1st bath at home...

Tonight we took on the task of bathing the twins.  They didn't scream but I don't think they cared for the experience much.  I however, loved the fresh clean baby smell!!!

Kim and Emma

Kim and Emma after the bath

Bruce and Tyler

Bruce and Tyler after the bath

Family nap

Having them home has been wonderful but we are all a little sleep deprived.  Here is a pic of a family nap. I should have been napping to but I couldn't resist this image of my three favorite people in the world!!!

Bruce, Emma and Tyler

Loving being home

I was feeing the babies and Bruce caught some moments on the camera.  We are all adjusting and loving every minute of it!!

Tyler being dramatic

How your breastfeed twins:)

Bringing home Babies

Today we get to bring our babies home.  I am filled with excitement and nerves.  Even after the discharge papers were drawn up Tyler's temp dropped and there was a chance he wasn't coming home today.  Thankfully after some skin to skin and feeding he help steady and we were able to bring them both home.  I feel blessed by the NICU experience and am so excited to have them home.  Welcome home Emma and Tyler!!!!

Tyler and Emma in their bassinets for the last time

Tyler all strapped in

Emma all strapped in

Emma in the car and outside for the very first time

Tyler in the car and outside for the very first time

Bruce and Tyler coming into our home

Bruce and Emma coming home

Tyler and Emma in the Master Bath

Tyler and Emma meeting Oliver for the first time

Where you would now find me and a baby (Emma) in all of our feeding times.

Parents Overnight

Before you bring your babies home from the NICU they have you stay overnight to get use to taking care of your new little ones.  I was a huge shock to my system to have to take care of them every 3 hours and I am grateful we had a staff to help us transition to bringing them home.  However,  I must say it was nothing compared to the work that was really going to come once we got them in our car.

Tyler and Emma

Tyler and Emma

Our life in NICU

    With the twins being 6 weeks early they had to spend some time in the NICU to learn how to eat and grow.  They call them feeders and growers while in the NICU.  We were blessed to have amazing hospital staff. Jimmy and Chris took such good care of us and when it was time to head home we felt a sense of loss and yet excitement. Dr. Neal and Dr. Lassairs were our primary doctors while in the NICU.  

      Here is what a typical day looked like for us.

Get up at 7:00 and head down to the Hospital to hang out with the babies.  

Tyler ate at 8:00, 11:00, 2:00, 5:00 while Emma was on the 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 feeding schedule. We would arrive and would have to scrub in - below is a photo of Bruce wearing the yellow scrub outfit that we wore for 17 days while our little ones grew and grew.  While there I would start with one baby and Bruce would get the other one ready.  Usually that was Tyler since he was on the earlier schedule.  Then Bruce would feed Emma while I pumped and then we would give them skin to skin time with us.  Each time it was about 4 hours all together and we would do that morning and night. 

Here is Tyler in his isolette - this was a special bed that helped them regulate their body temperature.

Bruce feeding Tyler

Emma being woken up for feeding in her cozy isolette..

Bruce feeding Emma

Skin to Skin with Emma - aka Kangaroo Care

In the photo's below the twins were 1 week old 7.2.10

Getting Oliver ready for the Twins to come home

We have been told to give Oliver some of the baby stuff to get him ready for the new "pack" members to come home and join the family.  He loved the hats!!