Ready... Set... Go... YEAH!!!!

Sofie ready and waiting...

Luke ready and waiting...

Ready to go...

Sofie getting loaded...

Sofie loaded in the car...

Luke getting loaded...

Luke loaded in the car...

And were off!!!

AND WE MADE IT!!!!

HOME SWEET HOME!!!

ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDIN ME!!!

So this morning I get to the NICU to find out that in round they told the nurse that Luke was going home today! SURPRISE!!! She said well I don't think mom knows and there is still a lot of discharge stuff to do so lets give mom a day to prepare!!

All I have to say is ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!! YEP I THINK SO!! Really yesterday it's maybe the end of the week and today it's today. Wow people make up your mind. So know I am scrambling trying to get prepared for one nursing baby here and one nursing baby at home. Wish me luck!

Well, tomorrow wouldn't be the big day. They are saying maybe the end of the week for Lukas and next week for Sofia.

I don't have the time now but will write more later. Just thought I would let everyone know.

We'll be home for Christmas...HOPEFULLY!

So it looks like we just might be HOME for CHRISTMAS!!! I am trying not to get my hopes up but they are saying right now that if the babies pass their eye exams and have the clear to be switch to the oxygen tanks to come home on then we can board Tuesday night with them to make sure we are comfortable with them and their equipment and then bring them home on Wednesday!! (The home oxygen tanks can damage their eyes or make them worse so we have to make sure we are in the clear before they can be switched to them.) We are so excited and nervous and now just hassling to get everything ready!!

On a side note, once we come home we would LOVE to have visitors but ask that you please WAIT until the babies are a little bit older and the flu/rsv season has slowed down. We love you all and don't want feelings to be hurt but need to look out for the babies and try to prevent any little illness that would be major for them.

Baby Update: As of last night they each weighted 5lb 13oz! They are eating so so good and will hopefully have their feeding tubes out with in 24 hours. They both prefer to be nursed over bottles but will still take a bottle when needed. Today I am going to brave it and try to nurse both at the same time. Wish me luck! Luke's oxygen is .1 and Sofie is on .5 so they are just small amounts. (knock on wood) They have not had any brady's or major dsats since the 4th! Overall they are doing great! We are so excited with their progress and feel so blessed that it could finally be our turn to go home.

While we are excited to be going home there is another couple here who is struggling with the news that they will be headed to Primary's on Monday. They are good friends who we actually knew before the NICU. My heart breaks for them! Please, please remember them and their sweet little Lucy in your prayers that their stay will be short and they will be home as a family soon!

Car Seat HELP.....

I am finally getting our car seats ordered. YEAH! I had one picked out, Graco Safeseat, but now I'm not so sure...

Does anyone know much about the brands Combi or Baby Trend?

Also would you recommend getting a seat that goes up to 30-35 lbs or just the typical one that is 22 lbs?

Sorry for the lack of updates and pictures. Of course life has been busy as always but overall we are all doing really well.

Sofia: The latest on Sofie is that she went 8 days between her last two taps!!! She was last tapped on Tuesday where they took off 22ml. She did okay with it until the end when it took her a while to get her heart rate and oxygen levels regulated again. The doctors are hoping that since we made it eight days last time that this time we will make it longer, much longer and that Tuesday's could be the last tap they ever do on her! Last week she had a follow up head ultrasound that showed the blood clot is decreasing in size and the ventricles look about the same size. Which is great because even though they aren't tapping she isn't building it up which would increase the size of ventricles. She is also probably able to move more of the fluid through herself because the clot is decreasing opening up the path way. Sofies' Tuesday eye exam looked good. Her eyes are still stage 2 but are developed out to zone 3. The doctor will check again in two weeks but thinks we are in the clear. They are slowing bringing her oxygen levels down, today she is at 1 liter and if she does good through the night in the morning her nurse will turn her down to .8 liters. Tonight Sofia gained 4 oz making her 5lb 4 oz!

(Videos from 11-23-09)

Lukas: Mr. Luke is doing really well. His oxygen today is at .1 liters and only 40%. His nurse is hoping that we can slowly come down on the percent and get him off oxygen to come home. Luke's eye exam will be next Tuesday so hopefully he too will still be okay. Luke is getting quite the personality. The last few days he has started to really like attention. He loves to have someone talk to him, hold or cuddle him. Tonight Luke weight is 4lb 15oz. He is down 1oz from yesterdays 5lbs.

(Videos from 11-24-09)

They are both doing much better with their oxygen and not having as many Dsats and Bradys. They are also now up to 3 nursing a day and will be starting bottles tomorrow probably. They have done really well with their feedings and don't seem to have much trouble with getting to tired and falling asleep before they get a full feed in. We are excited to be getting closer to going home! Hopefully with in the next few weeks.

Grateful...

Today I am ashamed that I complained about spending so much time in the hospital. Because today I am so grateful and feel blessed beyond measure to be able to sit here in the hospital with my two beautiful children because that means that they are alive and well and that I will get to take them home with me one day!

My heart is breaking for 4 family who will not have that opportunity at this time. 2 good friends, and 2 complete strangers all in the 3rd trimester of their pregnancy sent sweet babies back to our Heavenly Father just in the last week or two. My heart breaks for each and everyone of these 4 moms!
To all four of you; I pray that you will find peace at this time and that you will be able to find faith through this trial! You are each in our thoughts and prayers!