Pictures From Home

Kynan and Kaci were one month old yesterday!  It is hard to believe that it has been a month since they were born.  The first few weeks have all been a blur—but we are so happy (and tired) they are home with us now and doing very well.

This morning we tried taking their one month pictures—and our camera broke!  Neither baby was too interested in cooperating and this is about as good as the pictures got.

Here they are in their car seats.  So small!

Dad came up to J-Boro yesterday to pick up Bryan.  He stopped by to see the babies too.  They took to him very quickly.

We think Heath found a way to get the babies to sleep—by setting them side by side. 

It’s too soon to tell for sure, but it worked for Heath last night and worked for us this morning too.  Hopefully it will do the trick.

They are so much bigger now than they were—but still are very tiny.  They are sweet babies.

I Love November 20th

November 20th is a very important day. 

No.  I haven’t been looking forward to November 20th all year because of the New Moon premiere.  I am a huge Twilight fan, but November 20th has a much better hold on my heart than that.

November 20th is my wonderful Hubby’s birthday!

Happy Birthday Heath!!

Heath and I have been dating/married for ever now.  Really it has only been twelve years—married for almost eight.  We began dating shortly after I started college—our Elders Quarum President (later Bishop) set us up with other people, but we drifted more towards each other. 

Heath quickly became my best friend and after a few months we started dating.  We dated until Heath went on his mission and I wrote to him—and he to me throughout the two years.  We got married four months after he returned home and several years later had our first daughter.  A couple years later we had our second daughter and another couple years later we had our twins.

Heath is still my best friend and the best person I know.  He is loving, caring, hard working, sweet, funny, and the best father I could ever ask for for my children.

Late last night I felt really sick—and Heath stayed awake to take care of me.  Heath can be sick and take care of himself—I really need somebody to help me out when I am like that and Heath has always done that without complaint.  I felt like I was asking too much last night though because we are both so under rested.  I told him to go to bed, but he said no.

Every year for my birthday—since we met—Heath has made sure I had a birthday cake.  Even when he was on his mission!  The first birthday I had while on his mission (he had only left the week before), Heath had his Mom and Dad make me a cake and bring it over.  The second year, Heath sent me a cake mix and frosting along with candles!  So sweet.  Every other year he has either made or bought a cake for me.  I love that this is important to him.  He is such a sweetie!

This morning the girls sang Happy Birthday to Heath—if you have never had the treat of having Kalyn and Keali sing to you—you are really missing out!

I love that I have a wonderful husband.  I love that we have four beautiful, smart, strong willed (that one is a challenge sometimes) good children together.  I love that we have chosen to share our lives together.

I love you Heath.  Happy Birthday.

Oh.  And he might be taking me to see New Moon this weekend.  Isn’t he the best?!!

A Quick Update

This will have to be quick.  I’m just too tired!

We are loving being at home with Kynan and Kaci.  Kalyn and Keali are very happy and are also very willing to help.  Keali could watch the babies for hours.  Kalyn is the binky monitor—whenever a baby cries (fairly often), she comes running to replace the binky.  She has even woken up in the middle of the night to do this (we don’t encourage it). 

I’ve started calling Kynan—Dramaticus and Kaci—Dramatica.  They are both fairly dramatic babies and have no tolerance for their meals being late, and other things. 

Kynan HATES his bed and refuses to sleep unless Heath is holding him.  Seriously.  He won’t even sleep for me.  Only Heath (although he also calms down instantly when Kalyn holds him). 

Kaci cannot stand to be moved or touched when she is sleeping peacefully.  I’ve picked her up to rearrange her while sleeping and she completely flips out. 

They both have the newborn cry—but when they get really upset it goes up about two octaves and is really loud.  Kind of cute really—until 3 am. 

Heath and I wake up every three hours to feed the babies.  Occasionally one will let the other sleep and feed both babies at once, but it really goes much quicker if two of us do it. 

Kaci has only set off her apnea monitor one time—and I think it was because she was eating.  That thing is LOUD though!

Heath took the last two days off work to get some things done around the house.  We have been organizing and cleaning to make room for the babies who were born way too early.  The house is looking much better—but we still have a ways to go.  I’ll miss Heath when he goes back to work this afternoon.

Kynan and Kaci got their first RSV shot Tuesday and did very well with it.  Speaking of the RSV shot---do you have any idea how expensive that is?  If not and you would like to know—send me an email and I’ll inform you—it is simply too crazy to talk about here.  Anyway, they will get a series of 5 or 6 shots—one for every month of RSV season.  Even though it is very expensive, I am not willing to take any chances with their tiny immune systems.

I’m sure there is so so so much more to update you on, but Heath just got back from dropping the girls off at school which means its time to go take a nap!  Happy Thursday everyone!

The First 24 Hours

Taking care of Kynan and Kaci was a lot easier before they were born.  Feeding them was a lot easier when I was still pregnant.  Holding them is a lot more fun now!

Heath spent Saturday night at the hospital with the babies so that I could take Kalyn and Keali to church Sunday.  Heath sent me a text asking me to call him mid-morning on Sunday.  I called and he said we could bring the babies home in the afternoon!  I was so excited. 

I arranged for Julia to take the girls home with her after church and I headed up to Paragould.  We basically just had to wait for Kaci’s apnea monitor to arrive so we could be trained on how to use it.  They also had to make sure I knew how to do infant CPR, but since I took that class while we were at UAMS I was fine on that. 

I thought the monitors at the hospital were loud and annoying.  No.  Nothing compared to the apnea monitor Kaci is on now!  It is SO LOUD.  Luckily, it isn’t nearly as sensitive as the monitors at the hospital so it hasn’t gone off yet.  Crossing fingers.

We brought the babies home and immediately began to try to set our routine—while simultaneously trying to straighten up the house.  You would be surprised how messy a house can get when you don’t even live there.  Weird.

Heath and I slept every opportunity we got last night, but to me I woke up more exhausted than normal.  Heath said he slept fine—well, at least better than he had been.  I just kept hearing every noise the babies made and couldn’t fully calm my mind enough to really relax.

Kynan and Kaci are doing very well here at home and Kalyn and Keali are thrilled to have them here.  They are even more thrilled to have both Heath and I here!  Kalyn begged us to let her stay home from school today. “Please!  I just really need a break from school, and I can help out with the babies.”  We explained that she doesn’t have to go to school next week (fall break) and she must go to school this week.  She wasn’t happy, but she accepted it. 

Every time someone begins to cry, Kalyn has made it her job to know who and why.  Then she reports.  She is a perfect little soldier.  Keali is content to just watch the babies. 

Holly and Devin came over last night with Slade—as did Mamaw and Papaw.  Slade is a month older than the twins, but gestationally he is about 10 weeks older.  And Slade is a giant compared to his cousins—but very very cute.  Kynan and Kaci will catch up soon enough. 

Kynan peed on me for the first time today.  I was changing him and screamed when I saw a stream shoot at me.  Luckily I jumped at the same time I screamed, thereby the stream missed my face and merely soaked the bed and my shirt.  Heath was watching and shouted for me to cover Kynan up.  I was so shocked by what was happening, it never occurred to me to stop the rain with a well placed diaper.  Needless to say, there is some extra laundry to be done today. 

This is karma I guess from when I was so upset about Julia letting Kynan pee on my bed at the hospital.  Okay Karma.  I hear you and now we are even.

In just about four hours we will be home with our babies!!!

An Inspiration

This is funny.  Apparently, I made the AMMC head honcho’s meeting’s “inspirational stories” list.  Every meeting, the heads of each department get together and share inspirational stories from the previous time period.  I was OBs inspirational story this week.  A mother of twins who is constantly at the hospital assuming all care for her preemies—tube feeding one while bottle feeding the other…

What mother would do any different?  I am just blessed enough to have the opportunity to be here with Kynan and Kaci all the time.

Last night, Heath gave me the night off and he stayed with the babies at the hospital.  This morning, I got a great piece of news! 

Notice anything?

Kaci

Kynan

That’s right!!  No more feeding tubes!  Yesterday we got permission to bottle feed each baby for each feeding.  They are both doing so well, they got their NG tubes removed this morning.  Kynan has a very handsome face.  Now if only Kaci would agree to breath without the oxygen cannula.  Hmmmm.

Each baby is still hooked up to heart and pulse ox monitors, but one less tube is one less tube and I am happy!

My night off was nice.  I snuggled with Kalyn and Keali—who by the way don’t seem to care that I have a huge scar on my stomach and being kicked there doesn’t feel so great.  Keali woke up in the middle of the night (I had moved her way over to Heath’s side so I could get some sleep) and said, “I want to snuggle you Mommy!”  I couldn’t say no to my precious Keali- Pooh, so I didn’t sleep too well.  Just being home though for a little while is so rejuvenating. 

I got up early this morning and got the girls off to school.  It is hard to go through the same normal motions I did before the babies were born.  It’s difficult because I don’t know what normal is anymore.  Normal changes when you have a new baby…any mother or father will tell you that.  I just don’t know what normal for us now is.  It will take time to discover—but I am eager to get started.  I just can’t start until we get the babies home.  The doctor is thinking next Monday or Tuesday if things continue to go well.

The pediatrician doesn’t want to send Kaci home with oxygen, though I am okay with it.  I just want to get both of the kids home.  We will have to take them home with apnea monitors even though they have never had apnea.  Apparently we can’t just go cold turkey on monitors.  It might “stress” the babies too much.  That was sarcasm.  Given their way, I don’t think the doctors would ever let the babies come home.  They are bound and determined to keep them here.  The nurses too.  The head nurse said yesterday, “you are getting so big, soon we will have to say goodbye to you and send you home!”  I said, “I hope so”!”  Then she got a bit teary eyed and said, “but we just get so attached to them.”  Back off lady.  They are my babies and I WILL be taking them home as soon as possible.

Still, we have gotten very good care for our babies and even though things haven’t exactly gone our way all the time, we have had a good experience.  I can’t say that I’ll miss the ‘security’ of the hospital though.  I’m ready to be HOME!

I have to admit that taking this video was terrifying for me.  Watch it and you’ll understand why.

Much Needed Visitors!

We have been so blessed to have family and friends visit us while in the hospital.  It is nice to have people we love to talk to! 

This last Saturday, Patience and April came to visit.  They are some of my favorite people, so I was very happy!  Brad and Melissa have visited, as have Mamaw and Papaw—several times.  Shannon helped out on Sunday by bringing me up to Paragould after spending the night in Jonesboro and she was able to stay and visit for a while. 

Yesterday, Becky and Martie stopped by for a visit.  It was great to see them.  They had visited the day after the babies were born and we never get to see them enough so it was wonderful to catch up.  For those of you who don’t remember, Becky and Martie are two of Heath’s aunts.

This afternoon I was surprised by Brandon, Kayla, and Danielle!  I supervise Brandon and Kayla, and I supervised Danielle last year.  I loved having them visit.  I tend to get really attached to the people I work with, and these three are no exception.  

Of course the best part about having visitors is having people meet and ooh and aah over Kynan and Kaci.  Doesn’t every mother want her babies adored?  I’ve always loved showing off my babies.  It will be a bit more difficult this year to refrain from showing Kynan and Kaci to everyone—flu season and all.  I will want to do it, but I will be too terrified that they will get sick.  Oh well.  They will still be adorable in the spring and can be oogled then!

Big update on the babies today!

Each baby has been given clearance to try to take all feedings with a bottle.  With Kynan, they aren’t concerned at all.  He has been doing so great with his bottle feedings.  With Kaci, they really want to take things more slowly, but Heath and I were adamant that she could handle it so they are letting us try, although Kaci only gets 15 minutes to finish her bottle or else she gets it with the tube again. 

Here are the stats as of this afternoon:

Kynan—5 lbs even.  18.2 inches long.

Kaci—5 lbs 3 oz. 18 inches long.

My babies are growing up!

Heath is staying at the hospital tonight—giving me a chance to sleep a little more at home.  I have been looking forward to this since Sunday!  Last night was the worst night here since the first night.  Monitors beeping all night and two little babies who did not want to sleep.  I hope they are better for Heath tonight—but I am NOT giving up my at home night for anything!  I get to snuggle my two older babies!

Some Pictures From The Past Week

 

Aunt Shannon with Kaci

Two cute!

Dr. Hasik with the twins.

They are so easy to hold in one arm!  Not for long though.  They are growing so fast!

 Mamaw with her newest grandchildren.

First time Kalyn held Kaci.

First time Keali held Kynan. (Keali wouldn’t smile for anything!)

First time Kalyn held Kynan.

First time Keali held Kaci.

Mamaw & Papaw with the babies.

Me with my Keali Pooh!     

Silly faces.

More silly faces.

 Melissa with Kynan.

I like this picture of Keali and Kynan.

To end this post, I just have to say that I think naming all of your children with the same letter is not the best of ideas.  We got started and felt like we couldn’t stop.  Now I am so confused and have the hardest time saying names.  Add on top of that our niece Kylee, Klarice, and Kreston and I am even more confused.  Ha!  I made this bed.  Now I have to sleep in it.  Unfortunately, everyone of you has to sleep in it too!