April

April was a good month as well. We ventured out a bit more than before, taking them on their first shopping experience along with a couple more dinners. This was good for us to because we were trapped in our house for six months! Though we are glad we did for the health of the girls, we are up and rolling and have been cleared by ALL doctors to do what we would like. We are on a strict schedule still, which is the only way Shawnah can take care of both of them and work full time.

Easter was great. We got to go to Shawnah's grandparents and had a good time. The girls looked so cute and were really good.

Ms. Kandis is a picture taker and poses for the camera every time!

Kenedi just likes to play, so we just happen to catch her at the right time!

We also got to go on a little Road Trip down to Las Cruces to visit TJ's sister just after she had her second baby, Makena. This was the first trip where we stayed in a hotel room. It worked great and it was comforting for future travel. We took pictures with all of the grandkids... LeslieAnn is the four year old holding Makena, with the girls below.

The girls are getting stronger and more daring. They are getting up on their knees and doing some rocking back and forth. Kenedi is a couple steps ahead of her sister, but Kandis isn't far behind. She just likes to watch her sister figure it out, and than she just does it. It is quite cute how they play together so well.

They are both doing pretty good on foods. Trying new things. Peaches/Apricots have been our only problems, causing diaper rash. Besides that they are doing good and almost ready to jump to more.

March

March was a good month for the girls. We ventured out a bit more to the public. The flu scare was down, so we were able to go out to dinner to smaller restaurants and we went to friend's homes a bit more.

The girls also got to hang out with us outside more, because the weather was warmer.
Here are pics of the girls with their stuffed animals that we had in the NICU. Size wise, they are huge!

They are loving the playful time we have with them and their smiles and giggles are becomeing a sound we hear often in the house.

Every Wednesday, Shawnah would get together with a couple friends who stay home as well and they walk either neighborhoods or drive to parks to walk. Here are all the kids from one of those days... From Left to Right : Bransyn (Shawnah's Cousin's Boy), Kenedi, Kandis, Sophia (Another NICU baby and new great friends of ours).

St. Patricks Day Pics were fun. The girls loved all the props!

All in all, it was a good month!!!!

February

We first off want to thank everyone for being so patient with us on posting info and pictures. I am sure waiting is not easy. We are also thankful for the support and love that you all have given the girls, whether it is directly or by prayers. We appreciate each of you for all you do. Though this journey is technically just beginning, we feel that the hard part is over and the worry and scare has past. During this painful and scary process, we want to thank you for being a part of it and for supporting and comforting us through it all. We love each and every one of you very much. Now on to the updates...
I'll start with the most important... the girls both got approved for the RSV shot back in December. This is a shot that only a small number of infants are approved for and because we were premature, we were included. The problem was that our insurance would not cover the shot. So, we figured we would just purchase the shot ourselves, making payments or whatever it took to get it. We then learned that the shot had to be paid for in advance for all four of the doses the girls would receive. Intern, we needed $1,700 per shot, x 4 shots... each. It was just too much, so had to pass on the shot.

So, this miracle worker at our Dr. office did a bunch of research for us and was able to find a grant that a company offers for people in our situation. This grant covered this shot. So, we were than able to receive the shot. We got our first dose on February 9th and another dose on March 9th. This was very exciting news. This has made us not be so particular and protective and it gave us a little freedom as well. We also got the second dose of the flu shot, which helped as well.

The girls turned 7 months on February 4th and our Dr. advised us to start on the process of solid foods. Because we have always had rice cereal added into their milk or formula, we skipped by the cereal and went right to vegetables. This was a site. The pictures below show the first time out. They both seems to like the solid foods, but took a bit to get going with the eating routine. Though we have only had one issue (carrots gave Kandis bad diaper rash), we are still working on the process of adding one food at a time, still only feeding it once a day. The first week, again, was carrots, than we tried sweet potatoes (which they loved), and then green beans and squash. They seem to be doing good with all of them.

The girls really like their baths...

Because of the shots, we were more daring and got out of the house a bit. Our first outing, we went to a little Baby Boutique that we wanted to check out and then ended up at Shawnah's Grandparents house, which we then went to dinner at a nice restaurant with them along with Shawnah's Uncle, Aunt and Cousin. It was a good first outing! We then went back down to the lake and stayed in the houseboat with the girls. The second outing was with TJ's parents at a nice place down there. The girls also got to be babysat by Grandpa while we went to a friend's wedding reception. We had fun and it was nice to get out. We have done a couple more dinners with family and friends and it is nice to have a change of routine from time to time.


Shawnah's sister Krystah with the girls...

Kenedi and Kandis with their Great-Grandpa!

Kandis Tayler is up to 13 pounds now and Kenedi Rhyan is weighing in at 13.5 pounds. They are eating like crazy. On top of the solids once a day, they are still getting five bottles a day with 7 ounces of formula in it. We have cut down in the rice in formula as well, because they are getting some in their solid mix. We tried cutting down on the Previcid again, but no luck, so we are just sticking it for a bit longer.

They still are sleeping good through the night with at about 10 hours per night. The schedule we set them on works great. It allows the extra time for work and yet we have tons of fun playing with the girls.

Kandis loves her toys...

Kenedi is getting to be a pro at the jump-a-roo...

They started to move onto their sides more towards the end of last month and now we are working on the rolling over to their stomachs. Kenedi could roll from her stomach to her back for a couple weeks, than all of a sudden she rolled from her back to her stomach, just this week. (Shawnah is now in trouble... the girls on the move!) Kandis isn't far behind. She can just barely get from her stomach to her back, but doesn't really understand going to her stomach.

A couple days before Valentine's Day, my cousin Jessica and I got together and took pictures of the girls and her little one, Bransyn. (Not sure why the pics won't upload up and down so sorry you will just have to turn your head!!! )

Bransyn is 10 months old and is a really good kid too.

Kenedi

Kanids

Look, Shawnah even has a little pink mixed in there! (Only because they match each other.)

Kenedi got her first zit, right under her right eye...

The shirts say.. "Don't Make Me Call Grandpa" Shawnah's Dad got them for his grand-daughters!

Tummy Time...

January

Hello all,


The girls are doing amazing and we have had a good January. Somehow, it has flown right by. They are truly happy babies and get very excited when Mommy or Daddy come around. They are still hesitant to strangers, but it is understandable because we do not leave the house. We are still being careful of everything and thankfully none of us have gotten sick. We have steered clear of all the flues and such so far.

Kenedi and Kandis are still sleeping though the night and we sometimes can even go up to 12 hours. Mostly they are getting between 8 and 10. We are getting them set on a schedule that we like so we can survive as well. It also allows Shawnah to have some time to get some work done, both for the company as well as the house. It also allows us to have some time in the evening for each other, which is much needed.

The girls got the first round of the flu shots this month, which comforts us a bit. We still are very careful about going anywhere and who comes up to the house. They are growing like crazy and according to our scale, the girls are up to 11.5 lbs for Kandis and 12 lbs for Kenedi. They are eating well and seem to enjoy their food. They are up to 6 ounces for every feeding. We are down to feeding 5 times a day. The medication decrease for the Previcid was not successful. We ended up play around with the doses a bit to find the perfect match and we are sticking to that for a bit now. Without the medication, their reflux is just terrible and they are not happy, which makes us frantic and stressed. So it is a win/win for everyone!

Here are some January pictures for all to enjoy....

The girls love their baths! Top is Kenedi in the pink towel and bottom is Kandis in yellow!

They are starting to push themselves up slightly when they have their "Tummy Time". Kandis is getting a bit better than Kenedi, but Kenedi is determined! Top is Kenedi and Bottom is Kandis.

Do they act like twins or what!

Naked babies! They love the freedom of nothing around or on them... Look at those HUGE milk bellies!

They love their jumpers! Kenedi is in the white one, Kandis in the green. They are a bit small for the jumpers still, so we have to put a box underneath! They love to hang out in these and are starting to figure out what is going on with these contraptions! Below - Kandis checking everything out. Kenedi is amazed by the new toys!

We do hope all of you enjoy and please keep checking in for new updates on the girls. Sorry that it takes so long in between times.

New Years

I forgot to post the New Year's Pictures....

Hope everyone had a great and safe New Years. Here is to a year of growing. Can you believe that is 2010? What gets me is that it has been 10 years since the Y2K scare. AMAZING! Another decade has begun and should be a good one!

Holiday Update

The girls are doing amazing! We have so far succeeded to not get sick and bring it home to them. We are still going to stay cautious most likely through March. Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and help. It all means so much, more than we can express. Please let us know if you did not receive a Christmas card with some great pictures of the girls and I can get one out to you.
The girls got off Oxygen at the end of November and beginning of December. It is a great feeling to have them able to be off the cords. They really were getting in the way around the house. We went to the doctor for the heart and lungs on Wednesday and he has cleared us to not have to go back to see him. So, their heart and lungs are up to par and good to go! Very exciting to hear.

Their eating habits are improving and they are starting to take between 4 and 6 ounces per feeding. A huge jump from what we started with! They are eating us out of house and home! We are completely off breast milk and on to formula, even on some special formula mostly for their reflux issue and their weight gain. They are down on the reflux medication, as of Wednesday, so that is a good sign that they are growing out of that. They seem to like the formula. It was just too hard for Shawnah to keep up with breast feeding because they would not take her, just pumped milk in the bottle. It was too much to have to feed both girls and pump, while still working full time and keeping the house up. Especially with wanting to spend fun time with the girls too.

The girls turned six month old on Monday! We can not believe that it has been six months since the little angels came into our lives. As of Wednesday at the doctor, Kenedi weighs 11 pounds even and Kandis is at 10 pounds 10 ounces. They are growing like crazy! They are doing good on the growth chart too. We go in next week for their next sets of shots, which isn't fun, but it does mean they are getting big and doing good! Plus, they are sleeping at least 8 hours each night for almost two weeks now! It is amazing to have sleep again!

The holiday's were amazing for us. We even got out of the house a little bit. After making sure everyone was healthy, we went to Shawnah's grandparent's house on Christmas Day. It was nice to get out and for everyone in the family to see the girls. Then the day after Christmas we packed up the whole house and went down to the lake and stayed on Dad's boat. TJ's family then came down that evening and we had dinner with them. The boat worked out so perfectly for the girls and they seemed to like it. The ate and slept more than being at home. Plus, it was nice to get away and enjoy one of our favorite places. Thanks to TJ's parents, we even got to go out one of the nights with some friends!

Here are some holiday photos for you to enjoy:

Santa came to visit us!

Ms. Kandis is happy to be snuggled up...

Ms. Kenedi all snuggled up...

Santa and the girls. Santa is actually Shawnah's Dad!

Kenedi is not so sure about what she is doing in there!

Kandis is pretty comfy in her box!

The best gift anyone could ever ask for!

Our family!