4 mo. pics

Ha! Well, I'd like to think I'd have more time to write and talk about all the wonderful things these boys are doing these days...but I guess I won't. We are tired, but they are wonderful, precious, growing, fiesty, passionate, clever, tantrum throwing, all smiles, loving little boys and we are blessed.

I wanted to share their 4 mo photo session for those that wanted to see them :) Our photographer is the wonderful Stephanie Pruett and she always does so good!!

Go to www.stephaniepruett.com click on client proofs, and Pinson/Twins for password.

Enjoy! ANd Merry Christmas :)

On the Road again....

"The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:23

The boys are officially 3 weeks old (8/12/11) and will be 36 weeks tomorrow (Sunday). They have changed so much over the past three weeks! And have made incredible strides. At 34 weeks they began to take bottles once a day, then up to twice, etc, and are now taking full bottles at every feeding, and their feeding tubes have been removed! They both moved to open cribs toward the end of their 34th week, beginning of the 35th and are doing very well at holding their temperatures. Preemies battle 'spells' where they forget to breathe or keep their heart beating when they're doing other things such as eating (normal) or sleeping (not so normal). Both have had these spells, but thankfully, neither have had large numbers of them. These 'spells' are something they grow out of as they get bigger.

As James and I went to visit them today, we got the GREAT news that we were within a couple of days of bringing them home! By the end of our time there today, Joe had been released to 'room in' with us tomorrow night, with him continuing to hold steady overnight tonight! So, if I call tomorrow and he's still doing great, we spend the night with him in a room with us, and the nurses are just available if we need them - essentially a trial run :) . SO exciting! The doctor said today as well that if Miles continues to do well, with no spells, we get to bring him home on Wednesday!! It's just so humbling to watch it all work, and know that we have been entrusted to take care of these two precious boys, and humbling to know that He thinks we can do it! Ahh! What an amazing story God has given them to use for His glory already in their life. He has completely given them health and strength, and He gets the glory for it. I am just humbled, no other words to express it. Although we're still going to be taking it one day at a time because of the overwhelming nature of it all, we trust that we will have the love, patience, support for each other, sense of calm, and ability to handle each cry, bottle refusal, and diaper change with a smile of our face and thankfulness in our heart that they were born so beautiful and perfect 7 weeks early. What a blessing that we had no control over. Pics to come of their car ride home!!!

Introducing....

"For these boys I prayed; and the Lord has given me my petition which I have asked of Him." I Samuel 1:27

Joseph Blane and Miles Warner arrived in this world Friday morning at 10:27 and 10:29, weighing in at 4lb even and 3lb 13oz! James and I are two proud (tired!) parents!! (although I'm not sure it has sunk in yet!) They are absolutely beautiful, and doing incredibley well. Baby J came into the world screaming, with both legs straight out, and Miles made a less boisterous entrance with a few kitten-esque wimpers. I wanted to kinda give an update into their conditions into the NICU more than anything with this post because James and I are doing fine...Im recovering slowly, but moving great, and they are talking about discharging me on Tuesday--although I'm not sure I remember what freedom looks like at this point! So....

When born, Joseph had a little trouble breathing and so was immediately hooked up to a C-Pap (breather over the nose) which he got to move down from on Saturday morning. Joseph and Miles both are wearing the cannela (breathing tubes in their noses) with light oxygen input, meaning that their little lungs are doing great at supporting their bodies on their own. Saturday they were both eating every 6 hours through their eating tube, but today (Sunday) they got moved up to every 3 hours because they were holding the food so well. They get to try eating from bottles by next weekend, when they will have hopfully mastered the swallowing technique :) They also went off antibiotics today, and their oxygen level was again lowered showing their improved lung health! Praises!!

However, we have run into a few trouble spots as well. When we went up to see the boys this morning, we met with their Neonatal Dr to find out that Joseph is anmemic. This stems from me being a negative blood type and the boys both being positive. Essentially, a shot during pregnancy was supposed to help their bodies to build antibodies to fight this off...the only thing the Dr can say is that Joseph might have bled into the placenta in the womb therefore missing his opportunity to form the antibodies to fight the anmemia. Miles however, is fine. For Joseph, this means an increased risk of blood transfusions because his body cannot replenish his blood as quickly. That's also why he is slightly a lighter skin color because he has less blood in his little body. Miles also encountered a slight hiccup today...he had a 'spell' when he was eating. This is what they call it when they actually 'forget' to breathe when they are eating. Essentially his brain was focusing so hard on eating that it forgot to tell the lungs to move and breathe. He did recover himself quickly without the help of the nurses though, which is a great sign. It's a little overwhleming to watch all this unfold...but still so incredible to hear the Drs be so positive about it all. God is in control. He knew when they would be born, and the things they would fight along the way to going home, so all we can do is to continue to pray for these things specifically at the moment.

But their personalities continue to be translated from womb to world...Miles being the ever rambunctious lil man when being monitored in the hospital, continues to heap havoc on the NICU nurses constantly pulling out his tubes and pulling off the heart rate/temperature stickers! He can follow your voice so well with his eyes, as he stays so alert. Joseph is a laid back guy, stretching with arms and legs out, propped up on the blankets, as well as keeping his seemingly constant hiccups, too. We keep getting asked who they look like right now, and we honestly can't tell just yet because of all the tubes. :)

We should be able to hold them within the week, once they get their central line out of their belly buttons. We also get to bring little clothes for them to wear too, once they reach over 1900 grams! Woo! As far as take home time goes, it could be anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, so we are prayerful for the shortest time to healthy baby boys.

Thanks to each and every one of you for your prayers, love, support, texts, calls, messages, etc...and if we didn't get back to you, know that your words still reached us and meant the world to us, and essentially have got us through this crazy beautiful weekend! God has been so faithful and He has heard all of our prayers. He will continue to use them to bring Him glory!

We'll keep everyone updated as we can, and much, much , MUCH love to each of you! Joseph and Miles can't wait to meet you!

Joseph :)

Miles :)

Goooooooaal!

So, we made it. Holy crap.

Overwhlemed is an understatement at this point I think! We have been so blessed beyond what we deserve or expected and are just completely humbled. Everyone's outpourings of prayers and support have got us to this point -- we cannot thank each and every one of you enough. James and I are doing our best to relax and not stress tonight....so I really just wanted to give a quick 'hooray', say we are scheduled for 10am tomorrow morning (although there is a surgery before us so it may not start right then...), Im praying I can get out of the bed a.s.a.p. to get back upstairs to see those sweet boys, and that I can handle the needles! We'll give an update tomorrow with pictures hopefully as we get to meet them, barring no serious problems or complications when they're born. God is good and faithful - so we are trusting in Him!

Much love - see ya on the flip side ;)

10 days to go

"Be exalted in your strength Lord, we will sing and praise your might."
Psalm 21:13

Hard to believe we'll have reached our goal of 32 weeks on Sunday, and 5 days later we will get to meet these precious boys! As of right now, we are tentatively looking at Friday, July 22nd for the boys to come into this world, barring no complications between now and then. Doctors are saying they are beautiful still so far and we are continually humbled! In last Tuesday's ultrasound the boys made a quick and easy 8/8 score on their biophysical profile (measuring fluid, breathing and rapid limb movement)...which is so encouraging that they are preparing themselves for their entrance into this world. :) In today's ultrasound we got a second set of great news...Baby A now weighs 4lb 4oz and Baby B is 3lb 13oz...both slightly ahead of schedule! So amazing to watch it all work! So, I'm trying to be content for the next 10 days and try and get some sleep. I'm still feeling relatively good, minus the nauseousness (from lack of room to digest food) and numbness when I sleep in the hips (which I hear is pretty common!). Continually praying for health, growth, and maturity as we reach the 'birthday.' The pic is their take home outfits, for those of you who haven't seen them. :) Really we are just full of praises, and the last thing on the list is for a clean, responsible, loving home environment I can leave them in once I go back to work--so if anyone knows of anyone, let me know!!!

Can't believe we're almost there. Hope each and every one of you are doing equally well.
Much, MUCH love to you all!

James, Jess & the boys

T-H-I-R-T-Y weeks!!!!!

Woop!

30.1 weeks. Pumped. Goal! At 30 weeks the risk of deficiencies dramatically decreases, and God is so good to have let the boys continue to grow, mature, kick, hiccup, and get chubbier in Mama P's belly! The boys are still looking fantastic on the HR monitors, with no decelerations (signs of entaglement) and we are now talking about decisions on when to take them or to let them keep cooking. Essentially, at 32 weeks they are as matured as a 40 week baby, but weight and some actions such as breathing have not been properly mastered. However, lungs, body temp, brain, etc are the same. With the blessing of going as well as everything has, James and I are weighing the option of trying to go an extra week for the babies to mature and grow just a little more. After that point, the risk for entaglement goes up so much, that it is generally agreed upon by the docs that its better to go ahead and take them out because of the risks of losing one with the mono-mono status we've got. So, at least 2 more weeks, Lord willing, hopefully 3, and then we'll have two precious little boys!!!! Can you say: overwhelming? ha...but so very exciting.
I am feeling very large and in charge these days, and James says I'm getting bigger by the day... which is a good thing right!? Over the past two weeks we've had two AMAZING showers here at the hospital by all our friends and families, and we have been tremendously blessed - and guys, I pray daily that you are blessed back ten-fold for your gifts to us! James says there is just stuff EVERYWHERE in the house - and I am looking SO forward to going home soon and getting to organize it all and do just a little part of getting the nursery ready for them to come home to! Literally can't wait. Plus, I must admit, as I am entering my 6th week here at the hospital, all the interesting 'meats' they serve you are very much getting old, quick. ha! But, still impressed and blessed by the care we get everyday.
The ultrasound (nearly 2 weeks ago) gave us a great update on the boys: Baby A 2lbs 12 oz, and Baby B 2 lbs, 8 oz. which is in the 50th percentile for their gestational age. :) Nurses say they grow about 1/2 lb each week after 28 weeks, so in our next growth July 12th (next Tuesday) we are hoping we'll see two almost 4 pounders in there!! And then with delivery another week to week and a half after that, I am very hopeful for their birth weight!

Here in a bit, I'm planning on going out to watch the Riverfront fireworks here from the hospital, the nurses say you can actually get a pretty good view, which I'm looking forward to! My sweet husband has spend his entire long weekend here with me and I finally sent him home this afternoon for him to rest....although he says he sleeps Ok on the plastic pull-out couch, I am doubtful ;)

Miss you all tremendously and can't wait to see you all soon!

Much love and many prayers,

James, Jess & the boys

28 down - 4 to go

"If you trust that my plans are to prosper you and not to harm you, you can relax and enjoy the present moment." Jeremiah 29:11

28 weeks! We've made it to and past the latest goal. At 27 weeks need for ventilator risk goes way down, and we're a week past it! Our next goal is 30 weeks, when risks for any developmental deficiencies go down. We are continually amazed at the strength and wellness of the babes, especially when we are considered the 'highest high risk patient' on the floor! (says Nurse Michelle!) God is so good. At the ultrasound this week, still no knots or tangles, and as the boys get bigger the room to create thoseknots technically goes down, but they still run the risk of looping and kinking, essentially like a hose pipe. :) But, we're trusting all will remain great... So far still no bed rest either, although I did have to go on a week's worth of contraction medicine, as I was having 8 in a hour...however, they worked, were causing some major headaches, and so they took me off of them - I was incredibly excited about that!! It's hard to imagine we only have 4 weeks left until the ultimate 'goal' of 32 weeks, where, during that week we will be scheduled for our C-section. It's almost as if James and I haven't quite wrapped out minds around it all....that yes, the hopital stay will be over in 4 weeks (!), but we'll also have TWO babies then. Just hard to imagine and merge those two deadlines together. James had an incredible shower this week at his work, where I was 'Skyped' in to watch it all - so cool! We have been blesed beyond belief and know that even the prayers for after the babies birth will also be provided. For the upcoming ultrsound on Tuesday, we get another growth update, and so we're hoping that the boys have continued to remain 'plump' and are growing at a good, healthy rate. The past three weeks have truly gone by so quickly, and its hard to believe I'm almost halfway through my stay here. I've finished the boys bedding, read a few books, and I'm thinking of starting a quilt with some leftover fabric James found for me at the house. :) I cannot say enough how much I appreciate and love the company of my nurses who truly show their love for their jobs, and for the doctors' insight, jokes, patience, and wisdom as well. We have been blessed with incredible care. Thanks again to all of you who continue to stop by, keep me company, pray with me and for us as a growing family. My husband as well deserves his own thank you, as he is dealing with much more stress than I can ever imagine with balancing me, babes, doctors, work, house, Nora, etc...I am just humbled by the love and support that continues to be poured upon us. We are trusting in the Plan.

Much, much love!!! J, J, M, & J (---Natalie that's for you!)

1 week down!

"Consider it all joy, my brethen, when you encounter various trials..." James 1:2
Finishing up the first week in the new hotel, and I must say its been going very well so far. My always intelligent husband made a comment about how the days go by slow but the weeks will go by fast, and I completely agree with this statement! I've definitely gotten bored here and there but I can't believe a week has already past.
Our Ultrasound went great, and the boys are measuring 2 lb even and 1lb 13 oz, which according to the tech is fantastic! Woohoo! My monitoring is still three times a day for an hour (where they listen to the heart rates) and they continue to be boys (fighting each other) but have incredibly strong HRs. I have also realized I'm having contractions, but that is just normal pregger stuff from what I understand. The way I see it, everything is divinely great and normal right now, but it's just we are so much more aware of everything 'abnormal' because that's why we are here - to be monitored and make sure these boys come out perfect!
Friday was our 5-year anniversary, and although not ideal to spend it here, with armbands on and in a wheelchair (!), my sweet husband went above and beyond and brought Amerigos (our first date), dessert, and drove me around all night - even past the nursery so we could gawk on newborns screaming. So fun!
Saturday we met with the NICU team upstairs and they showed us the different stages of babes should ours be born tomorrow versus if they make it to the desired 32 weeks. The biggest shock to me was their relative size, and how sweet and small they were--literally the size of my palms some of them. One we saw was born at 12 oz, and is still trucking strong at 1 1/2 lbs now. Although overwhelming, the detail and information the team gave to us about what to expect was incredible. The doctor was fantastic and put us at so much ease, knowing we are already past a large hurtle and if they continue to progress as they are, we should have no problem making it to their goal. We are so blessed to have such humbling care around us.
Sorry this was lengthly and long, but thanks to everyone this week who have texted, called, emailed, came by and just PRAYED for these boys. We know there is still much to overcome, but we also trust all of it in the Hands that none can match. We consider it a JOY to be apart of.

Much love!

Welcome to the, uhhum, hotel

Officially been admitted for about 24 hours at this point, and everything is going remarkably well. Admitting yesterday was a little overwhelming because of the lack of communication and expectations from our Drs., but was soon explained when our precious nurses saw how pathetic I reacted to the news of having to be on 24-hour monitoring, only being allowed out in a wheelchair, confined to my room, etc.... Needless to say I was much happier to find out the 24 hour monitoring was just for the first 24 hours (heart rate belts hooked up to get a general reading and understanding of how babies are doing - me being completely still) and that after that I still have to be in a wheelchair but I am allowed to go wherever I want, even outside, as long as I have someone I can bait to take me :). The HR belt monitor is down to 3 times a day for an hour each, an ultrasound a week, and general blood pricking throughout the week as well.

Dad visited for a few hours today and we went for a stroll to the atrium to get some fresh air. Mom is coming tomorrow with homemade spaghetti! Tomorrow I can also start sewing to fill my time. God is so good....all reports so far have been "the babies are perfect!" "the boys are healthy!" and that I am doing great as well, even though I am having small contractions throughout the day/night. Since the boys are now viable, our next goal is to get to 27 weeks, where they meet another plateau as far as growth, and then we shoot for 32. Everyone here is sweet, helpful, and great to talk with. Although not ideal, I am blessed with incredible care. God is in ultimate control - an incredibly humbling experience!

3.5 weeks to D-day

We had an ultrasound yesterday that put us at ease, and we were again amazed at God's amazing care and support! So humbling at the miracle we have been given! The boys are doing well, growing like crazy, and so far not entangled. The doctor said I will be admitted some time during the first week in June, which is nice to have a few days to breathe, organize, and plan after school's out. :) As of now, I'm just enjoying being kicked quite a bit.

---Oh and it looks like it will be around mid-July when we meet them :) Apparently they won't let me go much past that...whew!

Twins a'comin

Hi friends!

I just wanted to touch base with you all again and give you an update, and ask for many prayers. James and I went to the High-Risk parionatologist ultrasound on Wed morning to check the membranes of the babes (essentially if they are in one or two sacs). They found they are in one sac together, which makes us mono-amniotic, and about 1 in 60,000 pregnancies, one step below conjoined twins. Mainly this is a risk because the boys can get tangled around each other or the cords because they share the same sac. Although they are both incredibley strong and the same size right now, the biggest danger is the next 4-5 weeks because they are not viable until after 24 weeks of pregnancy. We knew going into the ultrasound, that there was a possibility of much monitoring, but I was very much surprised to find out that after school is out, I will have to be admitted to Centennial Hospital where I will stay until the babies are born (most likely mid-July, unless something goes wrong) for constant monitoring and tests. I am not on bedrest, I just have to be there in case something were to go wrong they can go in immediately and hopefully get everyone out safe. Although not ideal, we know it is for the best. With this type of pregnancy the mortality rate is around 20% because if one dies, then something with the cords and the blood flow causes the other to die very quickly, but this of course goes down once I get into the hospital. We are praying for continuing healthy babes! There is so much technical jargon, so I hope this all made sense! Mainly we're asking for many prayers along the way! And for my sanity in the hospital :) I guess I'll make a few quilts while I'm in there ;)

Much love,