Settling in at Home

We have all survived the last couple of days together.  We had to make a trip to the pediatrician, so the babies could be weighed today.  I am happy to report that they are still gaining weight.  Maren is 6 lb 6 oz, and Owen is 6 lb 2 oz.

Last day in the NICU

Owen

Mom and Owen

Dad and Maren

Maren

Ready to hit the road!

Settling in at Home

Napping in the pack n play

Ready to visit the pediatrician (in adorable matching hats)

Dad helping with pacifiers while mom gets bottles ready

 We have our hands full!

More napping in the pack n play (check out Maren's crazy hair)

The nursery is ready. . .

Owen and Maren are coming home!  Josh and I will be bringing them home tomorrow.  We have had the best experience with the Fairview Southdale NICU, but it will feel amazing to finally bring our little ones home.  Hopefully, they like their new room!

Many people have offered to come hold the babies to give me a break, which I really do appreciate.  I want to be honest, though, and say that I'm not ready for a break yet.  If it takes me a while to take you up on your offer to help, just know that it's simply because I haven't really experienced being a full-time parent yet. Josh and I have spent a lot of time in the NICU with Owen and Maren, but we have had a professional helping us every step of the way.  I am sure that I will be begging for help soon, but right now I am looking forward to adjusting to our new family and tackling every feeding, diaper change, bath and fussy moment that comes our way.

So Close. . .

Maren and Owen are so close to coming home!  They have both passed their car seat trials, meaning they sat in their seats for an hour and a half and kept on breathing the entire time.  They have both also moved from being fed every three hours to cue based feeding.  So far, they both let us know when they are hungry and are taking enough food by bottle to gain weight.  Basically, they are amazing!

Last night, Owen stopped by his sister's crib to say a quick hello.

Two Weeks Old!

Maren and Owen are two weeks old today and have been packing on the ounces!  Maren is 5 lb 9.8 oz, and Owen is 5 lb 5.2 oz.  Their pediatrician says that their last hurdle before leaving the NICU will be taking food by mouth, so they are working on breast and bottle feeding every day.  It wears them out, but they are little troopers! 

They are also good little poopers!  Maren shocked her dad the other night when she very loudly sent an arc of poo from her crib to the floor mid diaper change.  Owen and I were safely on the other side of the room, and happily watched Josh deal with that mess from a distance. 

Owen sound asleep after a bath. 

Maren getting her beauty sleep.

Owen's favorite way to sleep.

Kisses from Maren.

Adorable

Last night, Maren and Owen were being especially adorable!

Maren has mastered holding her own pacifier.  

Sleepy smiles from Owen. 

New Room

Owen and Maren have moved into the twins room in the NICU.  It is so nice to have them in the same space and out of isolettes.  They are both maintaining their body temperatures in cribs and are really starting to gain weight.  Every day, Josh and I are able to jump in and help with more of their care.  Last night, we were able to bathe both babies.  Maren slept right through it, but Owen woke up to let us know that baths are not his thing.  I am working on nursing with both babies, and we plan to begin introducing bottles as well.  Catching onto bottle feeding is a lot easier for babies than nursing and will help them make it home faster, so we are really excited about this next step.

Our new room. 

The other night Maren was making some really grumpy sounds, and we found the source of her frustration.  Our little girl likes to be able to see what's going on around her!

Owen - January 17 

Maren - January 17

Moving into Cribs!

I just found out that both Owen and Maren will be leaving their isolettes and moving into cribs tonight.  This means they are able to regulate their own body temperatures, so it's a big step!

Both babies have little shirts on today and are looking extra adorable!

Owen isn't feeling camera ready today, but I couldn't resist.  

Maren is already fashionable going for the off-the-shoulder look.  

One Week Old

Maren and Owen are one week old today and continue to do really well.  They are both losing a little weight, but not enough to cause concern.  Maren is currently 5 lb 1.6 oz, and Owen is 4 lb 12.8 oz.  In other news, they both have middle names now.  Check out a couple new pictures of Maren Marjorie and Owen Xavier.  

Owen loved his tummy time yesterday.  He still has his boxing glove on because he will pull at any tube/wire he can get his little hands on.  When I arrived at the NICU this morning, I found that his sister has earned her own boxing glove.  These babies are going to keep us busy!

Last night, Josh and I got to the NICU to find that Maren had worked her way out of her swaddle and scooted all the way to the top of her isolette.  Her little body is always moving!

Update

I was discharged from the hospital last night.  It is wonderful to be  home with Josh and Cooper, but I spend most of my time at home looking forward to my next visit to the NICU to check on Maren and Owen.  I imagine that is just how life is going to be for us until the twins come home.

While it's too soon yet to predict when Maren and Owen will get to come home, we are optimistic that their stay won't be too long. Both babies are breathing on their own and tolerating increased feedings every day.  They are currently spending their time in isolettes, which help regulate their temperatures, but the doctor says that they will be ready to move to cribs soon!  Every day, they grow stronger, and we get to see a little more of their feisty personalities.  We have learned that both babies can kick their way out of any swaddle.  After spending a lot of time together in a small space, they are loving stretching out in their own beds.  We have also learned that both kiddos are strong enough to pull out their own feeding tubes, so hopefully they'll use this strength to get sprung from the NICU soon! 

Check out the link below for a little video of our twins.  Thank you to my brother-in-law, Daniel, for putting this together!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc28PWTm51Q&feature=youtu.be

January 8, 2013

Maren and Owen Ide arrived on January 8, 2013. They were born at 34 weeks, 5 days gestation and weighed 5 lb 3 oz and 5 lb 1 oz, respectively. They will be spending some time in the NICU, but are doing really well! The story of their delivery and my recovery is not nearly as cute as the babies, so I'll skip that and go right to the pictures.

 My first time holding Maren - January 9

Owen and his "boxing gloves" - he likes to pull at his tubes and wires.

Another of Owen

My first time holding both babies - January 10

Mom and Maren - January 11

First Family Photo

Dad and Maren (who filled her diaper very loudly moments after this photo was taken)

 Maren after her first bath.  She loved having her hair combed!