The Boys First YouTube Video

We had a lot of fun with the boys last night and Jared made a cute little video....

Our Little Leprechauns

Sorry it has taken me so long to update with our exciting news. We are busy bees going to the hospital every three hours to feed the boys and then coming home to nap before doing it all over again. It's definitely tiring but those cute little guys are totally worth it!! We don't go to every feeding, but we try to be there for as many as we possibly can. Both grandparents have also filled in to hold their sweet grandsons...I'm sure neither one of them minds. ;o)

Our exciting news is that Carter is now out of his isolette also! The boys are now sharing a "big boy crib" and are able to regulate their own body temperatures. They have made so much progress over the past 6 days! It's hard to believe that they will be a week old tomorrow. We are hoping to be able to bring them home sometime late next week/weekend but they need to continue to gain weight and maintain their feedings, feed on their own, etc. Keep those prayers coming that they will continue to progress as quickly as possible. We just can't wait for the day that the four of us are able to leave the hospital together as a family....what an awesome feeling that will be! I'll continue to update pictures and their progress as much as I can in the coming days.

Wordless Wednesday

Those Sweet Baby Boys

I was going to do several posts of everything that has gone on since last Thursday, but I figured an abridged version would be a lot easier. So here ya go!

On Thursday night both Coleman and Carter were put into separate isolettes to help maintain their body temperatures. They were hooked up to heart monitors, oxygen saturation monitors, and given feeding tubes to make sure they were receiving the right amount of milk and not having to burn calories to work for it. The boys did great and I was able to start trying to nurse them Friday morning. It took a little bit of coaxing and a lot of energy on their part, but eventually we were all on the same page and they were able to receive the tube feeding and my milk as an added bonus. Since they were in separate isolettes and in separate stalls in the special care nursery we were allowed to have four visitors (2 per stall). Sometimes we were able to hold the boys after they nursed, and sometimes they needed to be put back right away to maintain their body temperature...it just depended on how things were going. Both grandparents were able to hold the boys and love on them...these sweet boys are already spoiled by their Nana, Poppy, Lovey, and Bigpoppa!






The boys did great all weekend but were starting to show signs of jaundice and on Monday Coleman had to be put under the lights to help his liver function properly. The neonatal doctor told us he would likely be under there for 3-4 days, but Coleman had other intentions and was out the very next day! Carter followed suit and was put underneath the lights all day Tuesday with the expectation that he would be under there for a few days also and was out first thing this morning. I've included some pictures of them underneath the lights, they had to wear "shades" to keep their eyes protected. Carter managed to take his off three times by himself! I think we have a sneakster on our hands...I'm SO proud of our boys and the amazing growth they have shown so far! On Tuesday both boys were also able to have their IV's removed which was a huge feat since their poor little arms were all taped up and the heaviness of the board they had to use to support their little arm to do so.

I was discharged on Monday evening and it was really tough for Jared and I to leave the boys at the hospital and come home without them. Mom and Dad decorated the house for us and it was so incredibly sweet that I couldn't stop crying. I can't wait until the boys are here and we're able to show them off to everyone! Since I've been discharged Jared and I are able to sleep in our own bed, which is nice, but we go to the hospital all day long to nurse and see the boys as much as possible. Our day starts at 5:30 in the morning up there and ends around 10pm. Between all of that I am pumping milk to bring to them and Jared is getting back into his routine at work. It's been a crazy, tiring few days but seeing those boys every three hours makes it completely worth it.


Last night our awesome special care nurse, Michelle, took our first family photograph! Since the boys were in separate stalls and isolettes we were never able to hold them together because of all of the wires and dividers, but she brought Coleman over to Carter's side and took on the role as our professional photographer. It was such a sweet and amazing moment for Jared and I to finally have our whole family together.






This post is a long one, so I'll do a separate one about our exciting news today later this evening.

The Boys Have Arrived!!

All day on Thursday I was feeling a bit crampy and just didn't feel well. I decided to call our OBGYN just to have everything checked out and to ease my mind, especially since Jared was out of town in Charlotte for business. After my exam, my doctor determined that I was having contractions and that he wanted to send me over to the labor and delivery unit to have them checked. Of course I was extremely nervous since Jared was out of town, but once he got the call that I was heading to the hospital he hit the road to get back home as soon as possible. Kara and Monte, two of our amazing friends here, came to stay with me while we I was waiting to see the doctor.

Once I was admitted to the hospital, Dr. Wylcloft came to check me and thought that I was not leaking amniotic fluid but that she would keep me overnight just for observation. This was a great relief to me since I was only 34 weeks and 1 day long, but little did we know that this was not the plan that Coleman and Carter had in mind. I started to have some pretty severe contractions and trouble talking through them and felt like I just needed to get out of the bed, so I went to use the restroom. Kara helped me to the restroom and stood outside to make sure everything was okay, and sure enough as soon as I stood up my water broke! The nurse also happened to walk in at that exact moment in time and witnessed it as well and hurried to get our doctor. Kara is such an awesome friend and blessing to us and I don't know what I would've done without her being there! When she came back and checked me I was 90% effaced and dilated, so she began to get on the phone to get the c section moving.

Thankfully, Jared came within minutes of my water breaking and was able to comfort me through the contractions as they became more intense and as my epidural was put in. I was so happy just to have my sweet husband there and to be able to hold his hand! It's amazing how much comfort and love I have for that man!!

At 11pm they wheeled me in for my c section and I was surprisingly not extremely anxious. I think I still hadn't quite wrapped my head around the fact that our family was about to grow by two. Jared went back and got on the outfit he was to wear and then took a seat next to my head and held my hand. Coleman was the first to be delivered at 11:29pm weighing 5lbs 6oz and measuring 18 inches long. Carter was not far behind weighing 5lbs 2oz and also measuring 18 inches long. We were able to only see the boys for a quick minute before they were whisked away to be assessed and cleaned up. Aside from marrying my best friend, I can't think of a happier moment in my life.

Jared was able to go to the special nursery and watch the boys have their first bath while I was recovering. Around 5:30 Friday morning I was able to be wheeled down to the nursery and see our sweet boys for the first time. I was instantly in love! Here are some pictures of our BEAUTIFUL baby boys.

Less than a month to go!!!

I am now 34 weeks and we have less than a month to go until our April 7th due date! I had an appointment today and the boys heartbeats sounded great. The "top bunk" is still in the breech position and was a busy bee when our obgyn was trying to hear his heartbeat but he finally settled down enough to let her get a clear reading. The hospital is going to call me this week to schedule my C-Section which is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time...I think it makes it all "real". Obviously we will cancel the C-Section if the top bunk decides to turn head down, but we need to go ahead and get it on the books in case he decides that he is comfortable where he is. I have gone back and forth as to which one I would prefer, but to be honest I could care less as long as these sweet boys of ours come out happy and healthy!



Here is a picture of my gigantic belly this week! I can definitely tell that the belly is growing outward and am getting more and more uncomfortable with each day, but to feel those sweet boys moving makes it all worth it. I think the most difficult part has been getting in and out of bed and trying to sleep for more than 30 minutes without having to change positions or go to the bathroom! So far I have gained 64lbs!!!! My obgyn wants me to keep on truckin' but I am not sure how much bigger I can honestly get. I have been fortunate in regards to swelling...my face is a little swollen and I have decided to forgo my wedding rings because my hands are a little swollen and ache pretty badly, but I am able to still wear my shoes and my ankles are not swollen at all...hopefully it will all stay that way!



We have gotten both of the carrycots in and put them on our stroller...I can't wait until Coleman and Carter are in there!

Almost 33 Weeks!

We have reached a big milestone for twins by making it past the 32 week mark! This means that Coleman and Carter are also now able to be be delivered at the hospital we want them to instead of at Duke or at UNC due to their level of NICU's. Way to go guys!!

I am tracked out and able to stay home and put my feet up during the day which sounds like it would be a dream come true, but it can be quite boring after a few days so I find myself going to lunch with friends and running errands to stores that have the electric cart I can use. If you've never ridden in an electric cart, you definitely should! It was awkward at first but now it's a lot of fun.

We had our appointment with our specialist today and the boys are doing great! The bottom bunk is still head down and is weighing just under 4lbs, and the top bunk has turned himself to the breech position and is just over 4lbs. I can DEFINITELY feel the difference as these boys grow and move around in my belly, and you can definitely see them rocking and rolling around in there through my shirt. It's a lot of fun for Jared and I to feel those sweet boys movin' and groovin' all hours of the day.

Hopefully the little guys will stay in there for at least 3 more weeks when they will be "term" for twins, but we would really love it if they'd stay in until their due date on April 7th!!