4 months: Where has the time gone?????

I know, I know, long time, no post.  It's been a LITTLE busy around here.  Adjusting to having TWO babies has been a bit... interesting.

They are both doing well and growing, though.  Caleb only wore the heart rate monitor for a couple of weeks AND we were able to switch him to the cheaper formula.  Praise God!

Their stats as of the 4 month check-up are (drum roll please:)  

    -Caleb :  16.4 lbs and 25 inches

    - Luke:   17     lbs and 26 inches

They are smiling, cooing and they have each rolled over once.  Luke from back to front and Caleb from front to back.  (They gotta keep it balanced, I guess:)

This week, we will probably start baby cereal.  Oh boy!  It will be a whole new degree of craziness at feeding time.  (But I'm sure it will be fun:)  We're still waiting for them to sleep more than 3 or 4 hours at a time.  In the meantime, coffee is my best friend :)

Nana comes over to help us almost every day that Donny works and she is a HUGE blessing.  Without her, I think we would NEVER have clean clothes to wear. 

The "big kids", as we refer to them, are doing well.  TJ will be graduating from Kindergarten at our church school next week.  I am so thankful for all he has learned there.  He can read!!!!  It's so exciting. ( It also marks the end of an era as Donny and I can no longer spell words we don't want them to hear.  Oh, well.  Time for Donny to learn sign language or for us to brush up on our Spanish. ) I will be home schooling TJ for first grade.  We are excited, but I'm also a little nervous.  I know God's grace will be there.  

Elaina continues to be a good helper with the babies and she is becoming more "girly" every day.  This year, she took dance classes (tap and ballet).  She loved it and we all enjoyed watching her dance like a princess in her recital.  The highlight, was when all the girls in her class danced on stage with their daddys.  Sooooo precious.  (Donny did great and had to restrain himself so as not to steal his daughter's thunder :)

Zac is growing up before my very eyes.  He is talking so much now, and in sentences.  He is quite, what's the word, ACTIVE.  He definitely keeps us on our toes.  He is full of energy and always exploring.  He loves to pretend spatulas are guitars and any stick and flat surface becomes a drum.

Phew.  I'm tired just recounting all these fun facts about my kiddos.  I'm going to try to upload some pics too, so everyone can see how much they've grown. 

Happy 4th Birthday Elaina!

I can't believe my sweet girl is 4 today.  We were so surprised when she was born (we didn't find out what she was, but were both convinced she was a boy).  For some reason, I really had it in my mind that I was going to have all boys.  Well, almost.  Anyway, Elaina has been our special little "princess" as Granny calls her.

Elaina is finally interested in "girlie" things, which makes me happy.  (I was afraid she was going to be a tomboy like me.)  She loves princesses and ponies and going to dance class.  She's a little more shy than her big brother and it usually takes her a little while to warm up to people, but once she does, watch out.  She likes to talk and play and sing and dance.  

She is LOVING being a big sister to the twins.  She's been a great helper, bringing me diapers, wipes, etc...  I'm sure she's only going to get better at this.

Happy birthday sweet girl.  We love you! 

Reunion

We are all under the same roof for the first time and loving it.  I will try to post some pictures tomorrow.  For now, we are so excited (and maybe a little nervous).

It will be hard for me not to call my friends in the NICU for support (although i'm sure they wouldn't mind).

It's time to get used to "Double Time"   :)

Still Waiting

Caleb's sleep study went well.  It actually didn't show reflux.  However, in the past two days he has had 6 heart rate drops.  So, now we are waiting again.  It looks like he will have to come home on a monitor, so he won't have to go 6 days without any episodes, but he does have to have a few days with fewer and less drastic episodes.  We are doing OK with this, but it is obviously disappointing.  We are trying to focus on the fact that, overall, he is healthy and he will eventually grow out of this.

We really are thankful for all of the people God has been using to bless us.  It has been wonderful not to have to worry about dinners.  I can't imagine what we would be eating the evenings I've been trekking down to the hospital.  Thank you to all who have been making us meals and especially to Bri for taking on the task of organizing this.  We definitely feel God's love and care for us. Thank you to our family and friends for being God's vessels of care for us.

Sleep Study

They just inserted the tube in Caleb's esophagus for his sleep study.  It's supposed to last about 12 hrs.  This test should determine if the heart rate drops are from prematurity or reflux.  Hopefully, we will know the results by tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday.  

We are really enjoying Luke and I will try to post pictures soon.  (I'm too busy cuddling him to stop to take a picture:)

Caleb

We are again battling discouragement.  After 3 days without any heart rate drops, Caleb had a significant one this  morning.  We were really thinking he would be home by Monday, but now he has to go another 5-7 days without one before he could possible come home.  The doctor now thinks it could be my milk causing the problem, so he will only be doing the Alimentum formula for the next couple of days.  If he does this, then he will stick to just formula, which saddens me, but I want to do whatever it takes for him to come home.  If doing only formula doesn't stop the heart rate drops, then they will do a sleep study, which is not comfortable for him.

So, while we are thoroughly enjoying having Luke home with us, we also long to have Caleb home.  Please pray that the doctors can solve the problem soon and then we will find comfort from the Lord as we wait.

Luke's Home!!!!!!!!!

I'll have to post more later, but Luke is home and we are so happy!!!!  The kids are loving their new little brother.  Zac keeps looking at him and laughing.  He also keeps saying "I want to hold it".  Elaina has been at Luke's side since we walked through the door.  She can't wait to hold him.  TJ is the proud big brother and happy to have Luke home.  I'll post pictures later.  For now we are enjoying having one of our precious babies home.  (Hopefully, Caleb will be joining us soon too.)