9 Weeks

 

 Camden and Grey, you are nine weeks old. Camden, you have started to smile. Every once in a while I hear a coo. You manage to scoot quite a distance from where I originally lay you. You are a good eater. And you sleep pretty good too. You are a mellow and laid back baby.

Grey, you are bigger than your brother. You are a mighty eater. I have to supplement and give you a bottle or two of formula to keep you content. Though you like to nurse and some times need to breastfeed before you will settle down to sleep. Once you go to sleep, you sleep soundly. You don't like your car seat. We have to pull over quite frequently to calm you down. You are a very temperamental baby. You arch your back and cry. I think you're colicky and I hope you'll grow out of it. You've started making eye contact and really looking when we talk and sing to you. You get this peculiar look on your face. Or if your pacifier is in your mouth you will stop sucking. We love you my sweet boys. Oh how you round out our family. 

Curly Beginnings

NICU Day 28~ We are Homebound

Life was a bit of a whirlwind once Grey overcame his eating issues and Camden was able to finally hold his own body temperature. 28 days later and we are leaving our little suite in the NICU and going home. It's a bit surreal. We've been operating on autopilot for so long.... What will we do now that you all are home?! We are all so excited to have you home. Especially the big kids at home waiting for you. They haven't been able to see you much in person, but they have given you plenty of virtual kisses through Facetime.

Cailin The 6yr Old

 

Cailin. My little social butterfly. You are willing to be friends with every child. You talk and approach kids nearly every place we go. You're my extroverted and strongly opinionated child. You are a girl that knows what you want and how it should be done. You think you should be engaged and having fun 24hrs of the day. You ask lots of questions and are a thinker. You reason and express your opinion a lot. "Rylie shouldn't get in trouble if it was an accident." You asked your Dad to take you to the library because you needed to take your movie back. When he couldn't because he had to go to work. You asked, "Is him having to work more important than the fact that you could lose your library card if you don't take the movie back on time." You smart smart girl! You shared with me you want to read but just don't want to take the time to actually learn too. Ha! Brilliant and honest to a fault! I'm expecting you to literally take over the world. We love you sweet Girl!!

Bittersweet

 

 Today is the first of school. And its bittersweet for me because on one hand I'm excited for you. I'm happy that you have this opportunity. I'm optimistic about your peers and the future friends you will make. But, and it's a big one, I'm sad that our homeschool journey has come to an end. I'm sad to watch you grow because it all feels so soon that you'll be on your own to discover the world. I also am confident that you are ready. I have watched you prepare for this day and it made me happy the way you took charge the day the summer reading list came in the mail and read every single book. Even the boring ones. I knew then that you were ready. I watched you sort and organize your school supplies in nervous anticipation of your first day. I watched you try on different clothes looking for that "first" day of school outfit. I like the way you humored me and let me take photos and videos even though you thought it was useless because you're not a little kid anymore (those are your words, not that in actually believe it).

You are 15! I called you 14. Ha! Where the heck did that extra year go. You are kind, conscientious, and over all a great kid. You are a good big sister. You adore your sisters, as well as your new baby brothers. Your are very quiet and introspective. You are very responsible. You are respective (most of the time). 

This year we have seen you step up and really help our family out as we went through a crisis of my sickness and pregnancy. We wish you the absolute best big girl!!

She humors me sometimes and lets me take photos. Ha! But she drew the line at taking photos on campus. I was only able to snap this one. When I really wanted to follow her around with camera and record her day!

Crazy Silly Faces

Two silly girls and the faces they can make!

 The End.

NICU Day 11

Camden you came out of the Isolette again. But because of a puking spell and the stress of your increased feeds, you were again put back in the warmer. This time they will slowly wean the temperature down inside. Camden you are 4lb 3oz.

Grey you are doing wonderfully. You lost a little weight in the beginning but now you continue to gain. You are 4lb 13oz.

NICU Day 10- The Day We All Came to Visit

Cailin was so excited to hold you! All day she was practicing and asking questions. Oh the anticipation!

 Me: Rylie what's the baby's name?
 Rylie: Person

 Rylie you were surprisingly gentle with the babies.

 Look at Rylie's latest smile. She closes her eyes and smiles really big when you say cheese.

NICU Day 9- Daddy Time

Daddy held you both for the first time!

NICU Day 8

Camden repeatedly had borderline temperatures, so he was placed back in the isolette. I was a little disappointed, because we've had a lot of good days so far. But I have to remember that NICU life is two steps forward and sometimes one step back.

Good news is Grey you remained in the open crib. You have done great so far. And now you both don't have your IV's any longer. One less connection!

 It works out for me to go to the hospital early in the morning. Your big sister wanted to see you all so bad that she got out of the bed at 5am so we could be at the hospital about 7. She sat and loved on you, Grey. She talked to you and didn't want to put you down. Everyone told me of stories where the older sibling wasn't thrilled that their parents were having more children. That has never been the case with Ariel. She loved you guys and counted down the days and weeks until you could come home.