Two Early Christmas Presents

The twins both made it home in time for Christmas. Eden came home on Wednesday, December 21 and Roman followed a day later. We were so happy to get them both home and put an end to our hospital visits.

The more traditional parenting experience of sleeplessness and confusion is now finally beginning for us as a family. We laugh a lot at our two little miracles who have quickly developed unique personalities. Eden is the silent, tolerant shadow of her mother, rarely making a fuss about anything. Roman, on the other hand, grunts groans and whimpers every waking (and sleeping) moment. He is the one keeping us up at night. He also has conveniently decided to be nocturnal, which adds to the joy of attending to him in the wee hours of the morning. But where he lacks in quietness, he more than compensates with smiles, giving us huge laughing grins all the time. They are alike only in that they are both very cute and they both eat and fill their diapers regularly. We are truly doubly blessed with two beautiful perfect little people and can't imagine life without them.

Eden in her pack-n-play upon her arrival home.

Roman in his special infant car bed - ready to go home.

Trouble arrives home, Eden quickly learns to cover her ears.

"Listen, brother, if you don't settle down and cooperate I'll give you the another round of the backhand."

"Good morning daddy, we are ready for presents."

Grandpa and Grandma (Smith) happy to take a turn.

Mommy showing off her two favorite presents.

Preparing for the Journey Home

Tuesday December 20, 2005:

Roman and Eden will turn 3 weeks old tomorrow (Wednesday the 21st). They are both in open cribs and consistently feeding from a bottle. The doctors have been pushing back Eden's homecoming and now Roman has caught up and is ready to go as well. Right now both of them will probably come home either Wednesday or Thursday. We will be overjoyed to have them home for Christmas.

We appreciate all the thoughts, prayers, gifts and visits that our friends and family have heaped upon us. We also appreciate your understanding that these babies need extra special care. As such, once they come home, the rules kept in the hospital will be continued for some time at the house as well. This is not meant to be malicious toward anxious aunts, uncles and friends, but rather to keep the kids healthy and on schedule for growing, eating and sleeping. No one wants them to go back to the hospital and right now they are very susceptible to sickness and viruses such as RSV. To curb any potential problems, the number of visitors will be limited, handwashing will be mandatory and holding babies will be open to grandparents only. If you or anyone in your household is sick or have been in the last 48 hours, we kindly ask that you postpone your visit until you and those you're in contact with are healthy. We thank you again for your understanding and assure you this is all in the kids' best interest. Any questions or problems, take it up with the management, a.k.a. Dad.

Roman pondering the day's greatest decision - "Should I fill my diaper now or later?".

Eden happy to be back in her favorite hat - freshly laundered.

Week 3 - Growing and Feeding

Wednesday December 14, 2005:

Roman and Eden turned 2 weeks old today. They have quickly become savvy veterans of the NICU floor and are of course the favorite kids in the area. Last weekend they were upgraded to the NIM (not "Intensive" care anymore) and, since then, they have really been flourishing. Eden currently tips the scales at 4 lbs 2 ozs and has moved into an open crib. Roman is gaining as well and is up to 3 lbs 11 ozs. Both have already taken a full bottle and are progressing in that department as well. There are rumblings of them coming home within the next few weeks. We are hopeful but don't want to push too hard. There is also a possibility that one will come home before the other, which although it will be a great breakthrough, will be understandably bittersweet for us. Even so, everyone is doing well and anxious to spend Christmas together as a family, either in our living room or in the hospital.

Eden wearing her favorite hat. It is very windy in the NICU, so she needs to hold on to the brim pretty much all the time.

Roman hanging out with dad. "Seriously Dad, are you still talking? I'm trying to sleep here."

Eden getting a bottle from Mom.

More skin to skin time for Roman and Dad.

Eden: "I am big stuff... I weigh over 4 pounds!"

Roman: "Hey Eden, you might weigh more, but look how far I can open my mouth!"

Week 2 - Progress - Newly Updated 12-8-05

Wednesday December 7, 2005:
Reunited, and it feels so good:

Roman's bed got moved nearer to Eden so we were finally able to hold them at the same time. Finally the realization of two at once really starts to hit home.

Roman happy to snuggle up to his sister. Eden, not so interested in her new companion.

Our first family photo.

Roman and Eden are one week old today. Hard to believe it's been that long already. They've done so well so far. Eden is completely off oxygen and has had no IV for a day or two. She is up to a full feeding and should be ready to start trying a bottle on Sunday. Roman is off oxygen too and his IV is coming out today. He is getting nearing a full feeding and may be ready to bottle feed pretty soon too. Both are looking great and doing exceptionally well.

Eden practicing being cute. She's very good at it.

Roman looking forward to having his IV out.

Week 1 - Progress

Thursday December 1:

Daddy's first time holding his little girl.

Friday December 2:

No more C-PAP tubes! Now we can see their faces better. Both Roman and Eden were upgraded and didn't need the C-PAP tubes anymore. They now just have little nose tubes which give them small amounts of supplemental oxygen when they need it.

Roman

Eden

First Skin on Skin sessions:

Direct body contact is very good for the babies, they respond very positively to long periods of contact with mom or dad. As good as it is for them though, it seems even better for the parents.

Mommy with Roman

Daddy with Eden

Week 1 - Arrival

Wednesday November 30:

Unplanned C-Section, scary for mom and dad, but exciting at the same time. It's time to meet the kids.....

Kylene in triage before the surgery.

Ross in his surgery getup. Scalpel. Check. Nauseous father. Check.

Eden at about 1 hour old.

Roman at 1 hour old.

The Equipment
The tubes are called C-PAP. They create a positive pressure to keep the lungs open - kind of like those adult snoring machines which prevent sleep apnea. The other wires are an IV to give them fluids and other sensors to monitor heartrate, blood oxygen level and respiratory rate. Both the kids were breathing on their own shortly after birth, the C-PAP just helps the undeveloped lungs from sticking together. The IV is to provide nutrition until they start taking food orally.

Tiny Feet - Tiny Hands:

The Babies are Here

The twins are here!

Our kids were born, rather unexpectedly, on November 30 at 2:52 pm by C-section. And here they are, our pride and joy.

Eden Rae Smith 3 lbs 12 ozs 15-1/2 inches

Roman James Smith 3 lbs 7ozs 16-1/2 inches.

Eden Rae

Roman James

They have arrived. Early no doubt. But they are here and doing well. They are in the NICU and will be for a long time, since they're only 31 weeks developed, but they're doing well. These pics were taken on Day 3 - the first chance we had to really see the whole face with minimal tubes.

More pics coming soon when I get off the dialup connection.

New Info, Hospital stay, and Ultrasound - UPDATED 11-17-05

Thursday - Kylene came home last night and is happy, healthy and much more comfortable. Everyone is doing fine..............

Well, we have had an interesting week thus far. Monday afternoon at the Dr., a very small dropoff in Baby B (boy) heart beat was noticed for a brief moment during a non-stress test. The Dr. decided to send us to the hospital for additional monitoring, an ultrasound, etc. Fast forward 7 hours later to about midnight on Monday when they gave Kylene an IV and monitored the baby heartbeats overnight. Due to the stress of the situation and being forced stay on her back for multiple hours, she had lots of false contractions (Braxton Hicks) (way more than usual) which added to Dr's concern even though we were pretty sure the increase was due to the circumstances. Preparing for the worst, they gave Kylene a shot of a steroid which jumpstarts the lung development of the babies, just in case they delivered early. Once we got her to a more comfortable room, the contractions slowed way down, the heartbeats continued to look just fine and we all are more relieved. As of now, Wednesday, Kylene is still in the hospital and has had her second (and likely final) dose of the steroid. Last I spoke with the Dr., she should be able to come home tonight.

Everyone is fine, just a little tired and looking forward to getting mom and family home and hoping to keep the kids from being born for a long time. Here are some pics from the hospital ultrasound, the quality isn't as good and since the kids are getting bigger (3 pounds each) it's harder to see what's going on from a lay perspective.

Baby Girl Profile - She's very active and comfortably nestled into her breach position with her feet resting on her own personal ottoman - also known as mommy's bladder.

Baby B Profile - Not quite as cramped as his sister, he takes long afternoon naps and in his freetime enjoys sucking his thumb and kicking his sister in the head. He must take after his mother.

External view of twins - Updated 11-4-05

17 Weeks (Day we found out about twins)

19 Weeks (shock still wearing off)

Week 21 (Getting a little more active - Dad can feel movement on outide)

Week 24 - Definately two in there - measuring at 35 cm!

Week 27 - Growing.... growing...... Each baby weighs 2 lbs or more.

October 25 Ultrasound

We're at 26.5 weeks and we had another ultrasound. Both babies are close to 2 lbs, with the boy a little bigger than the girl. Here are some updated photos.

Baby boy - Face

Baby girl - Face

Baby boy - profile

Baby girl - profile

3D photo of boy face - partially covered on both sides

First Ultrasound

Here they are.... Everyone is looking healthy and growing at the right rate. Baby A is the girl and Baby B is the boy. I'm going to try this blog website and see how I like it....