Claire - YOU ARE ONE MONTH OLD!

Our sweet Claire-bear! You are so amazing and have proven to be so strong. You were the second daughter born to us, Claire Elizabeth, at 11:16am on Thursday, December 23rd, 2010! Mommy was 32 weeks and 2 days pregnant. You were known as Baby B from the beginning, an identical twin to Baby A, your sister Madelynn.

When you were born you came out the easiest, Dr. Pinckert said, but you had no intention of wanting to breath and therefore received the lowest apgar score of you and your sisters. Dr. Pinckert said you got ripped off, he knew you were stronger than the score you received. You had to be put on a ventilator almost immediately and Mommy did not get to see you at all, before the nurses wheeled you out in your isolate. Daddy only got to see you for a second, he didn't want to leave Mommy's side during the delivery and since you and your sisters were born so quickly after one another, there wasn't much time to walk around and take photos right away.

At birth you weighed 3lbs. 14oz, the same as Madelynn. Identical from the start, you two! You had dark eyes and super soft brown hair, just enough not to be bald, but nothing too wild. Perfect, if you ask Mommy!

You only needed to be on the ventilator for an hour or two and then you went on CPAP, the next step down for oxygen support, which again you only stayed on for a few more hours and then you were completely off of all support, even before your sisters. You are amazing! We thank God every day for how healthy you were at your birth!

Mommy finally got to see you on Christmas morning, after a very, very long 48 hours of not being able to see your beautiful face. However, your Daddy was enjoying taking care of you, taking your temperature and changing your diapers. He would come back from visiting you in the NICU and say how cute you were and reassure Mommy that you were fine! Mommy is sorry that she didn't get to know a lot about you in the first few days of your life. Mommy was very sick and not conscious for most of the two days after your birth.

When Mommy finally saw you, you were so beautiful, it took her breath away. There were lots of tears, Mommy couldn't believe how perfect you were. Ten toes and ten fingers; everyone commented on your and your sister's beautiful long and thin fingers. Everyone says that you girls are going to do something with your hands. Maybe an artist, or play the flute, a basketball player...who knows, you all just have the most beautiful fingers.

Your lips are perfectly pink and so sweet to kiss. A million kisses a day wouldn't be enough! You love to pucker your lips and stick your little tongue out!

You had some wonderful and very sweet nurses in the days that you spent in the NICU. Mommy cried every single time that she left you, it broke her heart in a million pieces, but knowing you had such knowledgeable and sweet people taking such great care of you made it a little easier. There were also so many people who came to visit you and your sisters in the NICU. Some of your visitors were Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Christine, Aunt Megan (she was the first to hold you other than Mommy and Daddy) and Uncle Julian, Nana, your Great-Nana, your Great-Aunt Bonnie, your Great-Grandma and Al, your Great-Aunt Tina and Great-Unlce John, Aunt Kim and Uncle Roger, Uncle Nate, Kristin and Jeff, Lisa, Melissa, Ann and Jack, Chantelle and baby Isla. Your friend, Isla, was born on December 26th and was in the area right next to you. Mommy was so happy you (and she) had a friend in the NICU, but Isla was a full-term baby and luckily didn't need much help, so she got to go home right away with her Mommy and Daddy. You have had so many people praying for you to be strong and to grow healthy, everyone loves you so much!

You stayed in the NICU for 21 days exactly. You were our first to come home. Currently you are still our only baby home, and we have enjoyed spending time with you and bonding with you. You are so sweet and we are so in love with you. At the time of discharge you weighed 4lbs. 8oz. and were drinking 40cc's in 10 minutes! You always wanted to jump your turn in line to eat. You were always second to eat and you hated waiting your turn. You constantly pulled your feeding tube out and Mommy had to constantly explain to you that you must eat all of your food if you didn't want the tube put back in, and then finally one day, you pulled it out for the last time and never looked back! We were so proud of you!

Passing your care seat test!

Your first night home!

You had your ears checked and everything was fine. Your eyes are also fine, just still immature, you will need to still see the eye doctor in two weeks again to make sure your eyes are fully mature. The doctor believes everything will be fine though, it's completely normal for preemies.

You make the sweetest little snorting and grunting noises when you get hungry. You are now eating 60cc's every 3 hours, which takes you about 15 minutes at the most and while you eat, you stare up at Mommy with your big beautiful eyes. It's so wonderful. Mommy still can't believe you are here and not going anywhere. She thinks someone is going to come get you but you are here to stay! You love to sleep on your tummy but Mommy and Daddy don't let you do this unless they are right there next to you, awake to watch your every breath. You are in newborn diapers and are growing so fast. You can't even fit into most of your preemie clothes, you are just too long. Today, you weigh 5lbs. 9oz! You have gained a whole pound in just one week! You are our pork chop! Your pediatrician says that you have the strongest neck and head muscles that she has ever seen in a preemie. You are controlling your head movements so well, something she would expect to see in a four month old! You are getting a bath every other day right now and you do pretty well. You love the warm water and Mommy loves how you smell when your finished.

Your first doctors appt!

Your first bath at home!

You have been to the grocery store and to Wal-Mart, but Daddy is very protective of you and does not want you out of the house. You also went to your Grandma and Grandpa's house for the first time on Thursday. You have been babysat by Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Christine and also by Nana, so Mommy and Daddy could spend time with your sisters.

Your Aunt megan bought you this outfit and you are too long for it. Your arms are so long and it looks like a short sleeve shirt on you, but it's so pretty so Mommy had to put you in it and take photos!

 

You love to lay on your Daddy's chest, and he loves his snuggle time with you in the evenings while Mommy is visiting your sisters. He is so in love with you, he melts every time he looks at you. I think he gives you a million kisses a day too! You are not allowed back to see your sisters in the NICU but I tell them each day that you say hello and that you miss them. They can't wait to come home and see you! They miss you so much!

Daddy can't believe Mommy put pants on you yesterday. He said you look like a big girl and was sad!

You are changing daily before our eyes and time is flying by, we don't want to miss anything. We love you so much Claire, and we are so proud of you! Remember you are in our family for a reason, God has a plan for you and we can't wait to see what He has in store for you! Continue to stay strong little girl, grow, grow, grow...our sweet love. Mommy and Daddy love you forever and ever, to the moon and back.

Your one month old photo!