August 10, 2012

Today was a good day for the twins but not so good a day for Mommy.  Mommy got very sick last night and went to the doctor today.  She has an infection and is on antibiotics.  She is home resting as comfortably as possible right now with Daddy and missing her babies.

When I got to the nursery today, Adam was just about to have his one bottle a day.  He was pretty grumpy and hungry.  It is one of the few times I have heard Adam complain.  He drank about a third of his bottle before he decided he'd had enough so he was given the rest via his feeding tube.  When he went back in his crib he was perfectly happy looking around while practicing on his pacifier.  Coordinating sucking, breathing, AND swallowing is tricky business and exhausting!  Once he figures it out, there will be no stopping him.  Adam is now 4 pounds, 1.3 ounces of pure love.

After Adam finished it was Kylee's turn to eat.  Kylee complained the entire time Adam was eating.  They stagger feedings one after the other.  After a diaper change she went to town on her bottle and finished it.  She is now being fed by bottle every other feeding.  After she went back to her crib she was perfectly happy looking around while practicing on her pacifier just like her brother.  Kylee is now 3 pounds 8 ounces of pure love.

Thank you for your prayers, love, kindness, thoughtfulness, and support.  It is appreciated more than words can convey.  Today was a good day for babies, not so good day for Mommy.

Adam's Hungry Face

Beautiful Baby Adam After Lunch

Sweetie Kylee Models Her Sweetie Outfit as She Yawns and Wakes Up 

Kylee Holds Her Pacifier After Lunch

August 4, 2012 - Super Hero Adam!

Mommy and Daddy could not go see Adam and Kylee again today because they both have colds.  Introducing colds or upper respiratory infections to our tiny miracles or any of the other miracles in the nursery with them could be catastrophic and even potentially lethal.  Besides asking me to tell them how much Mommy and Daddy loved them, Mommy made a point of making me promise to tell Adam and Kylee that Mommy made a BIG pouty face because she cannot see them right now.  I told them both!

When we got to the hospital, Grandpa Dan and I went to see Kylee in Nursery E first because we had a bag of clean clothes to deliver for her.  Boy did we get surprised!  We entered the nursery and I put Kylee's milk on the counter.  When I turned around the nurses told us we didn't have to go far to visit Adam anymore.  For a moment I didn't know what they were referring to.  Then, I saw Adam, not in an incubator but in a hospital crib, without a bubbler, across the way from Kylee!  What a surprise!

Adam had just arrived in the nursery and was mad because his nurse had just had to clean his nose out.  Adam now has his feeding tube through his nose instead of his mouth so his mouth is free to begin bottle and breast feeding when he is ready.  Meanwhile, his numbers remained beautiful.  He is 3 pounds, 11 ounces.

Because Mommy and Daddy have not been able to visit in a couple of days Grandma Flo got to play substitute today for them.  First I held Adam.  There simply are not words to articulate the feeling of holding a miracle in your arms.  He calmed right down and looked up at me.  Then he began looking around, checking out his new surroundings.  Adam and I had a talk.  Well, okay, I did the talking.  I told him how much Mommy and Daddy wanted to be there holding him.  Then I told him that Mommy and Daddy love him.  As I said the words, his face burst into a big smile.  Even his eyes lit up!  We sat together and chatted for a long while.  We talked about all the people who love him and it took quite some time to go down the long list with him!  The entire time he laid there looking up at me and looking around the new nursery.  I held him until he drifted off to sleep.

The entire time Kylee slept soundly.  As I was laying Adam down in his crib, Kylee's nurse woke her to change her and start her feeding through her tube.  I wasn't going to disturb her if she was sleeping but she was not happy being woken after such a sound sleep.  So, Grandma Flo got to hold Kylee while she had her feeding.  She is still getting one feeding a day by bottle, but this feeding was via her feeding tube.  As soon as the milk began flowing through her tube she stuck her tiny tongue out and then began trying to suck.  I gave her a pacifier and she went to town on it!  I think she is getting this feeding thing down!

After Kylee ate, the nurses felt so bad that Mommy and Daddy hadn't been able to see these sweethearts in a couple of days that they brought Adam over to lay in my arms with Kylee so they could get pictures of them together for Mommy and Daddy.  Adam slept through it while Kylee just wanted to suck on her pacifier.  After the pictures, Adam went back to his crib for more sleep.  Kylee has been in the big kid nursery for days and hasn't graduated to a crib yet like Adam!  Kylee is now 3 pounds 1.9 ounces.  When Kylee was done with her feeding she drifted off to sleep in my arms and I slipped her pacifier out of her mouth while she slept.  Then she went back in her enclosure for some more serious sleeping.

I cannot articulate what holding these tiny miracles feels like, it is heaven.  One of their nurses hadn't had them in a while and commented on how big they are now.  Then we all chuckled because they are still so tiny compared to all the other babies in Nursery E.  But compared to how tiny they were, they ARE big now!

Thank you for the prayers, love, support, well wishes and kindness so many of you continuously send to Adam and Kylee.  We are all so grateful.  Today was a very good day!

Adam's New Crib

Adam In His New Crib

Adam Says Look Mommy and Daddy - No Feeding Tube In My Mouth!

Adam and Grandma Flo

Kylee Sleeping Before Lunch

Kylee Yawns and Stretches As She Wakes Up

Kylee In Grandma Flo's Arms

Kylee and Grandma Flo

Kylee Works Her Pacifier As She Receives Milk Through Her Feeding Tube

Adam and Kylee Together Again

Adam and Kylee with Grandma Flo - An Armful of Miracles!

Adam Sleeps Comfortably After Our Visit

Kylee Sleeps Comfortably After Our Visit

August 2, 2012 - Happy Nine Week Old Twins!

Today was a good day for the twins.  

I finally got to see Adam today after a couple of days when the nursery he is in was unavailable.  Our little man is still sprinting regularly off his bubbler.  He is now 3 pounds, 11 ounces and is well on his way to 4 pounds.

Our little super star Kylee is doing wonderfully.  When I arrived today her enclosure sure did smell!  After waiting a while for her to finish, Grandma Flo braved it and changed her diaper for her.  She is such a sweetie... smelly for a little while... but such a sweetie!  We are still waiting for Kylee to break the 3 pound mark.

Thank you so much for the prayers, love, kindness and support being sent to our tiny miracles.  They are both doing so well!  Today was a very good day.

Adam and His Froggy Sleeping

Beautiful Kylee with a Clean Diaper

July 14, 2012

Today Adam and Kylee had eye exams. Their eyes are dilated and checked to ensure there are no issues from prematurity and their prolonged exposure to oxygen.  Their eyes were very sensitive to light all afternoon because of the exam.

Adam was not impressed with the over-stimulation and began destating so much they had to pause in the middle of the exam.  He set off alarms all afternoon after the ordeal.

The nurse said Kylee got really mad and cried loud during the exam while Adam just gave up and started destating.  Premature boys!

Mommy got to hold Kylee without her bubbler today. She is such a big girl! She did fantastic again without bubbles for another four hours and Mommy held her most of that time.  At four hours on the nose she had a destat as if she had a little timer going!

Thank you so much for the ongoing prayers, love, kindness, and support. Our family is deeply grateful. Today was a good day.

Adam Kicks His Feet

What Can I Say I Am Not Very Happy Today

Nurse Gail Hands Kylee to Mommy

Mommy Tucks Kylee In to Snuggle

Kylee Gets Snuggle Time With Mommy

Mommy and Kylee

Kylee Holds On to Mommy

Kylee Holds Her Pacifier As She Snuggles With Mommy

July 13, 2012 - First Friday the 13th

Today was Adam and Kylee's first Friday the 13th and it was a lucky one for them.

Adam got to spend an hour with Mommy holding him. He is now off steroids and is at room level oxygen.  He was not a very happy boy today until he settled in with Mommy.

Kylee, maintaining her title of Super Star, was off her bubbler for four hours today without incident!  Grandma Flo got to change her dirty diaper for the first time today.  I have now officially made the rounds of diaper changing!

Auntie Alisa came to visit the twins today.  While Mommy held Adam, Auntie Alisa visited with Kylee and held her hand.  I think Auntie Alisa is looking forward to spoiling these little sweethearts.

Daddy is off to ComicCon in San Diego at the moment with Uncle Russ.  Eric was very reluctant to go but with the twins stable he decided he could be away for a few days.  ComicCon was a 40th Birthday present to Russ from his wife.  Eric calls and gets updates on the twins every day and gets pictures texted to him regularly.  I am not suppose to tell you this, but he packed two of the twins' little stuffed dolls that had their scents on them so he could feel closer to them while he is gone.  I know, awww!!!  He is already an incredible loving Dad that Adam and Kylee are very lucky to have.

Now, that being said, Eric and Russ are having WAY too much fun!  They met up with a Warner Brothers executive who has been giving them exclusive access to all kinds of fun events, screenings, and panels.  Emily keeps getting texts from Eric that start with OMG.

Thank you for the prayers, love, kindness and support continuously being sent to our tiny miracles.  Today was another very good day.

Adam With His Froggy

Kylee With Her Bear

Mommy and Adam Look at Each Other

Mommy and Adam Snuggling

Happy Mommy and Son

Auntie Alisa Holds Adam's Hand

July 12, 2012 - Happy Six Week Old Twins!!!

Today our tiny miracles turned six weeks old! Wow! It is hard to believe they are six weeks old already yet at the same time I cannot really remember what a day would be like without them.

Adam was a bit grumpy today. He received the last of his steroid treatments this morning. Today he was not even happy on his belly, his favorite position. Adam's way of showing displeasure is to wiggle around, destat, and set alarms off. He has apparently been comparing notes with Kylee and has figured out how to get his bubbler out of his nostrils. This does not help the alarm sounding situation!  Adam weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces tonight.

Kylee is doing beautifully. She laid on Mommy today for about an hour without her bubbler and did great.  We overheard the nurses at shift change talking about Adam and Kylee as the night nurse was updated about their care.  The day nurse referred to Kylee as their "super star."

Today is a big milestone for our tiny miracles. They have made it to six weeks and are both strong and growing every day. Aside from Adam's previous breathing complications and infection, they have both been very, very blessed.

Tonight Eric's Chief and his wife came to visit the twins.  As soon as Chief walked up to Adam's incubator Adam opened his eyes and started watching Chief.  He watched the two of them for most of their visit.  Chief was amazed at how big they have gotten and how well they are doing.

Thank you for all the prayers, love, kindness and support. We have all made it through the last six weeks because of your generosity of spirit. Aside from Adam's grumpiness, today was a very good day.

Adam Sleeps Grumpily

Kylee Sleeps with Her Arm Sticking Out

Mommy Holding Kylee Without Her Bubbler

Chief and His Wife Say Hi to Adam

July 10, 2012

Today Daddy got to hold both Adam and Kylee together for the first time. Daddy and twins were very, very happy.  This was the closest the twins have been to each other since they were born.

Adam and Kylee continue to do well and are on target.  

Tonight while we visited, Adam was looking around, studying things.  Kylee opened her eyes a little when I said good-night to her.  They are so adorable!

Thank you for the prayers, love, kindness and support.  Our little miracles are living proof of their powers.  Today was a very good day for Adam and Kylee.

Adam with His Pacifier

Kylee Sleeping

Daddy Holds Adam and Kyle Together for the First Time