3 Month Update

Here are the twin's official 3 month measurements:

Kamryn: 10lbs 2 oz, 22" long (10th percentile)

Laityn: 9lbs 8oz, 22" long (7th percentile)

All About Macyn!

I know I have been neglecting this blog for a while. Its always a decision between blog, or play with your kids. I usually always pick "play with your kids," so that is my answer as to why I have been so absent.

I have noticed that my blog has turned into the twins' stuff, so I thought I would give an update on some of the fun things we have done with Macyn!

Playing at the park

Trip to Sioux City with Mom & Dad

Princess birthday parties!

Washing bottles

Dressing up like a bride with her flower girl dress on (and Mom's veil)

Fun at bridal showers

Goofing off with Mommy

Picnics in the yard

Building giant Mega Block towers

Kamryn & Laityn: 3 Months

Its so hard to believe the girls are three months old already! They really developed a lot this past month and they are getting to the "fun" age...they don't quite seem like newborns anymore.

Kamryn

We know Kamryn's height and weight since she had her Echo yesterday - 10lbs 4oz and 22.25" long (about 5th percentile). They have their 3 month checkup on Friday so we will know the final weigh in's then. They also get their shots. They couldn't get them earlier like normal babies because they were too small and their immune systems weren't where they should be.

Laityn

Other happenings:

• 9 weeks of age the girls surprised us all and both can roll from their tummies to their backs!
• 11 weeks they began smiling. If you can't tell by the picture, they have mastered this :)
• The past couple of days they are starting to coo/laugh/and talk
• They drink 3-4 oz at a time, every 3-4 hours. Unfortunately, I am no longer pumping, but they seem to be adapting to the formula diet
• They are awake more and more and will often be content just laying on the floor and kicking for a 1/2 hour or so
• Kamryn is the good napper, Laityn is the cat napper
• Sleeping is getting better (knock on wood) They are getting up 1-2 times per night each. Sometimes three, but the other night they slept from 9:00-5:00!! Other nights they get up all.the.time. The two times per night is pretty dang nice, though. Remember, 2 times a night = 4 feedings!!
• The girls came down with their first cold a week ago. I brought them in right away since their respiratory/immune systems aren't developed. Everything was okay, so I was thankful for that. They even checked their oxygen levels and both were 100%

Its hard to believe, but in 1.5 weeks I will be going to work after a 15 week maternity leave. I'm not going to lie, its going to be tough to leave these two. Hopefully I can adjust quickly, and won't miss out on too much of them :/

Cardiology Results

EKG

We had Kamryn's follow up EKG and Echo this morning. Her EKG came back abnormal, as her right ventricle was still working hard to pump her blood. This "abnormal" EKG is perfectly "normal" from a pediactric cardiologist standpoint (as crazy as that sounds).

Kamryn laid so nicely for her heart Echo. The results still showed signs of hypertrophy, specifially in her septum. It is getting better, but we still need a recheck again in six months. They need to make sure it continues to improve, instead of improving and then getting worse.

The PFO in her heart is not closed, either. This is normal, and 30% of all people it never closes. It isn't anything to be worried about, but the doctor did want to make us aware.

Sunday Best

Macyn wearing her new butterfly dress for the twin's baptism. The baptism dresses were made by my mom. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of them together - they were always sleeping or crying!

Twins' Baptism

We had the twins baptized on Sunday. It was a very special, emotional day. We are so thankful to have our girls with us and we chose baptism verses to reflect that:

Kamryn Grace: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Laityn Hope: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Baptism is always special. It was more special when the twin's grandpa baptised them. It was amazing to hear both him, and our Pastor say how prayers have been answered. Our congregation prayed hard for us, and we are so thankful for God's healing hands. It was nothing short of a miracle that both girls are still with us. I know I say that alot, but its so hard to even fathom the power of prayer.

 After the baptism we had a small meal and opened gifts. It was a joyful day spent celebrating God's goodness, the baptism of the girls, and fellowship with our families.

God's Plans

As I sit at my computer looking for verses for Baptism, I can't help but reflect on how meaningful some of these have been through the past few months. One of my favorite stories in the Bible comes from John 9. It was about a man that had been born blind. I actually wrote about this story when I was pregnant with Macyn. You can read the whole post here. Here is the excerpt from this post that really hits home for me:

"The first 3 verses of that chapter have really made sense in my life right now. It states:

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

It makes me realize that God has a purpose for me, our child, and whatever happens. Why should I worry when I know its up to God? It is reasurring that, if anything were to go wrong, it wasn't because I sinned, or deserved it. ...God is just working in our life and our baby's life.

So really, I ask myself, why worry? God has a plan for us. God has a plan for our child. It is in his hands, and I 100% believe that."

Its amazing that something I wrote over three years ago has just as much relevance as today. Its AMAZING how much we have seen God work in our kids' lives...especially these past few months. There are no coincidences, but just God's perfect timing and plans for our lives. I have struggled with guilt and failure with this past pregnancy. I know nothing that happened with the twins was my fault, but its still hard to accept that. But reading this story it is a good reminder that the things that had happened with my pregnancy was not because of anything I did wrong. And as for God doing work in our twins' lives? HECK YES! They would not be here if God didn't show his amazing faithfulness to us! Nothing went according to our plan, but everything went perfectly for His plan.

I never planned on having preemies, I never planned on having twins, I never planned financially for this, I never planned on crying out to the Lord on the operating table for the safety of our girls. At that moment nothing else mattered.  

“We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go.” Proverbs 16:9 (CEV)

I remember crying, and praying, I just kept saying, "Lord, please don't take my girls from me." (or something to that extent). The next few hours seemed like an eternity before I could see the girls. When I saw them both, hooked up to all these machines, multiple doctors, both not breathing on their own, but rather with ventilators, all I could say was, "thank you." They were in critical condition, but at that moment, I didn't care. They were alive. They were two of the most beautiful things I have seen. And I said, "Thank you." The progress they made within the first week alone was nothing short of a miracle.

"said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

All I can say was, God was working - according to his plans and not ours. And what awesome plans those were. The right people, doctors, nurses, appointments, weather conditions all at the right time for our miracles to be born. We are not out of the woods 100% yet with the girls' health but these stories and verses are a good reminder - it's HIS  plan!

I will wrap up this post with a song that hits home for both myself and for our girls:

He Knows My Name

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
before even time began
my life was in his hands

He knows my name,
He knows my every thought,
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

I have a father
He calls me his own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name,
He knows my every thought,
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call