check-up

Had a Dr. Appointment today for the boys check-up:

Ethan is now 6 lb.

Nicolas is now 7 lb.

:) Growing boys!!

who's who??

Together at last!!!

The last few days have been interesting. Seems like we just get done feeding them and then it's time to feed them again. Everything takes advanced planning now. But I think we are adjusting well.

100 days of NICU

100 days later..... we are finally home from the NICU. It is nice to have everyone home and able to be together as a family. We got home just before the wintery weather hit. We are supposed to get some snow tonight. Sorry, but it's been a long day so I'm going to go take a nap. I will keep updating and posting pictures as the boys grow.

Nicolas' graduation day!!

Nicolas and Daddy Mommy and her two boys

Saying goodbye to the NICU

Home at last

Nicolas is coming home

Nicolas is coming home tomorrow!!!! One day before his due date!!! I am so excited to finally have our whole family together and in the comfort of our own home!!! They put Nicolas on Soy formula a few days ago and that has helped ALL of his problems that were preventing him from coming home. He seems to have a milk intolerance, but he will probably grow out of it and be able to breastfeed later.


Ethan has been throwing up a lot and hasn't gained ANY wight since he's been home. We've been trying to supplement the breastfeeding with formula to help him gain weight but that hasn't helped. Yesterday his Dr. recommend trying Soy Formula because he may have some intolerance as well if that was Nicolas problem. We will just have to keep adjusting his diet to see what works for him. ----- I have found out recently I have a family history of milk intolerance and also with them being premature, they are just more sensitive. They also had to be on a lot of Anti-biotics for infections so that may have caused an imbalance in their gut. So maybe after things get back into balance they will be AOK.

They have a lot of growing and maturing to still do. But now we can give them both lots and lots more love to help them along.

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT??"

MAKING NEW FREINDS

ETHAN & JUNIPER

Ethan was so good for me last night!!! I acctually got some sleep.. yippy!!! He went to bed, selpt throught the night; only waking for his feedings and going right back to sleep. :) This morning when it was time to get up he was wide awake and taking in the world. Then he went back down for a midday nap. Just enough time to update you and get some dishes done. I'm sure he will wake soon.

Yesterday we went to visit Nicolas. He is getting so big at 6 lb 11 oz.!! The Dr.s seem to think he might be home in the next week, if everything goes well. I can not wait to have our whole family together.

Be sure to see Ethans homecoming pictures below.

Ethan's Homecoming Pictures

ETHAN - THE DAY HE GRADUATED FROM THE NICU

ALL THE NURSES ARE GOING TO MISS YOU BEING SWEET ON THEM

GOING HOME- THE CAR SEAT SEEMS TO SWALLOW ETHAN.

HE REALLY LIKES TO BE IN HIS CAR SEAT FINALLY.... ETHAN IS IN HIS OWN BED!

ETHAN MEETING THE KITTY

KITTY: "WHAT IS THAT CREATURE AND WHY IS IT IN MY SPOT?"

(SHE'S BEEN REALLY GOOD WITH HIM BEING HERE)

ETHAN:"THAT PASTA LOOKS GOOD, WHEN DO I GET SOME?"

MOMMY: "3-4 HOURS FROM NOW"

Ethans first week home

So we have had Ethan home 12 days now.... He has been pretty good for us. There have only been a few nights he didn't want to go to sleep. (last night was one of them) I have to feed him every three hours day and night.. even if I have to wake him up for it. That is rough to do at 2 AM. It is a whole lot easier if he wakes me up for it, but harder to wake him up for it. I would rather let him sleep and get some more sleep myself. When he is gaining weight really good then I can let him wake me up when he wants fed and maybe get an hour or two more sleep between some of his feedings.


I try to get caught up on sleep every chance I get. (I will probably go take a nap when I am done here) Trevor has been really good at helping out, that makes things a whole lot easier. It is nice to be able to get adjusted to one baby before Nicolas gets home... that will be a whole new challenge!!

Nicolas had a setback last week so he didn't get to come home this past weekend like I had hoped. They had to take him off his feedings because they found blood in his stool, they had to do that a couple weeks ago as well. They keep him off feedings for 5-7 days to make sure there isn't a big problem that caused it. They started him back on feedings last night and he is doing well so far taking the bottle. Hopefully we will all be together as a family soon. My due date is 10 days away, hopefully we will have him home by then. He is a lot bigger than Ethan. He is 6 lb 7 oz!!!!! Ethan is only 5 lb. 8 oz.

Well, I am going to go take a nap now... I think Ethan is asleep for real this time, not just pretending he's asleep just to wake me up as soon as my head hits the pillow.... (the little stinker)

Ethan's home

We FINALLY got to bring Ethan home Thursday Dec. 3rd!! He is doing swell. He is making a sucker out of mom and dad. He really likes to snuggle and is finding out so do mom and dad.

It's going to take some adjusting. The NICU becomes a comfortable place to be after being there for over 12 weeks. we've become so familiar with the surroundings and the people; built relationships with the nurses and Dr.s. that have taken such good care of our boys. They went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Some of the nurses took pictures of the boys and made scrapbook pages for them. They made little plaques with Nicolas and Ethans' little feet prints on them to hang on our nursery wall. The personal interest everyone showed made us feel special. It really helped us through this rough spot.

Ethan is on an apnea monitor for now, which helps us sleep easier at night knowing that he is ok. He is doing great and getting us prepared for round two when Nicolas comes home. We are hoping to have him home within a week or two.