WE DID IT!!! WE'RE BIG BOYS NOW!

Yesterday it happened! The doctor called mom at work to brief her and let her know that it was time. Time to try Ethan and Kian off CPAP! Yay!!! The plan was to put both boys on a nasal cannula- Ethan on room air and Kian on 25% O2 and see how they did. If they were good, they could stay on it. If they were bad, they'd have to go back on CPAP. Mom checked in all day- and all day they stayed on the nasal cannula. She was waiting for the "honeymoon" period to wear off but Dad called to check on the boys early this morning and they were still doing well.






Kian is on the left, Ethan is on the right. They don't look alike at all.


``````````````````````````Ethan```````````````````````````

``````````````````````````Kian`````````````````````````````

They're growing up before our eyes. We've reached our mini goal. Our next goal is to start eating from a bottle. The first step toward that goal is working with the physical therapist on our suck/swallow coordination. Should be interesting since neither know how to suck on a pacifier yet. We'll keep you updated!

We're growing and getting older!

A NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS!


Some of my old colleagues threw a mini suprise shower for Kian & Ethan Friday night. I went for a good ol' fashion girls night out and meet up with some long lost nurses and they surprised me.


These cookies are made by one of my friends. They are too beautiful to eat- but when you do munch on them- they are DELICIOUS! She makes different styles and personalized for you. If you're interested in buying some for a special occasion, I can give you her contact information!



Saturday afternoon our boys were displaying their love for daddy by announcing they would help him around the house. Are you laughing yet??? We all know Daddy doesn't do the home repairs. That's Mom's job. But, Dad does all the cooking/cleaning/laundry and we're all thankful for that!


----------------------------KIAN---------------------------------



We found Ethan trying to climb out of his crib. He's stuffed so far down in the corner that his feeding tube is pulling out of his mouth. These boys are travelers- movers- shakers!



---------------------------ETHAN-------------------------------------




Mom is holding Kian & Dad is holding Ethan on a Saturday afternoon. We snuggled for about 2.5 hours together!



We'd be 34 weekers if we were inside Mom today. Instead, we're getting baths and hanging out in the NICU. Time is flying by- but not fast enough. We can't wait until we all get home together.


Kian after a bath Mom gave him. WE ARE OFFICIALLY OUT OF PREEMIE CLOTHES- atleast those with feet!! Mom can't believe it. She went to put on his sleeper and couldn't extend his legs in the outfit. We're on to newborn sleepers!

Bath time with Ethan! For those of you who are asking- there is a sticky material called duoderm on their noses and above their mouth. It's used as a barrier for where their CPAP masks hit their face so it doesn't cause skin breakdown. The strip above their lip is for protecting the skin that the feeding tube is taped to so they don't have to have tape stuck and unstuck to their face atleast 2times per day.





This tongue is for you, Grandma Leuer! Kian knows how much you like it!


We're doing well. Just eating, breathing and growing. We do not have a "home by" date. We're just concentrating on doing the right things. The doctors and nurses say they have til Mom's due date- March 9th- to get them ready. So, Mom & Dad patiently wait. Our next mini-goal is to get that CPAP off. Getting that off will mean our cheeks, eyes and heads will go back to normal. Hopefully it will be sometime in the next 2 weeks. Our lungs are slow to develop, but Kian & Ethan are working at it.

They truely are blessings and we're thanking God again for another wonderful day!

Twins are amazing!

Today was another very special day for Mom. She was able to hold, at the same time, both boys. Wow, was she ever proud??!





They're growing up so fast! We're almost out of preemie clothes. Their arms are too long and shortly they won't be able to straighten their legs in the sleepers! Were has time gone?


Can you tell who is who??? Ethan's on the right and Kian is on the left. It's amazing how similar they are but yet so different. Kian- no doubt - looks like Daddy and Ethan looks like Mommy. Kian has Daddy's personality- he's very laid back and lets Ethan be the wiggler and have it his way. And, needless to say- Ethan's personality resembles his mothers!!



Here's a close up of Ethan. Can you see Mom in him?


Here's a close up of Kian. Can you see Dad in him?




Dad has already held the two boys together at the same time, but unfortunately he didn't have the camera with him. We'll get a picture of him next time, we promise. It's a beautiful sight to see a proud dad holding both of his sons.

Until next time...

Daddy's first bath!!

Yay for bath time! Dad helped Kian get squeaky clean and Mom did the same for Ethan. It was a splish splashin good time! Daddy and Kian are up 1st!










Now it's Ethan and Mommy's turn! Fun times!









Can you tell that Ethan is related to Grandpa Leuer?? If you had any doubt...check out Ethan's hands!




Kian topped the scale at 4lbs 1 oz and Ethan has reached 3lbs 13 oz. We're getting fatter! We thank God for another wonderful day!

It's been a busy weekend

Kian and Ethan are doing great! It's been a wonderful weekend from that respect. They are growing and getting fat. Today, we possibly even saw a double chin on Kian. Yay for baby fat! Both Ethan and Kian have dimples! One of the respiratory therapists in the NICU said they're both going to be "lady killers" cause they're so darn cute!!


Medically, the boys are doing well too. They had their 1 month repeat head ultrasounds and both were clear still. We definitely had our fingers crossed for that. No head/brain bleeds! Ethan has "ouchies" on his arms from IVs but we're slowly getting them to go away and hoping that no infection goes into his blood stream. Neither have IVs anymore, they're both eating over 1 ounce of milk every 3 hrs and get this...Kian has almost reached 4 lbs!!! So much for needing preemie clothes. I guess we should get moving on the newborn size now!!

Mom had a shower thrown for her for the boys at a friends house.




She had a lot of fun and fellowship. It was great to have a bunch of friends celebrating with her the birth of her boys.

Thanks to all who attended and a HUGE thanks for those that threw it.
It was wonderful!

Mom and Dad spent Sunday finishing up the nursery.

It's not completely done yet, but we're a lot closer. There are monkeys all over the room!

We're counting our blessings and thanking God for another wonderful day!
Kian in his isolet going for the big STRETCH!!!!


Mom & Dad practice kangaroo care with the boys. Dad is holding Kian and Mom is holding Ethan.