Tube? What tube?

Lots has happened recently with the kiddos. Friday early morning Jack pulled his feeding tube at grandma and grandpa's house. They kept it out and he continued to take almost all of his bottles without trouble. Earlier in the week we decided to try using a high flow nipple, and that seemed to really help him with bottling success. Friday afternoon Jack saw the speech therapist at Children's and drank an entire bottle in 5 minutes without any trouble. So...the tube has remained out! He has been doing great and taking near 80% of his volume. We are basically treating him the same as we do Maggie, sometimes he takes more and sometimes he takes less. If he does decrease his intake we are prepared to put the feeding tube back in immediately, but we are trying to be positive that he has turned a corner and is OK without it. On Friday he weighed 11lbs 3oz. Then Saturday afternoon he was weighed again at 11lbs 5oz, and a 2oz increase in a day is perfect! He and Maggie have their 4-month well-baby visit Tuesday, so we'll get another weight check on him to reassure his growth is OK, should he still not have the tube (fingers and toes crossed) come then. Being tube free isn't Jack's only recent change. He has actually changed a lot in just a week! He has become a lot more aware of the world around him. He will play on his mat for well into 30 minutes, all the while cooing and swinging his toys around. Speaking of cooing, he has also found his voice, smile and hands. He loves to sit on my knees and smile or bring his hands up and suck on his fist. He has adorable dimples and I love seeing him without his tube!

Maggie is changing right along with her bigger, little brother. On Saturday she weighed 9lbs 3oz. She doesn't feel like it at all though. She is so petite, and still wearing her newborn outfits perfectly. She is really cooing and "talking" a lot more. She recently discovered her mobile in her crib and in the morning when she first wakes I'll turn it on and she'll play under it giggling and squirming about. She has discovered her hands and is starting to learn how to calm herself. She's also become quite addicted to her pacifier and swing. She naps quite well, once she gets settled with a good swaddle and pacifier.

Both babies got their first RSV shot on Saturday, which went OK. Jack cried, but was easily calmed. Maggie however was not pleased and it took her a while to calm down. They also got to meet our good friends Chad and Erin on Saturday. This weekend's weather was really nice, so Saturday we went on a walk in the neighborhood and this afternoon we actually took them on a walk with Wilma at a park down the street. It was nice to have a change of scenery and feel like we got "out of the house".

We're slowly learning how to "read" the babies better. They have started to settle into a more defined routine, though their sleeping patterns are still varied. Neither baby is much of a morning person, and Jack seems to be having a nighttime fussy period. In fact right now Brian is rocking him for the third time tonight because he can't seem to calm down.

Jack smiling at his new friend Erin


Jack sitting quite well in his bumbo seat


Jack & Maggie in their bumbo seats & sitting together