It's Christmas - GRACE turns 3 months old!!

We celebrated our 1st Christmas.  It was fun.  It was Gianna's 3rd Christmas, so she showed us the ropes.  We got some great little toys for teething and rattling, etc...Gianna got some cool gifts too!!  We hope she will share them later, especially her new swing set that some of daddy's friends helped build for her.  We can't wait to grow up and play outside with Gianna!!

Gianna going down the slide.  Look at those hanging skills.

Gianna on the swing!!  She likes to say things like "Yippee and Yahooooo!!"

 

Here are some updated pictures taken on Christmas......We are starting to smile more!! 

Mommy and Daddy like that!!

 

Mommy & Gianna at the Family Christmas Eve Party!!  Aren't they beautiful?

Gianna demonstrating to Emerson and Gabrielle how to enjoy the music and adventure of a new toy.

Gianna - "This is my favorite time of year!!"

 

Gabrielle - "Isn't this groovy!!"

 

Riley - "This new Bumbo is so rad!!"

 

Addison - "What's happening around here?"

 

Cooper - "Isn't this so cool?"

Emerson - "How exciting!!"

 

Daddy getting Gianna ready for one last walk around the neighborhood to see the "lights"!!

 

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!!

 

 

 

Christmas Blvd

Meryl and Gianna enjoying the train ride.

GRACE turns 2 months and goes to the Dr. Office for a checkup

Emerson, Cooper, Addison, Gabrielle, Riley (Left to Right)

getting ready for their immunization shots - Yeah!!

 

 

GRACE visited the doctors office for their 2 month check up.  It took a few hours and each of them got 4 immunization shots.  Everyone is doing great.  Cooper, Addison, and Gabrielle all have a little reflux at times and Emerson had a lymph node infection.  All minor stuff and they are relatively healthy.  They are growing fast too!!  Here are their latest stats!!

 

Riley = 20 1/4" and 9lbs, 3oz               (Still the biggest of the group)



Cooper = 21" and 9lbs even                 (Closing in on #1 and gained the most since birth)
Gabrielle = 19 3/4" and 7lbs, 14oz       (Passed up Emmy for biggest girl)
Emerson = 19 1/2" and 7lbs, 10oz        (Slow and steady...)
Addison = 19 1/4" and 7lbs, 0.5oz        (Small and Mighty one of the group)

GRACE turns 8 weeks old!!!

Daddy went back to work this week and we miss him, especially Gianna.  She misses daddy swinging her, throwing her up and down, playing tag, working in the yard, playing dead then tickling her, helping her fly around in circles, spinning her in the chair in circles, etc.  I miss the kiddos too, but life is not always fair.  We were able to put up on Christmas tree this year after Thanksgiving.  Daddy and Mommy made some yummy food for a quiet Thanksgiving at home.   Our neighbors put up a lot of cool lights that hang from the trees all along the street.  Gianna and Mommy like to go for walks with Daddy to see the lights.  We even took Emmy one night since she was a little fussy. We took some Christmas pictures with a neat little outfit a friend gave to us all.  In all our pictures below, we are lined up in order of our acronym GRACE from left to right.

Gabrielle (Far Left)
Riley
Addison (Middle)
Cooper
Emerson (Far Right)

In other news, we reached 50,000 pageviews this week.  Our goal is 1 million pageviews before we turn 1 year old.  Please share our blog with your friends and family, or on your facebook pages to help us reach our goal.  Happy Holidays to you all.

 

 

GRACE Ferraro turns 7 weeks and gets a JOB!!

We have been busy these past couple of weeks.  Adjusting to a new schedule; welcoming a multitude of volunteers into our home and orienting them, and getting a new job.  GRACE turned 7 weeks today.  The Quintuplets signed with an agent and Addison booked her 1st commercial for CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County).  Watch for her on TV, internet, movie theatres, stadiums, etc over the next year.  Her brothers and sisters are still waiting to do their part and help contribute to paying the bills.  She is enjoying being first for a change after finishing last in so many things up to this point.  John is going back to work next week so that will bring new challenges as well.  Please pray for a smooth transition and more volunteers to help Meryl with the daily routine, as well as time for naps.  Here is a sample of of what's going on around our house!!

 Gianna likes to hold "Gabby Gab" as well.



 Gianna kissing "Emmy M".

Gabrielle - (Just chillin)

Riley - (You woke me up for this?)

Addison - (What's happening?)

 

Cooper - (How you doing?)

Emerson - (Hey there!) 

What do you get with a couch full of babies?

Lots of sleepless nights!!

GRACE plus one is OUT!!

GRACE Quintuplets turn 5 weeks old - Boo Yah!!

Gianna dressed up as a Cupcake. 

She went Trick or Treating for the 1st time and she was soooooo cute!!

Gianna and GRACE posing in their halloween outfits!!

 

Boo - Yah!!

 

It's Halloween.  It's also the 5 week birthday for the GRACE Quintuplets!!  They have almost been home for a week now and they are doing great.  They are able to skip their 2am feeding most nights and that allows mom and dad to get a little more sleep at night.  Thank you GRACE!!  It is hard work, but it is fun to take care of them!!  We are seeing God's hand in taking care of them on a daily basis!!  What a blessing!!

Quintuplets arrive home in Fullerton | quintuplets, john, ferraro - News - The Orange County Register

Quintuplets arrive home in Fullerton | quintuplets, john, ferraro - News - The Orange County Register

Oh Baby! Those 5 Ferraro Quintuplets Make It Home To Fullerton « CBS Los Angeles

Oh Baby! Those 5 Ferraro Quintuplets Make It Home To Fullerton « CBS Los Angeles

GRACE Quintuplets turn 4 weeks old and hit the Front Page!!

 

We came home to a little fanfare after a 9 1/2 hour car ride from AZ to Fullerton, CA.  GRACE made their first headlines and the prime time news.  We visited their pediatrician and he confirmed how healthy they are.  He even decided he was not going to treat them like "premies", but as normal healthy babies.  They continue to grow in weight and length and are enjoying their new home.  We appreciate all the volunteers who have come to help take care of them, and we are looking forward to watching them continue to grow!!  Here are their current stats as of 10/25/2012!!

 

Gabrielle       5lbs, 2oz and 18 inches (+1lb, 11oz since birth)

Riley             6lbs, 2oz and 19 3/4 inches (+1lb, 12oz since birth)

Addison        4lbs, 12oz and 17 3/4 inches (+1lb, 11oz since birth)

Cooper          5lbs, 12oz and 18 1/2 inches (+2lbs since birth)

Emerson        5lbs, 5oz and 18 inches (+1lb, 8oz since birth)

Fullerton Dad Furiously Prepares For Homecoming Of Quintuplets « CBS Los Angeles

Fullerton Dad Furiously Prepares For Homecoming Of Quintuplets « CBS Los Angeles

Quintuplets Headed Home « Photo Galleries « CBS Los Angeles

Quintuplets Headed Home « Photo Galleries « CBS Los Angeles

GRACE Ferraro turns 3 weeks old...and everyone is home!!

For our 3 week birthday, we all got together and had a little photo shoot at the hospital!!
We hope you like them!!!  We had fun making them!! By the way, doesn't mom look great??

We all made a trip home this week.  We broke the old record for Quintuplets going home from the NICU by 8 days with Addison coming home last at 35 weeks and 5 days.  It is nice to be home and we are gaining weight and growing fast.  We Thank God and the Cardon Children NICU team for taking care of us every step of the way and getting us home safely.

Gabrielle = 4lbs, 6oz and 18 1/4 inches
Riley = 5lbs, 7oz and 18 inches
Addision = 4lbs, 2oz and 17 1/4 inches
Cooper = 5lbs even and 18 1/2 inches
Emerson = 4lbs, 8oz and 18 inches

Next week, we will be back home in California!!  Yeah!!  GRACE plus one!!

GRACE Ferraro is coming HOME!!

Friends and Family,

It's official.  

GRACE Ferraro are not only miracle babies, but they are also the healthiest set of Quintuplets ever born.  

Gabby and Emmy came home (Apt in AZ) Friday at 35 weeks.  Riley and Cooper will be coming home tomorrow at 35 weeks, 4 days.  Addy will come home on Wednesday at 35 weeks, 5 days.  The previous set of Quints widely considered the heaviest and healthiest ever born came home between 35 weeks, 5 days and 36 weeks, 6 days.  God is good, and the real fun begins as we scramble now to to get ready.

Please pray that Meryl will be able to get rid of the stomach bug that has been bothering her for the past week and a half.  Also, that she will be able to fully recover and heal from the surgery/C Section she had less than 3 weeks ago.  I will be flying home to CA this Thursday night through Tuesday afternoon to finalize everything that needs to be done with our house to get it ready to bring the babies home on Thursday 10/25.  Please pray for extra strength and quality of sleep for both Meryl and I as we try to tackle a list of things needed to prepare and organize for bringing all 5 babies home.  Pray especially for Meryl as she will be here with her mom and aunt with 6 kids (including Gianna).  Lastly, please pray for a safe and uneventful trip home to CA next Thursday 10/25.  We are all excited and a little anxious as well.  It will be nice to finally be HOME together after 4 months of transitions and travel.

Some of you have asked me to share a current TO DO list to get our house ready to see what you may be able to help with.  If you are willing and able to help this weekend or any upcoming weekend with any of these projects, please let me know.  Also, if you are able to run point on any of these projects or have the tools/equipment to complete them, please let me know so I can take them off my list of things to manage this coming weekend.  I really appreciate everyone who is able to help and everyone who continues to pray for us.  I know so many of you have already gone above and beyond to help with other projects the past few months.  

I loosely tried to put these in order of priority from Top Priority to Least Priority.  

HOME TO DO LIST (MUST BE DONE BY THIS WEEKEND)

1. Painting - Complete Window Trims, 2 small bathrooms, hallway cabinets/pantry/walls, hallway ceiling.

2. General Cleaning - Walls, windows, etc...

3. Move in all furniture to house and organize all rooms (especially baby rooms, kitchen, and living room).

4. Replace and Install Leaking Kitchen Sink Faucet

5. Purchase, pick up, and install new fridge in kitchen (Anyone have a truck to borrow? - If you are selling a French Door, Bottom Freezer Fridge, let me know.  I may buy it from you.)

6. Install Child Safety gate at top/bottom of stairs (Need 1 more)

7. Reinstall and clean all blinds throughout house.

8. Pick up Curtains from Dry Cleaner and reinstall in living room.

9. Purchase and Install bathroom mirror in downstairs bathroom (not sure if previous owner took old mirror?  Anyone have an extra one?)

10. Replace and Install Kitchen Ceiling Lighting

11. Purchase and Install new lighting fixture in dining room ceiling

12. Install ceiling fan/light in downstairs baby room.

HOME TO DO LIST (PREFER TO HAVE DONE BY THIS WEEKEND, BUT COULD WAIT UNTIL WE COME HOME)

1. Install washer/dryer in laundry room (Purchase kit to stack washer/dryer - anyone ever done this before?)

2. Build and Install Pantry shelving in Kitchen.

3. Fix 2 leaking sprinkler heads in Front Yard

4. Purchase and Build/Install Gate along driveway to keep kids (Gianna) contained in back yard.

5. Set up Computer to Internet and TV to Cable.

6. Repair small damage spots in wood floors (Call Cooper Floors).

7. Drywall and insulate 3 small closets in upstairs bedrooms to make them usable for storage, etc.

NON-HOME RELATED TASKS

1. Call/Email all volunteer caregivers to give NICU instructions (Flu Shot, Tdap, etc) and find out dates/times available to organize schedule starting 10/25.

2. Make/Print 3x5 Prayer Cards and Flyers to pass out to Adult Fellowships to help communicate our needs more clearly and recruit volunteers and donations.

3. Buy and Stock lots and lots of diapers, wipes, etc.  The babies are burning through our current stock fast!!

GRACE is 2 weeks old!!

GRACE turned 2 weeks yesterday.  Today, 10/11/12 was the date we hoped to have them born.  It turns out that 10/12/12 will be the day we take two of them home for the first time.  Gabby and Emmy will graduate tomorrow and we will take them home.  Congratulations Grads...

Gabby is coming home tomorrow.  She was the first one out of the womb, and will be the first one out of the hospital. She weighs 3lbs, 14oz as of yesterday.

Riley is a little lazy with his feedings.  He prefers to eat through his tube.  

He is still the chubber of the group at 4lbs, 15oz as of yesterday.  

Addy is still the small and mighty one of the group.  But, she is catching up. 

She weighs 3lbs, 8oz as of yesterday.

 

Cooper is starting to catch some steam.  He is gaining and weighs 4lbs, 2oz as of yesterday. 

Emmy has been slow and steady.  She isn't budging to Gabby and will join her coming home tomorrow.  She weighs 4lbs as of yesterday. 

Goodbye to the Matthews Miracles!!

Our friends, Mike and Carmen Matthews, got to head back home to North Carolina yesterday in a Medical Transport Flight with their quintuplets!!  We are excited for them to be back home.  We will miss them.  They were a blessing to our family along this journey, and we look forward to getting the 10 kids together in a few years when things settle down for us all. 

Meet the Ferraro quints

Meet the Ferraro quints

GRACE Ferraro is 1 week old today

The babies are all doing well on their 1 week birthday.  Mom is getting some sleep (finally got to leave the hospital last night) and recovering.  Gianna has fun everyday going to see her brothers and sisters.  During down time, she also enjoys wheelchair rides around the hospital in her nurse's hat.  We had our press conference on Monday with Dr. John Elliott and Dr. Watercotte (NICU).  Meryl and Gianna did a great job!!  We spend most of our day trying to settle in and spending time bonding with our little ones.  It is a lot of fun, and also tiring.  We get to hold about 2-3 of our kids per day.  Meryl is seen below holding Addy.  Most of the time, the babies are sleeping.  Gabby is the best sleeper in the bunch.  The girls are learning to eat a little faster than the boys.  They are all competiting to see which ones will get to come home first!!

Gianna in wheelchair 

 Press Conference

 Meryl and Addy

Gabby sleeping