Growing Boys!

Nothing new to report except the boys are getting big! Carter is now 2lbs 12 oz and Grayson is 3 lbs 2 oz. Here are some cute pictures from yesterday.

Packing On The Ounces

Nothing new to report (which is a good thing!) Now that I can drive again, I have been making my way to the hospital about two times a day (morning and night.) I wish we lived closer! The boys are happy, healthy, and gaining weight. They get their feedings increased frequently so we expect to see a couple of chubby babies soon! We get to hold them every day which is the most amazing feeling in the world. They are starting to do more "baby-like" things, such as making faces and noises. Grayson makes a funny clicking noise with his mouth when I hold him--it is pretty darn cute. Carter kept sticking his tongue out last night and started sucking on his hand. They cry and get fussy just like normal babies. They had scans done of their little brains and everything looks perfect. I just wish we could fast-forward through the next couple of months. I can't wait to have them home!

Snuggle Time with the Babies

The boys are doing so well that we get to hold them now which is much better than just sticking our arms through the holes in the incubator! We have also started something called "Kangaroo Care". This is what Wikipedia has to say about it: "Kangaroo care seeks to provide restored closeness of the newborn with mother and/or father by placing the infant in direct skin-to-skin contact with one of them. This ensures physiological and psychological warmth and bonding. The mother's body responds to the needs of the infant directly, helping regulate temperature more smoothly than an incubator, her milk adjusts to the nutritional and immunological needs of her fragile infant, and the baby sleeps more soundly." Of course it is equally important that the daddy bonds too! I love how tiny Grayson looks snuggling with his daddy. The boys seem to enjoy it, although maybe it's just because they like getting out of the incubators. Dave and I love it though! It definitely helps us feel more like parents.

Happy Thanksgiving

Both Carter and Grayson had a really good day today... less "spells" which is when they forget to breathe. They had baths last night and seem to have done really well ever since. No more greasy hair! Now it is easy to tell them apart--Carter has smooth blondish hair and Grayson has fuzzy dark hair.

Today was the first time Dave got to touch Grayson. He put his hand on Grayson's back and Grayson reached his little hand around to touch Daddy's hand. It was so precious. We decorated the boys' incubators with Angel blankets... any little personal touch makes seeing them a bit easier. We have a lot to be thankful for this year. Every day our boys seem to get a little stronger. They both had their feedings increased and hopefully they will start to pack on the pounds!

Carter's Cuddle Time

Carter is doing so well that they let me hold him for the first time. I sat in a rocking chair and we cuddled. I can't believe how tiny he is... I couldn't even feel the weight of him in my arms. He slept the whole time and I think we both loved it. It truly was the most amazing feeling in the world... to hold my son and rock him and listen to his cute little baby noises. I am hoping to hold Grayson by this weekend!

Grayson's Big Day

Grayson saw how much Carter liked having the ventilator out, so he decided it was time to breathe on his own as well. Here he is without the tube in his mouth. It's so wonderful to see his precious little face. I got to change his diaper yesterday. I doubt any parent in the world could have been more excited than I was just to change a diaper!

The boys have moved into "big boy beds" which is a closed incubator. Even though it is harder for me to see them, it is a big signal that they have graduated from the open incubator with all the tubes. Grayson seems to like his new bed and sleeps very peacefully. Today I got to tickle his back a bit and he seemed to love it.

Carter's Big Day

Today was a big day for little Carter. He decided it was time to breathe on his own. They took out his ventilator and we finally can see his precious little face. He looks so much like Dave! He already recognizes our voices because when we would talk to him, he would turn and look at us. The nurse even let me give him a tiny pacifier--it was so much fun! We also can hear him cry and sneeze and hiccup now that the tube is gone.

Grayson is younger by two minutes but is trying very hard to catch up to his big brother. I anticipate that his ventilator will also be removed in the next few days. As for tonight, he was feeling a bit camera shy, as you can see in this picture!

When we said good-night to the boys tonight, they were both sleeping on their tummies with their tiny little diapered bums sticking up in the air. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen!