So....

I failed already. Seriously, this will be my New Year's resolution. I kept waiting because I was waiting to load pictures....for real.











Anyway, the kids are so much fun right now! They are exploring everything and smiling and laughing constantly! They are both standing up on things now and last night and this morning Boo reached out when I put my hands out to her. I have been waiting for that! So precious!

Apple is definitely going to be a daredevil, he loves to hang on things. He also stands up holding onto the poles of his playgym and it looks like he is windsurfing, I will try and catch a pic of it sometime...

Ok, it has been a long time

I am going to try and do this weekly again so people can stay up-to-date. Especially with flu season, we are just about on lockdown again.

Apple and Boo are getting so big, I just can't believe how fast it happens. I now know what people mean!

Apple is starting on some heavier food and milk to try and fatten him up a little and seems to like it. He ate all his oatmeal plus Boo's this morning! I don't know where it all goes. You can actually tell a difference when you pick him up after eating. He is getting the hang of crawling, he does: left, right, belly in quite a fast rotation!

Boo is off and crawling for sure. This morning she made it from the family room through the kitchen and into the hallway. I stepped out of our room and there she was just smiling at me.

Kevin just called and told me they just crawled up to each other and studied each other for a bit, so dang cute!!

Monday

Yesterday the boys finally got to meet Apple and Boo! It was so cute!


I had to go back to work today. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be when I was crying about it yesterday! We brought the babies in for everyone to meet and then I had a ton of Emails to go through so that occupied most of my day. Everyone at work really helped make sure I survived the first day and I think I did alright. It helped knowing they were home with Kevin at least.

Thursday

Oh my our days go fast! They are getting so big so fast and looking older everyday. Apple is up to 5 lbs. now and Boo is well over 7 lbs.!

Play time

Boo was being too loud for Apple!

Friday

Gosh, our days go by so fast now. We are constantly saying, "Is it already...?". They are doing so well, I swear Boo smiled today when I was playing with her. She is such a happy baby, especially after she eats, it is like she is drugged!
Apple now weighs 4 lbs. 8 oz., the same Boo did when they were born. Neither of them have to go for weekly weight checks anymore! It is amazing how fast they are growing and changing.

Monday

Apple had an eye doctor's appointment and while I looked away, I still cried afterward. Both of them are being a bit fussy and neither slept well last night, poor little things. Yesterday Boo was wearing this outfit that had an apple on it and I realized how I never associate them with "Apple" and "Boo" anymore. Then I started thinking about that and how Apple was our little Apple and everything we went through with him and how it makes so much sense that I felt Boo more than Apple because Boo moves around so much more than Apple still!
We are so in love with them!

Thursday

Boo is such a rock star, she rolled over! She is such a show off! Ok, really it is just that she hates tummy time that much but still!
We went to the doctor yesterday and Boo weighs 6 lbs. 3 oz. and Apple weighs 4 lbs. 4 oz! They are getting so big! We also can be a little more flex about their feedings, it doesn't have to be every 3 hours now, it can be more on their demand. Woot woot!!

Monday

Hope everyone had a fabulous Easter!
Look what the Easter Bunny left for us!

Friday

Things are going well, both babies seem to be adjusting nicely to life at home together. They are just so dang cute!

Wednesday

Sorry we haven't posted in a bit....we have been busy because both of our babies are home!!! Aple came home Monday evening and it has been wonderful. He had his first doctor's appointment today and he is up to 3 lbs. 14 oz! Our little guy is almost 4 lbs! He was quite a hit at the doctor's office, of course!

Their favorite spots

Saturday

Apple's feeding tube is out! He has been taking all his feedings from a bottle, midnight's feeding will be 48 hours! Woot woot! Of course I forgot our camera today so tomorrow I will post a pic of his beautiful little face. He also gained another ounce, up to 3 lbs. 8 oz!
We definitely know they are going to have a twin connection, Boo got her first real bath today because she had a mess going down her leg this morning and we found out Apple had a mess going up his back today!

Friday

Look who's top is popped! Apple is maintaining his own body temperature and doesn't have to be in a covered isolette anymore! He is getting so big!

Tipper is doing well dealing with a new baby in the house, we wonder what she will think when she finds out we have another just like it that will be home soon!

Tuesday

Grandpa is home!! We missed him so much and are happy to finally have him home. However, I believe Jeanne was told to send him home as we sent him out and he came back with a band-aid on his hand and he did not have one when he left us! Te he!

Grandpa and Boo

Tuesday

Apple was so cute today. They always have these little knit hats that are made by volunteers and today we walked in and he had a matching outfit to his hat! Loved it! He is definitely the best dressed of NIM! He also might be the fastest growing, up to 3 lbs. 5 1/2 oz! Such a growing boy!
Aw, you can see Apple's hospital picture on their website now! Not that they are great pictures but it is a normal baby thing that I am glad to have. You can check it out at:
www.spectrum-health.org
She also took her first swing today. She is still a bit small for it so she wasn't in it long but she seemed to enjoy it!

Monday

Gwyneth wBooeighs 5 lbs. 2 oz! Her doctor's appointment went great today, she was very well behaved and it was nice to be able to show her off a little since we aren't taking her anywhere. We are upping her feedings another 5 mls.

Boo's first bath at home

Apple still keeps on gaining, he is up to 3 lbs. 3 oz! He is getting so strong and big! We can't wait for him to come home.

Sunday

Our little lion is up to 3 lbs. 3 oz!! Oh my goodness! He is taking a bottle here and there, today it seems like it is every other time so we are thrilled!
Boo has her first doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, it is weird not knowing her daily weight! She is adjusting to home life well, her awake time seems to be around her 3:00 am feeding. She has been up a bit today so hopefully she will sleep tonight. Grandma fed her for the first time at her 9:00 feeding and they both seem quite content. They are still enjoying their time together...

Friday

Apple already weighs 3 lbs! We can not believe it!! They are adding Human Milk Fortifier (extra vitamins and calories) to his bottles and it must really make a difference!
We had a good night with Boo, she was a bit fussy after one of her feedings last night but all the rest she went right back to sleep afterward.
Kevin let me take a nap this afternoon and then we all headed up to see Apple for a couple of hours.Boo  and I just got done with some skin to skin time and Kevin and I are enjoying a bowl of cereal before we head to bed.
I can't believe Apple weighs 3 lbs!!!

Thursday

Boo is home! It feels a little like we are just babysitting, it is so wild! I love it! Makenzie came over to spend the night and got to spend some close time with her little sis. It was wonderful to see!

Boo loves her car seat!

Apple is back up to 2 lbs. 13 oz! They continue to lower his isolette temperature and he is doing great maintaining his own temperature. They still can't pop the top because there is a weight requirement but he is ready. He took about 1 1/2 bottles today and was again wide awake afterward for a while.
Today I think was much harder than the day I left the hospital and couldn't bring either of them home. While we were thrilled to be bringinBoog Gwyneth home, it broke my heart to have to leave our little man there without his sister. We just have to remember that is the best place for him right now and we really are blessed to have such healthy, happy babies.

Wednesday

Boo got her feeding tube taken out today! Her little face is so adorable!

Apple took two whole bottles today! He was awake for about 1 1/2 hours after taking his 3:00 bottle.
It was so nice for both of us to spend some time with him.

Tuesday

Another fabulous day with the babes! We stopped at Target on our way out for a couple of things for them and I thought I could walk. Big mistake. I had spent the morning feeling like it was my best day yet and later paid the price for pushing it.
Boo is bottling every time and taking her whole feeding. She is waking up a bit before feeding and staying awake for awhile after.Apple is bottling about half of his feedings half the time....does that make sense?! He is still doing more than they thought he could, he is such a strong little man!!

Monday

Apple can now bottle feed at any of his feedings if he is up for it. They feed every 3 hours and he has taken some by bottle at every one since his 9:00 feeding today! He is so amazing. I noticed this in Apple's notes today under his daily exam: "sleepy, woke for exam, no crying, MAD". Te he! Everyone keeps using the word "fiery" for him.

Kevin is finally feeling better so he got to feed Apple today for the first time. I loved it. We were just talking about how we can't imagine life without one of them even though I had a bit of anxiety this afternoon when Kevin left and I was alone with the two of them for the first time. Luckily it quickly passed!
Boo never has much in her notes, she is just cruising right along! The doctor did tell me today that they are thrilled with how far along they are given their age. That is always nice to hear! She is bottling at every feeding now, taking most if not all every time. It even looks like her cheeks are starting to fill out more! Her lips are just the cutest!

Monday

Boo has already sucked down two whole bottles today! Woot woot!
I think Apple is still a little pooped out from all his excitement yesterday, he is sleeping soundly!

Sunday

Apple's IV came out last night around midnight and he has been doing great since! His feedings have been upped to 25 CCs (almost 1 ounce) and tonight he was awake for his 6:00 feeding so we decided to try and have him bottle feed and he took the whole bottle and had a great little burp mid way through. He even stayed awake for awhile after. It was amazing! He is doing so well and getting so strong! He has even grown 1/4 inch!

Boo is now enjoying her new digs, I must admit to being a little paranoid about someone not realizing there is a baby in there....I know I am being irrational but I did mention it to the nurse and also acknowledged the crazy in it! She bottled at almost every feeding today, taking a few more CCs each time. We just talked with the nurse and she bottled at 9:00 leaving only 4 CCs left! She too has grown, 1/2 inch for her.

Saturday

The move to NIM really tuckered our little ones out! They were so sleepy today! We gave Boo a bath today and brought some outfits for her to wear. Boo went up 1 1/2 ounces today and weighs 4 lbs. 8 oz. now. We now are in need of finding some preemie gowns for Apple because he can wear clothes as soon as they pull his IVs! We are right now waiting for the nurse to hear back from the doctor about removing his IV. He took all his feedings today like a champ which was the requirement so hopefully we will find out during our next check-in. He is up to a whooping 2 lbs. 13 oz!!!
Kevin had a cold for the past couple of days and it is really wearing him out. We have been getting all the pumping necessities ready before bed so he doesn't need to wake up for anything and can get a good night's rest. I think today is the first day he is back on the upswing. He has been trying to keep his distance from the babes as much as possible and we both have been sanitizing like crazy and are wearing masks for a bit.