Allison is home

Last Thursday our little finicky eater graduated from the NICU!  I had to put my foot down with the doctors who wanted to move her to another building with new nurses (she didn't eat for new people and I was concerned she'd stay in the NICU longer in a new place), and it paid off.  She has proven to have the most diva potential thus far; she is the pokiest eater and feeding her is as much work as feeding two at once.  With her eating issues, her weight gain has been slower than the doctors would like, so I also have to mix her formula separately so it has more calories in it- like I said, diva potential.  She did well at her discharge check up with the pediatrician.  She weighs 7 lbs 5.5 oz and is in newborn size clothes and diapers.  Still has red hair too :)

Allison ready to go! 

Once Allison came home, Leah was moved to the main NICU of TCH where she can easily been seen by the specialists she needs.  It is very different than the Pavilion- dark, crowded, no privacy; we're still getting used to it.  She has made good progress this first week of August.  She has doubled her amount of breast milk and has started being introduced to a bottle.  She still has quite a ways to go, but at least we're moving forward.  She is just over 6lbs and borderline between preemie and newborn sizes.  I hate that she's in the hospital all alone and I don't get to visit her often, but that's how it goes with sextuplets.  Levi finally reached 6 lbs!  Such a little guy.  He will be having surgery on his hernias in a couple months; it was fun going to his doctor appointment with just one baby and no one paying attention to us.  My favorite was the nurse's face when she asked "How many siblings does he have?"  "Five."

Leah enjoying her music

The other 3 are doing well.  Their current weights are: Andrew = 10 lb 10 oz, Benjamin = 10 lbs 5 oz, and Caroline = 9 lb 2 oz.  They are becoming more fun to play with as they look at you and objects and I believe I've gotten a few real smiles!

Before my parents left we started "schedule bootcamp"  where we changed their eating times and began training the babies to be on the 'eat, play, sleep' cycle.  The first few days were rough, but it has slowly gotten better.  The nights have been much more peaceful; they still have their moments of course, but go down easier and stay asleep longer.  We're still eating every 4 hours because Levi and Allison can't go any longer than that, but we stimulate them as little as possible at 10pm and 2am.  All the babies have been enjoying our morning walks- I take the 6 seater stroller and Maggie around the neighborhood.  We do get some double takes!

Another schedule we've been working on is the volunteer calendar.  I'll admit I was anxious about enough people signing up, or coming once and never returning.  I can't believe how our friends, family, and neighbors have stepped up!  It's only been a couple weeks, but we've had plenty of help (and food!) and I've been able to catch up with some old friends and make some new friends too.  Saying thank you does not do these people justice- especially the ones who come everyday and even spend the night!

Rainbow of bottles- a volunteer helps me make these every evening

Many people I know were convinced that once I mailed into formula and diaper companies that they would come to our rescue- no such luck.  I'm getting the same deals people with twins get: Similac is sending 18 cases of free formula (should last us a month since Allison and Leah won't be using it) and Pampers sent some coupons and half were for a $1 or 2 off = lame.  There were some coupons for free diapers, so it was worth the stamp.

The 5 (starting with P1 and going clockwise: Ben, Caroline, Andrew, Allison, Levi w/puppy)