The Kemper Girls

The Kemper Girls
The Kemper Girls

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Blessings Every Day

Penelope was released from the hospital on Friday!!! It was so great for both of us to be able to sleep in our own bed TOGETHER! The bittersweet part is that the girls are still in the NICU, but we know that is the best place for them for the moment.

Abigail and Sophia are doing SO GREAT! As of Saturday, their 6th day, they are both completely off IV fluids. Keep in mind they never had any meds of any kind, only IV for nutrition while they worked on accepting more and more breast milk each day. This is a precautionary thing they do in the NICU to make sure their tiny bodies can process that food. Now they are consistently eating breast milk every 3 hours. Penelope had great success breastfeeding them directly this Saturday with the help of a very experienced, gentle, and patient lactation consultant. 

The pictures you have seen with them glowing (literally) are because they were hooked up to billi-lights. (no idea how to spell) Billiruben is what builds up in many babies' bodies that causes jaundice. This light treatment somehow breaks that down. Any parents reading this are probably yawning by now because you're most likely familiar with the process. The great news is Abigail has kicked the habit and Sophia will likely be off the light before the end of the weekend. I just thought it made cool pictures. ;-)

The best news of all is that the neonatologists have finally given us an ETA for bringing the girls home. We hope to be able to have them home by Wednesday!!! Daddy and Mommy are going to be very busy putting the final touches on the nursery and getting the house ready for the big arrival. It's just so hard to tear ourselves away from visiting them in the NICU.

Once we get home we will need to settle in a bit and need to be realistic about how much stimulation they can tolerate, but stay tuned because we want to schedule time for visitors to come meet our little bundles of joy!

Speaking of pictures, I know that's why you're here, so here's some with Daddy, finally out from behind the camera...

It just doesn't get any better than this!

 Blissful Slumber

 On Friday they were moved into the same crib (no longer on warmers)

 Identical?



  One of the nurses made them these beautiful name tags to hang on their crib

 Is the 2 Peas in a Pod thing getting old yet?

 I think not!





Abigail on the left

 Sophia on the right

Daddy with Abigail





Friday, January 21, 2011

The World's Bestest Big Sister

Our Family Blog would not be complete without pictures of Zoe. Since we haven't quite left the hospital yet, I'm uploading some of my favorite picutres from my laptop. I'll be adding more when I get back home where I have many more, along with some videos.

Dinner before the 2010 Wonderball. This is a great charity event Zoe and I have been attending for the past couple of years. It is a Daddy-Daughter Dance put on by the Wonders & Worries Foundation. I work with one of the board members for this great organization that provides counseling services to children who have family members with terminal illness. It is a great bonding experience for Zoe and me and she is excited about joining the older girls to become a volunteer for this event. I guess I will have my hands full with three lovely princesses to escort to the ball from this year forward!

Zoe rockin' the limbo at the 2010 Wonder Ball

Zoe and GP at a Realty Austin event in 2006

Not so long ago, with Aunt Lydnsey

P and Z on a road trip to Port A for the 2009 Catamaran Race with the Sabras

Recreating a classic pose from several years ago with good friend Sean Melant

 Sean, Zoe, and Sarah in 2006

Zoe and Amar's Petting Zoo

 Zoe and Sarah Spring 2006
 Bathing Beauty - Hawaii 2002

 Choir Buds

 As Grandpa Wells would say, "Atta' Boy, Girl!"

 I have no idea where she gets it!

 Girl Power!

 Playing with the dogs

 Tree Time

Sassy circa 2004

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Slumber Party!

 Mommy with Abigail

Big Smile

Daddy with Sophia

Daddy's Girl

Who's wrapped around who's finger?

 I'm pretty sure that's Abigail
 Slumber Party!



Turn out the lights!

Auntie Karin and the Grandparents