Life at home with Zoey

The first week at home with Zoey was such a whirlwind: full of doctors appointments! In the NICU, they noticed a heart murmur in Zoey and referred us to a pediatric cardiologist. For those of you who remember when Chase was born, this was like deja-vu for us! We took her to the cardiologist right away who explained that she has a pulmonary stenosis. This is not the same thing that Chase has (a VSD), although it seems that the result is about the same: she's not symptomatic, it's a "mild case", and there should be no long term effects, other than having to check in with a cardiologist every once in a while. Other than having a heart murmur, you would never know that anything is wrong. We have to take her back when she's a month old (in just 2 weeks!) so they can do another echo-cardiogram. We would know at that point if they need to do anything to open up the valve more. Hopefully not!


Anyway, having Zoey at home has been so nice, and I guess if there's an upside to having one twin in the NICU, it would be that the adjustment has been smoother than it would be if we brought 2 newborns home at once! Zoey and I have gotten into a routine with nursing and sleeping. Chase and Siena just adore her, and constantly want to touch her! Siena goes around saying, "baby, baby, baby!" all day long and Chase gives me updates like, "Zoey's still asleep, mom!" Siena especially loves all of the new equipment around the house, like the bouncy seat and my breast pump! She tries to pump milk for the baby and wants to give her a bottle! It's really sweet.

Zoey is already growing lots and is starting to fill out her preemie clothes! She's so tall. The preemie diapers still swallow her though! She spends most of her days sleeping in the bouncy seat or swing. We quickly discovered that laying down flat in the bassinet by our bed was not her favorite way to sleep.

And have I mentioned that both girls smile a lot? I haven't captured it on camera yet, but both Zoey and Lyla are big smilers! Even the nurses in the NICU comment on how much Lyla smiles at them! I just really can't wait to have them both home side by side. Having just one twin here is not what I had pictured at all... it just doesn't seem right to have one without the other!