CAMP NICU: HIGHS & LOWS

Today our sweet babies are two weeks old!  We are continuing our stay at Camp NICU, which has definite highs and lows.

Low:  Our sweet babies that we adore are still at the hospital instead of home with us.  This leaves our life and family feeling very fragmented.

High:  Violet weighs enough to be in the crib with brother, so they are having a constant slumber party.  It is wild and looks like this most of the time.

High:  The twins continue to be miraculously healthy - thank you, Lord.  If you are wondering how much longer they will be at Camp NICU, you can join the club.  They have to be able to take all of their bottles for at least two days straight and pass a car seat tolerance test (to make sure their core muscles are strong enough to allow them to breathe while in it) to be able to discharge.  Both babies are taking many bottles a day, though they often get tuckered out about 3/4 of the way through.  Then they look like this again.




The nurses and doctors all say they could just wake up one day and start taking all of their feeds through the bottle all at once.  We shall see.  We are excited to bring them home.

Low:  Camp NICU is not the best place for older siblings to hang out.  I have found several things that serve as good distractions.  Putting on a movie can work well or letting them play the iPad.  They have also found themselves distractions that we will allow.  Bella really loves to be shut into the wall cabinet.

They both like to play with Ruff the dog and Sophie the cat.  Lily brushed Sophie's teeth.



Then they had a diaper changing session.



High:  We do have a nice corner-suite all to ourselves.  That definitely helps when we have the girls up there with us.

Low:  Parking.  We always park in the parking deck, because it has a covered walkway all the way inside, which has been very handy in this wintry late spring.  John and I both feel like the parking spots are angled unusually.  At least that is what we tell ourselves when we both consistently have a hard time parking within the lines.  Seriously - like every time.  Two and three times a day.

High:  Today both John and I coordinated with a twin on accident.  It warranted pictures.  Obviously.

High:  We are sleeping well at nighttime due to the incredibly wonderful nurses that are taking care of our children for us.  Though I am ready to have William and Violet home with us, and I mean that sincerely, I will miss the regular sleep for a while.  Hopefully they will still look like this a lot.



High:  We are still marveling in the joy of receiving these gifts from the Lord.  What a blessing Violet and William are to our family.



Hopefully our Camp NICU term will end soon.  But, until then, we graciously thank the nurses and the Lord for taking care of our dear darlings.