In love....times two!

Yesterday I had the surprise treat of being able to hold both babies together for the first time. I must admit that it was way harder than it sounds/looks. It didn't last very long because Cam was pushing his little arms and legs out and Sullivan was sliding down. They are still so tiny that I still am not sure how to handle them with confidence....not yet at least.

It was amazing to look down and see "my boys" laying on my chest. I can't wait to have many more moments like this.

(disclaimer: I should have titled this: in love times three...because I didnt think I could love my husband any more but seeing him with the boys is just so amazing. I am one lucky lady!)

the boys first 2 weeks of life in video...

So I created a video for Cheryl to show at baby showers in light of the fact that the baby's are already here. We thought it would be great to have something to share since they won't be able to make the showers. So here's our video...

Today...

So today I officially changed 2 diapers almost all by myself. I needed some serious coaching...but we got through it. Sully and Cam I'm sorry if they are on backwards. I'll get better. :) Sullivan is still eating and "expelling" like he was born for this. So that's great news. Cam is just starting to eat better. But he's still not figured out the "expelling" part of everything. I tried to tell him that he can only eat so much before it has to come out. So please keep praying for the simple things to get to working inside of Cam. We'd love to wake up in the morning to hear the great news. Its been 2 days since he did his last "do" (and that was with a little medicinal intervention). So he really needs to "do" it again.

Cheryl and I spent the afternoon with them and got to hold them again. That's always just a special time for our new family. So here are a few pics from the past couple of days.


So we wanted to share one of the monitors that we watch all day long. This is Sully's screen showing amazing numbers! The first line is the heart beat, the second is the breath's per minute, an the third is the oxygen saturation in the blood stream. The numbers show that Sully is doing great.


This is Camden's monitor also showing GREAT numbers.


This is Sully sucking on his fingers. He rotates through all 5. Always a surprise.


This is a happy mom who is holding one of 3 most important things in her life (Sully, Camden and ME :) )

This is Chris taking on the diaper changes. That is an intense and focused look. Error during this process can result in much larger "messes".


And this is how our boys spend most of their days...covered to keep it dark and private. This is Cam's "crib".

Here's Sully's "crib"



Not to be too voyeuristic...but here's a short clip of the time we get to spend with our boys when are able to hold them...

check them out :)

So we wanted to get some new pictures out to everyone. There have been several changes. Both of them are officially off oxygen. No cannula and no CPAP! They are some good looking little guys! :).


Here's Camden

Sullivan has been a little cold lately so he's getting the beanie and...
...some warm little socks that look a little large.
There are two things about this picture...one we turned the light on and he covered his eyes...and two... CHECK OUT THAT HAIR!!! :)


...well Sully I'm sorry Cam got mom this time and you got me.

Camden

Camden

So when the pacifier is almost half the size of your face does that make your face small or the pacifier large? (Sullivan)

This is mom's recliner...and mine is next to her. We'll want to take these home when we leave.

Camden

Sullivan

Camden

yawn.

Before Chris went to sleep tonight, he said (very apologetically) "Im sorry but I dont think that i have the energy to post something on the blog". You could see it all over his face that it was as if he was "letting down" his sons and friends and family. So, be easy on him. I assured him it was okay. I knew that I would be up again in a few hours and that I would try to post their status (sorry, no pictures though because we did not have time to pull them from the camera. I can assure you that they are still super adorable!).

Today was a good day for the boys. At this point, BOTH boys are off of any breathing assistance (no more nasal cannula for Cam...way to go buddy!). BOTH boys are off of phototheraphy. BOTH boys continue to be able to handle their feeds, although Sullivan is doing better than Camden. When we were leaving for the night, the nurse was switching their feeding tubes from little mouth tubes to nose tubes so that they can practice sucking on a paci without interference (and boy...Sullivan took right to that. Today we caught him sucking his thumb. It was so cute! With my history we figure braces will be in the cards anyway.....so go for it buddy!)

Please pray. Please pray against infection (a constant prayer for babies in the NICU). Please pray that their digestive system would/continue to respond to the food. Please pray that their mommy and daddy can continue to be strong through the coming days.

The last one is probably geared more towards me. Today was tough. Not sure why. I was doing great all day until we had to leave the hospital tonight (our first trip home) around 5:00pm. I am sure it is because I am tired but I just couldnt kick that weepy feeling. Maybe a good cry is what I need? Maybe it is a Nicholas Sparks' movie? Maybe (probably) it is some strong prayers.

Thank you family and friends.

( I couldnt think of a better title and since I started typing I yawned about 9 times I thought that might be fitting)

Oh, and congrats to my friends who just had a sweet baby boy tonight. Can't wait till our boys can play together. I know that J. was a trooper with a really long labor. Way to go!!!!!!

Day 7

So here are just a few pics/video from today.

So this picture has so many possible captions...what could have 3 brothers so intently watching?
...believe it or not I think this was a diaper change and we were waiting for the findings...
In case you hadn't met the parents of the two little bundles of joy...here we are :)

This is what I see as I work from my new "remote" office there inside of NICU.



So yesterday we had a video of Camden so we thought we should show a little footage from Sully

One week ago.....was it the Root Beer Float?

So many of you have heard the "story" of what happened, although several have not. It is so hard to believe that it was one week ago (exactly) and how much life drastically changed (literally) overnight.

So....here's how Cam and Sully decided to make their grand entrance:

Last Tuesday was a great day. I felt great! I had a meeting with the other counselors on Tuesday morning where they showered me with lots of love (and diapers :). That afternoon was work as usual. Tuesday night Chris was taking a trip to Home Depot (he was in the process of tearing out our master bathroom and redoing it) and asked if I would like to join him. My reply was: "yes, if we can stop to get some Sonic afterwards" (does that sound like a pregnant girl or what?). So we headed to HomeDepot, and then afterwards I enjoyed the best root beer float ever.

After we got home, Chris was in his office working and I was in the babies' room organizing the generous gift of diapers from earlier that day. Throughout the day I had noticed some fluid, but it was very minor (I am trying to be very PC here when I describe things...hope it doesnt come off too vauge). Around 8:45, however, it warranted some concern. I realized that this was more than a "little" and could in fact be closer to a "drip" or "trickle". Our doctor had warned us of those words. With a sense of panic in my voice, I called for Chris. He very calmy asked that we call the doctor. The doctor, also very calmly, said to head to labor and delivery.

With NOTHING in hand (no overnight bag, extra pajamas, etc.) we left for the hospital. The entire time, I was thinking that we would be back in about an hour and that was good because I was kinda tired (ha!).

We got to the hospital about 9:30. They checked my fluid and assured me that it was my amniotic fluid. Why was I so naive? I was still thinking....oh, that stinks, but I bet we go home soon. I sorta thought that I would be on bed rest, but for sure I could just do that at my house. Well....we were wrong. The nurse assured us that we were staying at the hospital until the babies came. (What was Chris thinking, you ask? Well, he confessed later that he was thinking...ugh! This is going to cost a lot of money...bed rest at the hospital. Ha...little did he know, huh? He also (and this is why I love him) assured me that he would play board games with the all the time if I was on bed rest (and he does NOT like to play games). ).

Anyway, the nurse said she had to check my cervix. She checked and then called for another nurse to check. Hmn...what's going on down there, I thought. Well, she soon informed me that I was dialated to an 8 and we were going to have these babies SOON. The panic was quickly setting in. I still, however, thought I had some time to process all of this.

The doctor was next to come in to verify the nurses findings. He confirmed my dialation and that the babies were coming TONIGHT. Chris asked him to give us a timeframe (so we could inform our families) and the doctor replied very nonchalantly..."I expect to be in surgery in about 15 minutes". That moment is one that I will never forget. He was correct too.....about 15 minutes later I had my epidural and was in the O.R. with Chris by my side. At 11:40pm I heard the most beautiful sound ever...the sound of my baby boy with strong lungs. At 11:41...I heard his brother's cry. I got to visit with them long enough to give them a tiny kiss....those were sweet moments.

The rest of the night was somewhat of a blur. Our family was able to all be there and they got to meet the boys that night. I was able to see them again before they took me to my room, which is where I would spend the next 4 days.

Whew...even retelling the story is emotionally draining. We don't exactly know why I went into labor. Our theory (and this is not medically based at all) is that Cam (the more active little boy) was just running out of room and kicked a little hole in his sac (maybe he will be a soccer player like his daddy). We will never know I guess.

I know that was a long post...but there you have it. That is the story of the night that changed our lives (and hearts) forever!