Trying to Catch UP!

It is a very cold morning in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I am wearing a very warm sweater that I have no recollection of having. But I really like it and it fits!

It seems that "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get." I am taking a few minutes before beginning my work day to write a bit. I am in the throes of that terribly busy time of the year when there is not enough time in my half day of work to do all that needs to be done. So, as usual, I am parked in front of my t.v. in the evenings, figuring grade point averages on dozens of applicants. It is tedious, but can be done with about 75% of my brain - which allows 25% for what is playing on the tube - I don't think you even need that much, do you??

Yesterday I left work early to go see the teeny ones and take some pictures that would truly show you their size. I was NOT happy when I came out to my car and found a catering van parked illegally, perpendicular to the back end of my car. When they came out and learned of my displeasure (I'm afraid I wasn't very nice), the young woman came rushing over to my car to assure me they were leaving soon - as soon as her boss went back in to get his keys. Then she came back over to tell me that her boss was a Ph.D. in engineering (made me wonder, since he's using his degree to cater?) and that I could easily get out of there with the correct angle. I informed her that I had been trying for quite some time - I really didn't want to hit their red van with my white one. Finally they left and I rushed to the hospital, only to find that Kate was under the blue lights again - her bilirubin was a bit elevated, so they slapped that headgear on her again and laid her on her tummy to "blue light bathe." Nothing alarming, but she was tired, so they weren't going to get her up again for awhile.

I decided to come back today instead of waiting for Emma. I did get this shot, though, of the big sisters in their new shirts sent to them by Kristen's cousin, who works as a social worker in a NICU. Big Brother also has one (in blue, of course), but he was at school.

Then I decided to go get a bowl of soup at my new favorite place - Culver's. It has become my new routine since visiting the hospital at the lunch hour, before heading home. BUT -- can you understand the condition of my brain when I tell you that I locked my keys in the car for the THIRD TIME in two weeks?? Once at the hospital, once at the dry cleaner's, and yesterday at Culver's. Good grief!!

If you're one of my regulars, you will remember that it was a cold day last winter when I did that here at work - with the car running. I had to stand outside the car, watching students come and park and go on, wondering what this crazy lady was doing standing by her car with it running, in the very cold morning. After DC came to rescue me that morning, he did rush right into Ace Hardware and purchase one of those magnetic key holders for me, and had them make me a spare key. The good news is that there is actually still some metal on the underside of my car to attach it. The bad news is that there is a lot of mud that hits the underneath of your car in a day's driving (at least in the wintertime around here), so getting the thing open is a challenge - not to mention the grime that is on the fingers when that is finally accomplished. Oh, my word!

So - here I am at work, hoping my brain functions this morning, and that I can get pictures this noon, and that nobody will be parked behind me in the parking lot so that I can get there on time.

It is now 2:15 p.m. - I am attempting to complete this post and get it published.

Kristen's new routine is to go up to the hospital twice a day to nurse Kate and Emma. They are fed and changed every 3 hours, but can only be handled every 6 hours. So, with school schedules, etc., that means she tries to get up there at 11 - Kate's hour is at 11 and Emma's at 12. That means she goes back for the 5 and 6 feedings. Very complex! But Kate is figuring it out. Emma's a bit tiny yet.

Today when I was there, I didn't get to hold either one, but I did get some shots of Kate. Emma seemed to be a big overstimulated for some reason, so they didn't even let me touch her. She's fine, but they have to be super careful because she's so tiny. They've each gained back to within an ounce or two of where they were when they were born. I caught a picture of Kate with the hugest yawn - almost as big as she is! She's not crying, just yawning!

I held her hand for quite awhile, and she clutched it and actually pushed on my finger - she's strong. She is doing great with the pacifier almost as big as her head.

I brought a Cabbage Patch Doll and a Pound Puppy up with me, to do comparison photos. I only got to do the doll, and then not as I had hoped, with Kate out of the isolette. But here's what I did get. She seems to be sucking her thumb.

I wasn't able to get any shots of Emma this time, but will definitely keep trying! She is so active in the evenings when her family is there. I'd like to see that sometime.