12 Weeks!

The Baby Shower/Pamper Party was a lot of fun. It turned out exactly how I wanted it to be. It was great. Thanks to all who helped out getting it all set up and going. It was perfect! We got some great stuff and had a ton of fun. Thanks to all who came, it was good seeing everyone and having a little relaxation after the past 2 1/2 months of crazy. TJ's sister, Toni, made an amazing cake for the party as well, which turned out so great. It was perfect as well. I'll get my pictures on my computer and post them.

We also got the girls room mostly done. We're still missing a couple things, but we'll get them here soon. Here is what it looks like. TJ did the painting so great. Our good friend Jesse helped do the chair rail and the great canopies over the bed Shawnah found online. It is exactly what we wanted.

The night of the shower, we called the hospital to check in on the girls, and we found out that Kenedi had hit 5 lbs. These past two weeks, they just shot up in size and weight. It is crazy. Kandis took an extra week, but she hit 5 lbs today. So, now we officially can fit in car seats! They are eating like champions, both taking breast feeding good. Kandis is doing better on the bottle feeding. Taking some whole feedings by bottle. Kenedi is slower at learning, but she's working at it.

We ended up not being able to see the girls until Tuesday, which we still played it safe. They both ended up getting a stuffy nose like us anyway! Must have gotten the germs before we started staying away. Sorry girls!

We went to the State Fair and Rodeo on Sunday evening with TJ's parents. Was a lot of fun. We saw Jamey Johnson after the Rodeo, who was terribly boring. He didn't even smile or talk to the audience or nothing. Just sang in his almost monotone voice. Blah. The Rodeo was great though. Plus, Shawnah got her turkey leg, which she craves all year long, and TJ got his fried cheesecake, which is amazing if you've never tried one.

Tonight, we went to the UNM/NM State game. We had VIP passes to the tailgating party put on by Lobo Radio, which was awesome. Free food from Nothin' but Noodles and free beer! Can't go wrong. We only ended up staying until half time, because it was getting so late and we had to be back to bathe the girls, but State ended up winning! Yea!

11 Weeks!

We moved to the West side of the building. Originally it was because they were cleaning floors in the room next to ours and they needed the room. So, we moved to the other side, but then found out that our girls are well enough to stay over there. The West Side of the NICU is not technically the Intensive Care Unit, it is Extensive Care Nursery. This means that they got another upgrade. They got to stay in the "cage" beds, but just moved over. Little more room and close enough together.

They grew some this week. We are at 4 lbs 8 oz with Kenedi and 4 lbs 2 oz with Kandis. They are taking food like crazy and the breast feeding is going well. They also started to take a little bit by the bottle. They seem to like the idea, but can't seem to get the whole swallow and breathe thing down! The oxygen is about the same, still working on getting them to breath heavier.

TJ and I both got sick this week. We planned on taking Thursday and Friday off of work and come home to get ready for our Shower/Pamper party, but didn't get a lot done because we were so sick. Plus this made us unable to go and see the girls. It was really hard not seeing them the past couple days, hopefully we'll get over it so we can go love on them. The Shower/Party is later this evening, I'll let you know how it went next week! So excited and should be fun.

10 Weeks & 1 Day

I know we said we were going to post once a week , but today was a such big day for us!

Shawnah got to breast feed for the first time with Kandis.

They oxygen was turned down enough for her to try it. She is now on 1.25 liters of oxygen, so she was able to try breastfeeding. It was absolutely amazing. Totally worth pumping for this long.

She did so good too. She latched right on and began sucking without a problem. She worked at it for a good 20 minutes. A wonderful step for Kandis.

They tried Kenedi on the bottle today as well and she did great. She took her whole feeding! She had a couple little choking spits, but otherwise, she did wonderful.

Forgot to mention yesterday, the feeding are down to giving them at specific times, making them want the food and not being constant. Kandis is getting 38 ml over a period of 1/2 hour, every 3 hours. Kenedi is the same schedule, but getting 39 ml.

Ten Weeks!

So, this week was a good week for the girls. They both hit 4 lbs!!! Yea. Kenedi was first, of coarse, hitting 4 pounds on Sunday evening and Kandis was on Thursday. They are just trucking along together, just about the same pace!

This was also our first week that we got the girls together. Shawnah got to hold them together and they completely loved it. They felt around and enjoyed each other. Getting to know each other again after two months of being apart.

Then, Kandis got off her ventilator and is on the cannula. Here are both of them together with just the cannula, which give a constant low setting of oxygen. Kandis is doing better on this than sister is. They are both at the same 1.75 liters of oxygen, she caught up to Kenedi quick. Picture is taken today.

The girls were put into the same bed space on Monday as well. They are now closer together, making it easier to hold them both.

We had a great time at the lake last weekend. Was a short trip, but well worth it. We came back Sunday evening late and worked on the baby's room on Monday. Trying to get the house ready for the shower. We went to the Ronnie Milsap concert tonight. It was really good, but short. He doesn't play for long, that is for sure. He was good though.

9 Weeks!

So we decided that we are going to update the blog every week now. The every day thing is hard to keep up with, so once a week should be good.

The girls had a great week. They are growing and growing. They are getting baths every 3 days now, which is so nice. It is Shawnah's favorite time.

Kenedi tried her first bottle on Thursday and did not do well. They are still small, so it wasn't surprising. She can suck like crazy, but she just can't get the suck, swallow and breathe thing going! They are going to wait a week or so and then try it again. We'll see how she does then.

We decided last minute to head down to the lake today. We didn't end up leaving until early afternoon, but we are glad we came. Needed a little break!

2 Months!

Yea! The girls are 2 months old! We are so excited that time is flying fast enough that they are getting so big!

8 Weeks & 1-3 Days

First off, we want to appologize for not keeping up with the blog better. We are just busy and time splits away from us.

We went home again this weekend and even stayed Monday night. TJ's Parents and Sister and Brother-in-law were in town, so we got to spend some time with them. Being home is so nice, makes you really miss it when you're not there. It's just not convenient like the trailer is.

Not too many changes for the girls in the past couple days. They are gaining weight still, constantly. Kenedi is up to 3 lbs 11 oz and Kandis is at 3 lbs 5 oz. They are just going and going. This weight and the fact that she can hold her own temperature (with clothes on) let Kenedi upgrade to a new bed! Instead of the isolate that she was in, she is now in an open air crib. TJ thinks that it looks like something a zoo animal is kept in, but we don't really care, because it's a good sign!

Then, Shawnah was out of the room, and came back to find TJ sitting like this in his chair...

So, she figured he was watching his little girl sleep, because the blankets were still over him and figure he wanted to keep it dark in there for her. So, she let him be for a bit and then remembered that she had her camera. She decided to get a picture of how cute he was with Ms. Kenedi. She figured she'd also sneak in to get his face without him knowing. Little did she know, this is what he was doing...







He was passed out cold! This was taken with the flash on, which he didn't wake up to. She even left him alone for a bit and nothing. Shawnah went and showed all the nurses in the room before he woke up! He's one tired Daddy!