Andrew has entered the building!!

Hello friends and family!  Yesterday was a big day in the Messerle household, Andrew was cut loose from the hospital and we brought him home last night!  Katie and I had to attend a NICU discharge class which included infant CPR, child choking training and just some general tips on bringing these little tykes home.  After we did that, he grabbed some food, they completed the paperwork, he jumped in the backseat and we were off to Lantana!

He is doing GREAT!  We have him on his schedule, he is eating like a champ and sleeping just great.  He rarely cries or causes a stir, just hangs out and relaxes!  Katie and I took turns last night on the feedings and we are quickly learning what is going work in the house and what isn't.  Having him come home solo is a great training exercise for us!  Drew has his first appointment with the Pediatrician on Friday morning for a check up.  Here he is in his "take home" outfit!

Claire and Matt continue to do well in the NICU as well.  Matt has really been good on the "Brady's" episodes the past couple of days, they have taken him off the caffeine now and he is just on Prevacid for reflux.  Claire has had a couple "Brady's", which stinks because she was doing so well, but she is putting on weight and really growing like a weed.  I can really see the progress in her growth over the past 5 days or so, her cheeks are really filling out and she is getting some of that cute baby fat.  They think she will be in the crib with Matt either tomorrow or Friday at the latest.   Great news!

The doctor's are prepping us for their discharge in 7-10 days if everything continues to progress as it currently is, they think both Matt and Claire will be released together.  Then the madness begins!!  Woo hoo!  We both know that it will not be easy but we'll make it, if others can do it, so can we.  We have tons of great friends and family that will help and we will certainly lean on them to assist us when they can!  Here is a quick shot of Matt that I got the other day.  Pictures of Claire are somewhat difficult since she is still in the isolette, once she gets into the bed with Matt, I'll be able to fill up my hard drive with pictures of her, she is so cute... :)

I am heading down to San Antonio on Sunday morning for Mercedes' memorial service.  Heather, Katie's sister is coming up from Ft. Worth to stay with her Sunday night while I am gone.  Thank you for the thoughts and prayers regarding Mercedes, she was a great friend to Katie and I and we are going to miss her a lot.

Katie and I are also up and running on Skype, so if anyone is on Skype and wants to chat via video, let us know.  Time permitting, we'd love to chat!

Thank you for the thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement, we appreciate each one of them!  Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Todd, Katie, Claire, Matt and Drew!