Wowza! ONE MONTH!

My little boys are exactly, one-month old today.

I can't believe it! Time has flown by so fast with each day already planned out. . . get up, pump, get house somewhat clean from yesterday's mess, get ready and put some darn clothes on, pump, and then off to see my boys. Then around 5pm DH arrives and we stay for a few more hours with them. Then the long drive home. Rinse and repeat.

But I love nothing more then when I get to see them every day. And when DH come walking through the curtains into our NICU spot, I can relax even more. I cannot wait for him to be on paternity leave when the boys come home!

We are still hoping they will come home sometime in November. Yesterday one of our nurses told us that Mason will most likely come home before his brother-- which I was afraid of. I dreamed of loading them both into the car at the same time and driving off for home all together. *Sigh*

Not to mention how difficult it will be taking care of one baby at home and then still traveling to see the other in the NICU every day. . . How in the Hell is that supposed to work?!??!

Oh well, for now I will concentrate on all the great milestones they have had over the last month. After all one nth ago exactly, I was in labor. . .a few hours away from seeing them for the first time!

Mason: Moved from C-Pap to nasal cannula and this week had the cannula taken out! Breathing all by himself! He has had all of his umbilical and pic-lines removed. He is currently digesting 32 cc's of breast milk (with additional calories) and has not had any billilights in weeks! He also had his first bath on Wednesday! He has moved from 2 lbs 14 oz to 3 pounds 14 oz! One whole pound of weight gain!

Christopher: From ventilator to C-Pap and now on he is using a nasal cannula. His umbilical lines has been removed. Every day, he is receiving lower amounts of IV fluids through his PIC-line because his feedings of "neocate" (a gentle, lactose and soy-free formula) are increasing--now up to 7 cc's! Chris has not needed billilights for weeks and is getting help with too much fluid retention. He peed 81cc's yesterday in one diaper! His weight now has moved from 2 lbs 15 oz to 3 lbs 15 oz! He has gained a whole pound, too!

Wow. They are amazing. Happy one-month birthday little ones! Mommy and Daddy love you a million times!

Week one. . .

Week two. . .

Week three. . .

Week four. . .

Christopher.

Mason.

I LOVE YOU SWEET BOYS!!! - Mommy XOXO

Happy one-week birthday to you two!

Today my boys turned one week old.

It was our first night away from them. It took us a while to get started this morning since I am pumping every 2-3 hours and we had to worry about basics at home (Cat feedings and meds, washing the pump parts after each use, eating, packing for the day. . . )

After that we drove to finish a few errands we had planned out for last Saturday-- and we all know what happened that day!

DH and I went to Buy Buy Baby where they have the glider we wanted and finally made the purchase. This is basically what it looks like, plus the ottoman.

We also purchased the covers for our carseat carriers in winter.

After running around town for a couple hours, it became a day full of excitement as we found out that Christopher's brain scan (ultrasound) came back perfectly clean and that Mason's was only showing a slight possibility of a bleed, meaning at worst it could be a stage one, but the doctor doesn't think it's a definite. Either way, a stage one bleed resolves itself on its own without harmful effects.

Secondly, I got to hold my boys for the first time!!!

I was able to 'Kangaroo' Chris first, but only for a half an hour since he is still under the bili-lights (u/v). He was/is so precious. He never had any alarms go off and seriously never looked like he was more at rest. I held him on my chest under blankets as DH looked on, pet his little body, kissed him for the very first time and held my hand.

Only a little bit later, it was Mason's turn.

DH was so wonderful. He wanted me to hold them both first because "I'm their Mom and they need their Mommy." *Melt*

So I then held Mason for almost 3 hours. It was wonderful. Even when I had to pee so badly by the end. Mason only had one alarm go off during that time. I sang/hummed "Baby Mine" to both of them, but also played the song on my iphone for Mason. . .and then I played "Lullaby" by Billy Joel--and cried. . . and played "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson . . .and cried again. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life--I cannot wait to do this again and again--but mostly, I cannot wait to see DH kangaroo them both tomorrow.