Diapers, diapers, & more diapers!

Family & friends are continuing to support the family with the donation of diapers. Here are a few shots of them being put to good use... (Thanks, Natasha, for the awesome photos!)

February Pictures!

First Week Home for the 7 Manleys

The Bunch is Completed!

The last week has been a busy one at the Manley household, as the upcoming ones are sure to remain. On Wednesday, Jan 16, Matthew joined Lili and Hanna at home. Only two days later, Annabelle and Thomas completed the bunch! Praise God!

With everyone home, the "troops" have been rallied and are coming to support the family around the clock. Volunteers have had a chance to get to know the babies and lend some very useful hands to feedings, diaper changes, baths, and cuddling. From what I heard from one overnight volunteer, it all runs like a smooth machine. During the night there are only two feedings that have been accomplished in approximately an hour each when 2 volunteers are available. From what I remember with my own daughter, that beats our middle of the night adventures many nights! Praise God for babies on good schedules and parents with wisdom as to how to keep things running smoothly. And of course, a HUGE thank you to all of you precious volunteers! Here are just a few shots of some volunteers having fun...















The outpouring of love seems worthy of Paul's praise in Philemon 1:7 -- Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

If you haven't had a chance to sign up to volunteer with infant care and would like to, please contact Shari Gray at shari@ssgray.com.

Happy Due Day!!!

It's January 12th. Yay! This is their due date. They are 12 weeks old but just becoming newborns.

A couple days ago we had our first pediatrician appointment. Lili is 5 lbs 15 oz and Miss Hanna is 6 lbs 3 oz. Praise God for the great milk supply (wow 3 months of pumping so far :)

Since it's RSV season and they are extremely exposed to all kinds of germs, we want to limit their number of visitors and are not taking them out. But as the good warm spring gets here, they will not be in such danger.

The other three, Tommy (6 lbs 4 oz), Mate (5lbs 11) and Annabelle (4 lbs 11 oz ), are doing really good, too. We are waiting for their homecoming soon. Dad and Grandma go to love on them in the hospital. Mommy is training the volunteers and preparing a cozy home environment and milk for them.

Home sweet home

On January 7 th we had the privilege to take our sweet Lili and Hanna home. After a rough night when we roomed in with them at the hospital we were so happy to finally take a big step of faith: taking them home with us.

Both girls were like little pilots in their car seats. They really enjoyed their rides home without any crying.

After at least 80 days in the NICU, we're finally home. It was sad to say goodbye to their dear nurses. After we stepped outside of the hospital, we both realized our new life has just begun. It's gonna be hard, but fun at the same time.

We cannot thank the Riley staff enough for taking such good care of our precious Princesses.

They adjusted to the home environment amazingly well. They are on a strict feeding schedule and they are doing really well with their feedings. Thankfully they always give us a little time to rest when they are sleeping between their feedings. Since Monday, many volunteers signed up and came to help. They had their first experience with the girls. It's neat to share our "bundles of joy" with them.

So praise God the system is working so far.

First Christmas

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

This Chrismas was absolutely different for us. We consider our Babies the most beautiful Christmas gifts. Dave and I were blessed to have the opportunity to spend two nights (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) in the Ronald McDonald's house in the hospital. So we could enjoy every moment with our darlings. I stayed up until 1:30 am and we gave bath for Annabelle, Mate and Lili. During the night it's very "cozy" in the module and we can do a lot with them.

Here is a little update on them: As we spend more and more time with them we can already see their different personalities.

The girls are thriving on room air and off the nasal cannula.

They tried Thomas off the nasal on 12/26. Matthew is also on room air and he decided that he will be the last one on the nasal a little bit more.

All of them can have couple of bottles/day so far Lili is the only one who takes all her feedings orally but the others are also getting there. All five of them are in cribs now.

Ladies first:

Miss Annabelle is a calm little Baby. She is 4 lbs 1 oz and very strong girl. (her birthweight was 1lb 5 oz!!!) On Christmas Eve she enjoyed her "big girls'" bath. At first she was crying but towards the end she discovered the beauty of it.

Hanna is the most sleepy and quite among them. She looks a lot like Thomas. She is about 5 lbs 4 oz She is very easy going and most of the time when we are holding her she is sound asleep.

Miss Lili Lu (as one her nurses calls her) is the "boisterous" , outspoken and the most feisty baby. She eats the most and she definitely cries for her siblings as well. She screemed through her "big girls' bath= in a tub" She doesn't care about anything when she is hungry and definitely lets us know. She is right around 5 lbs.

Matthew (Máté) is the most humble and thankful looking little boy. He loves being held. He does a superb job with his bottle. He enjoy his sponge bath. He is also growing nicely. His weight is 4 lbs 6 oz

Thomas (Tamás) is still the biggest kid. He is 5 lbs 7 oz. He is still very charming and only fussy when he is hungry. He also loves being bathed.