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

Sunday Best

Kamryn & Laityn: 2 Months Old

Hard to believe the girls have been home for a month already and are two months old! Their adjusted age is about 1 week, so it is starting to seem like they have been forever newborns. Everyday I try and get them to smile - getting so anxious for them to be able to do this. The doctor said give it a couple weeks yet, so I am waiting ever so patiently!

The girls are awake more often now and they eat a lot more. They now usually eat at least 3oz of a formula/milk combo, and about 2oz when they get up at night. A couple of weeks ago we received the okay to do an "on demand" schedule at night to help their mama and dada get some rest! It didn't really change much as they both would wake up about every two hours - about 4-5 times a night. Exhausting! Fortunately, we have now gotten the okay to feed them on demand all the time! We normally have kept them on the same schedule, but we are starting to try out letting them eat when they want, and not necessarily together. They usually always stay pretty close to the same schedule, though. We give them formula bottles at night to try and get them a little more full so we can get a little bit longer chunks of sleep! They are also on normal formula now, no more added calories so we hope they can continue to gain weight like they have been.

Here are some stats:
Kamryn: 8lbs 6oz, 20.5"
Laityn: 7lbs 14oz, 20" (Laityn has gained an entire 3lbs since birth!)
• They are now in the 2% for 2 month olds. We are so proud of them for making it on the growth chart!

Other happenings:
• We have now gotten the okay to go out in public! However, we don't let people touch or hold them. 
• Newborn clothes still fit them best, but a few 3 month ones are starting to fit their length
• Laityn's hair is growing back. Its still dark and sometimes looks even thicker than Kamryn's
• They both have nice times of being content and will watch their crib mobile while I get some stuff done
• They love to be held and cuddled. I love this too, except when you have to do other things!
• They don't really like their carseats and will scream for atleast 5 minutes once you put them in. Going on walks they cry too
• Bottling continues to go well, and we are starting to use stage 1 nipples instead of preemie ones 
• Their heads are starting to get stronger, but they cannot hold them yet
• The girls are starting to look more alike every day. You be the judge:

 People often ask if they are identical. The answer is yes, and we know this because TTTS can only happen with identicals. Then they ask if we get them confused or mixed up. The answer to that is not really, they aren't super identical yet, and they each have markings that if we are really confused, they can easily be identified. I have gotten them mixed up a couple of times - its easier to tell them apart when they are together.

The past month of being home has been a blur, but we are so thankful to have our wonderful girls!