Friday, August 31, 2012

Day Twelve, NICU 2

Baby steps. This phrase has taken on a whole new meaning for me over the past few weeks. We are definitely learning what it means to take baby steps, or maybe we should call them preemie steps. Today, we took a few more steps in the right direction and Gash and I could not be prouder of our little punkins!

Both babies took all three bottles again today which means that they will go to bottles every other feeding tomorrow. In addition, Ashton is now in a big boy crib!! The big weigh in?? Ashton is now over his birth weight at 5 pounds 4.7 ounces and Mary Seegars is so close to hers at 4 pounds 6.2 ounces!!

So thank God for baby steps because every little one gets us closer to bringing home our babies!!

Can I get a high five for taking all three bottles????


Last day in the isolette? Man, I just found this convenient foot rest! 


My mama and I had a long chat today. . .


I was alert and taking it all in for about forty-five minutes :)


Mama chatted with me too but I slept through most of it


My big boy crib!!!


Our sweet nurse Connie switched out Mary Seegars crib so she could have a matching crib with Ashton. She also made sure they had matching blankets.  We all LOVE Connie!!!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Day Eleven, NICU 2

I am sure that every mom thinks their kids are perfect, and I am no exception. I am so amazed by every little thing that they do and feel so blessed to be these perfect little babies mother. This morning, my mom and I spent close to four hours just holding Ashton and Mary Seegars; although, to me, it felt like mere minutes. If it were not for my growling stomach, I would have stayed there all day long. But, I had to go home, eat, wash some little baby clothes and wait on Gash so we could go back to see the two most perfect babies in the world.

Grandma ??? came to visit :)



Love those big eyes 


Working on her wink for the baby boy down the hall . . . 


Twin kisses . . 


Bottle and Temperature Update: Today was a great day! We have two superstars on our hands when it comes to taking those bottles! Both babies took their whole bottles in under ten minutes this afternoon, and Mary Seegars took all but four mls tonight while her big brother polished off his bottle in less than fifteen minutes! Go babies Go! As for their temps, Mary Seegars is still winning that competition and is staying cozy in her crib.  Ashton seems to be doing pretty well and we hope he will be moved to a crib soon.  Lastly, Ashton gained two ounces today, measuring in at a little over 5.2 (big boy!) and Mary Seegars gained about a half an ounce, not much but we will take a gain over a loss any day. Fingers and toes crossed for an even better day tomorrow!!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Day Ten, NICU 2

Today was a good day. No major milestones; in fact, Ashton's temp dropped so he is still in an isolette :(. And both babies are still having trouble finishing that bottle. But all things considered, today was a good day. I spent the day rocking both babies and just sharing all my secrets with them. They are great listeners, I can already tell.

This morning I overheard the lady next store celebrating that her babies bed was turned down to 36.5 C (it has to be at 28 C). This baby has been here since July and her mama was so positive. I guess that was God's way of putting things in perspective for me and reminding me that today is a good day!

Our home away from home


Snug as a bug 


Good Morning Mama


Wide awake and ready for my bottle . . . 


Dance Party, my crib, 9:00
B.Y.O.B. (bring your own bottle)
Time together . . . 


Chatting it up . . . 


Big girl, weighing in at 4 pounds 4 oz!!!


Loving on my girl


Daddy, you are so funny!

Our defiant faces. . What bottle? I am ready for a nap




Bottle and Temperature Update: Mary Seegars is still doing great maintaining her body temp, she is one little hottie.  Ashton, on the other hand, is having a little trouble and had to stay in the isolette with the temp turned up to 28.3.  Ashton is still doing well with his bottles but he did not get a full one down today.  He starts off like a champ and then just tuckers out when he has about ten to fifteen mls left.  Mary Seegars, on the other hand, needs to work on her bottle.  She likes to just purse her lips and wait until the food "magically appears" via her tube.  I am afraid she may be my defiant one and will give me a run for my money come high school.  The good news is they are both gaining weight.  Ashton is over five pounds (whoop whoop) and Mary Seegars is a whopping 4.4!! Let's hear it for empty bottles and warm babies tomorrow!!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Day Nine, NICU 2

One day at a time. This is my mantra these days, but with each passing day it is getting harder and harder to live by. I am good at the whole one day at a time thing when there is an end in site. When I know that each day gets me closer to that one specific date circled in my calendar, I have an easier time being patient. However, in situations like the one we are in now, where the end is just some date in the future and no one can tell us when that date might be, my patience starts to run thin. All I want is to have my babies home. The nursery is ready. I have changing stations placed strategically throughout the house and everything has been sterilized and washed, so why aren't my babies ready? I know, I know, one day at a time and they will be home when they are ready. But no one told me how hard this would be. And so here we go again. . . . One day at a time, one day at a time.

Good Morning!



I am not sure I am ready to wake up mom! 



Loved their outfits tonight. . they actually fit :)
Although I still can't wait to dress them in the "good stuff" I have waiting for them at home :)



I realized I did not have many pictures of Gash with the babies. 
So here are a few of the cutest daddy I know . . . 





Ashton's isolette is set to 28. . . 


So we are hoping to get rid of this at 3:00 A.M.


Go, Ashton Go!


Bottle and Temperature Update: Neither of them took their whole bottle earlier today :(, but tonight Ashton drank his down like a champ! Mary Seegars has been a rock star keeping her temperature consistent all day in her crib, and if Ashton maintains his he will be in a crib at 3:00 A.M.  The nurses say that they usually excel at one and then the other seeing that it is to hard for them to do both at the same time, so we are making progress!!! 

Monday, August 27, 2012

Day Eight, NICU 2

Happy birthday babies!! It is hard to believe that a week ago today we welcomed our little ones into the world. This past week has been a whirlwind, to say the least! We have been on an emotional roller coaster ride with thankfully more highs than lows and more fun than anything else. It has truly been the ride of our lives!

Even though it is the twins birthday, they gave us two presents today. First, I got to rock both of them for an hour . . . AT THE SAME TIME! I am sure that once they get home, I will gladly be offering up a baby to anyone willing to hold them, but right now there is nothing better than holding them both, one in each arm! Our second gift was that Mr. Ashton finished his entire bottle in less than twenty minutes! He must know that he is a big boy now so he started eating like one. Mary Seegars did not take her whole bottle but she has maintained her body temp at 28 since 9:00 last night; if she keeps it up until nine tonight, she will be moved to a crib! Now we just need the babies to catch up with each other. Competition on!

Well, Mary Seegars must have heard the challenge I posed when I wrote the earlier post this morning. At the 3:00 feeding, she challenged Ashton to a "bottle off" and the girl won!! That is right Mary Seegars finished her bottle in about twenty-five minutes. Ashton was a close second at about thirty minutes! So proud of our little bugs! Stay thirsty my friends :)

Sleeping Soundly



Good Morning :)




It does not get any better than this . . . . 


TWO empty bottles!!!


Drinking those bottles is hard work. . . 


Lights out . . . 


This birthday is just full of milestones! Tonight, Mary Seegars was officially moved to a crib! Of course, I forgot the sleepers I was going to bring her and so she is currently dressed in a newborn outfit of the hospitals.  As Gash so sweetly put it, our little girl looks like she is in a clown outfit.  But clown outfit or not, she is one step closer to coming home! 

 Goodbye Isolette . . . 


Hello Crib!!!


The Clown Outfit 



What bedtime????


Comfy in my isolette but I will be in a crib soon. . . Promise!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Day Seven, NICU 2

Ever since Monday when I received the greatest gifts from God, I have been dreaming about holding both of my babies at one time. Unfortunately, they have been in separate isolettes making this dream just that, only a dream. But all of that changed today when I got to hold Ashton and Mary Seegars, one in each arm.

Our sweet nurse Connie helped us set up a table to place both babies on so we could FaceTime the grandparents and let them see the babies side by side. It was amazing seeing them together! After we finished FaceTimeing with the fam, Gash handed me each of the babies and I was able to hold them both for a few minutes. It was truly a dream come true!

What they do instead of eating :)



Pretty as a picture


One big yawn!


One alert little boy :)



First photo shoot . . . We needed Uncle Jamie :)






One proud daddy 


In my arms TOGETHER!!!


One HAPPY family!!!