery pink when they get home - oiy!

Good Day

We all had a good day. Ursula arrived at the hospital to find Maddy having a great morning. They were able to take her off the oscillator and shut off the bili lights as well. She has come a long ways in the last day which makes us happy.

As usual Zoe is doing well. So well that Ursula got to hold her at lunch for an hour and I got to hold this evening.

Moving forward

Yesterday evening was a little tough but we got good news this morning. Maddy is having some issues with her lungs, she responded very well to the treatments last night. Zoe is moving along, she is no longer under the Bili lights, so her incubator has a big blanket over it to keep it quiet, and dark like the womb. Jimi has Kangaroo Care tonight with the little peanut. We hope to hold Maddy in the next few days :)

Milk does the body good!

Yesterday was good day, both ladies started to take tiny amounts of breast milk every two hours and they kept it down. We are so proud :) Maddy will have an x-ray today and hopefully they can remove her chest tube this afternoon or tomorrow, we're both dying to hold her! Aside from the tube in Maddy, both girls are doing well - one day closer to coming home.

Mom's turn

We are taking turns each night holding Miss Zoe, it was my turn on Saturday - - mmmmmmm, heaven!

Kangaroo Dad

Miss Zoe and Kangaroo Jimi got a chance to bond for the first time on Friday evening in "Kangaroo Care". We now get to hold Zoe skin on skin once a day, they call this process kangaroo care at the NICU - very addictive, she was not pleased when it was time for her to go back to bed. She is beyond cute!

Big Day for all!

We all had a big day! Around 1am last morning Zoe decided to pull out her breathing tube. Fortunately her doctors were planning on doing this morning anyway and all is fine. Maddy spent the day as always, just relaxing with her legs crossed.

The best part of the day came around 9pm when Ursula and I got to hold Zoe for the first time. If all goes as planned we will be able to do the same with Maddy either tomorrow night or Saturday.

HAPPY FEET

Happy to say it was a quiet day, not much new to report except 10 cute toes.

BLONDIES

Total cute blonde peach fuzz, definitely their father's daughters. Both have a ton of blonde hair all over, this shot is of Missy Maddy catching some rays under the Bili lights. Both are doing well, and one day closer to coming home :)

The eye cover is to protect her eyes from the lights.