As I sit here on this lazy Labor day, I realize that I haven't posted in a while on Eva and Nicholas' blog. I apologize for the lack of updates, but you will have to forgive me as life has been rather busy. I'm not sure if anyone even reads this anymore, but I feel like I owe it to my little angels to keep thier story going.

Since the last update, so much has happened. Since they have been here, they have both grown so much. They have hit the five pound mark. Eva no longer has a feeding tube. After several nights of her pulling it out, the nursing staff finally took the hint and kept it out. She decided she was to big for that, she could eat like a big girl.

Nicholas is trying so hard to be a big boy. He is eating two bottles a day. He is also trying to breathe without his supplemental oxygen. He is quite a cutie. He is very alert and seems to recognize voices. I pray so hard for him. I pray that he will get strong like his sister.

This of course leads us to the most exciting, or the most saddest news, depending on how you look at it.

Sweet Eva will be coming home tommorrow. She has successfully graduated from the NICU, and the special care, and is ready to join the family. I am so happy, and excited for her, as she gets to meet everyone, and get hugs and cuddles.

But, why am I sad you may ask... Eva coming home means that Nicholas will be all alone. He won't have his sister in the room with him anymore. I can't help but think that his little heart may be broken. I don't want him to think we all just left and he's all alone now. I know it sounds silly. I know you are all thinking "He's just a baby, he doesn't know..Misty is overreacting again". But, They were together in my womb for as long as I could hold them, they were together in the NICU together, and they were together in the special care. I like to think they secretly cheer each other on, in a language only babies can understand. I can't help but think that he would worry when he would hear her monitors go off, or the same for her. I can't help but think in the wee hours of the morning, when the nurses are out of the room, and it is quiet and still, he can look across the room, and she could look back, and their eyes lock, and they know they are there for each other.

What will he think Wednesday morning, when he looks, and no one is there?

Hurry up little guy. Get better soon. Come home with us. We are all waiting for you.

long awaited update

The twins are doing better than we had ever hoped and prayed for. As of last week, they were transferred from the NICU to the special care nursery. This is the place where they start learning how to become real babies!! They will learn how to eat, hold their body temperature, and outgrow their apnea.

They both will probably be coming out of their incubators this week. Eva is a little stronger than her brother. She is completely off his oxygen, but he still needs his. The goal is for him to come off of it within the next week.

They are wearing their own clothes now, and look as adorable as can be.

They both have broken the four pound mark, and get bigger every day.

Any family that wants to visit is welcome. Matt and I are at the hospital Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, and Saturday until around noon or 1. Just give us a call and we can authorize you to come in and visit.

Good news yet again

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I went back to work this week, so I have been extra busy.

I got a great report from the hospital this morning. Both babies are ready to get rid of their central IV lines. This is great progress because it means that they are tolerating their feeds so well that they won't need the extra nutrients. This makes me happy because it means that my milk is now supplying them with everything they need.

Eva is now at 3 pounds 5 ounces, and Nicholas is now 3 pounds 6 ounces. My little peanuts are getting very big and healthy.

Matthew and I are so happy that we are still on a good streak health wise. We are both hoping that they continue to strive.

Keep those prayers coming guys.

another great update

We have more great news. Nicholas has sucessfully fully recovered from NEC. We are so thankful for all of the prayers and well wishes. It makes me so happy to type this. He started getting fed yesterday at 3:00 p.m. Eva has also been doing great as well.

I just wanted to spread some good news!!

Babies are growing

As the saying goes, no news is good news. We went to visit last night and for the most part everything is going great. Nicholas is getting better every day. He is out of the woods as far as the the N.E.C. is concerned. They are still holding his food for another few days just to be on the safe side.

Eva's belly looked big last night, so they decided to hold her food again for a few days just to be safe. The on call doctor said that most likely, the tummy was big because she hadn't had a big poop all day, and they increased her oxygen levels, which could have caused more air in the tummy.

We will go see them again tommorrow night!

I can't wait.

a Good Report

Tonight was the first night Matt and I left the hospital in good spirits. Both of the babies were actually doing wonderful tonight. Nicholas' X-ray showed great improvement this morning. He had to get a blood transfusion, but it was explained that it is very normal for premature babies to need transfusions, and nothing serious.

Eva has not only made it back to her birthweight, but gone four ounces above. Nicholas is only 4 oz away from his birthweight.

Both babies were alert, moving, and happy!!

Keep praying, everyone!!

Getting better every day

Our report from the hospital was good this morning. Nicholas is still stable, and not actively getting any worse, which is a very good sign. Eva of course is just cruising on through. The nurse told us yesterday that she went to peek in on her and she had pulled her feeding tube out and was swinging it around as if to say "feed me please". She started back on breast milk today. She gets 2 ml's every four hours.

Nicholas isn't eating right now, but hopefully soon he will be able to eat again.

We have decided that trying to go to the hospital every day was getting to be to much on us financially and emotionally. The kids at home were getting shuffled so much from place to place and we decided they needed some sense of normalcy. Therefore, we have decided to go every other day. This way, we only need babysitters for Monday's and Wednesday's.

I know alot of people have been asking what they can do to help us. I'm always shy about asking for help, but it gets to the point that we start to realize that we can't do this alone. Some things that would really help out our family:

1. Prayers, first and foremost: The babies I don't think would be doing as well as they are without the prayers of our family and friends. They are truly miracles of God.

2. Recipes for quick and easy dinners would be great. It is so hard to try to plan meals, feed Matt and I, and the kids, and get to the hospital. If you have any easy recipes that are quick and easy to throw together, please send them my way.

3. Babysitting Volunteers for Monday's and Wednesday's. I always hate calling and asking people to babysit, because I hate to feel like I am burdening people. However, any family members who want to volunteer, it would really make me feel better, and not like I am constantly bugging people.

4. Prepaid gas cards: We are struggling financially, especially with me being out of work for a month and a half. The gas going back and forth to the hospital is killing us right now.

5. Pictures of family to hang on the babies incubators. The nurses told me that alot of the babies grow bigger and stronger faster by having pictures of their families taped to their incubators. Also, pictures colored and drawn by cousins can be taped as well. Noelle has drawn a few and they are taped up, but if any cousins want to draw them pictures, I would be glad to take them up to the hospital.

6. Visitors: The babies, although to small to be held, thrive from hearing the voices of diffrent family members and friends. Anytime anyone wants to visit, just let Matt and I know. We would be glad to take you up to visit them. Unfortunetly, no children under 16 are allowed in right now.

Again, thank you guys so much for the continued support and prayers. We hope someday we can repay the kindness you all have shown us.