Just because...

Here are some random pictures for your viewing pleasure:


Taking Tilly's temperature

Eyes open! This picture of Avery cracks me up--she looks like a little bunny with her hands like that:)
Tilly opens her eyes too!



Avery is always making the funniest faces-- if only we could snap pictures fast enough!

Happy girls...

Matilda
Avery

The girls' room...

Here are the promised pictures of the girls' cute new room-- thanks again to Aunt Lindsey and Chrissie for designing such a cute space, and to many of you in California who contributed to the project! We can't wait to bring the girls home to their room in a couple of months!








How do you like the new room girls?


A thumbs up from Matilda and a smile from Avery... I think we've won their approval!

Our girls have come a long way in two weeks...

Me, Mom, and Linds... never mind how tired I look
My cute friend and honorary aunt to Tilly and Avery, Chrissie
The girls' "ride" to and from Ogden-- notice all of the wires and monitors and then the little tiny baby box on the top left
Tilly getting used to the new bed in Ogden-- the cute nurses put little bows in their hair
Avery catching yet another tan... I love the sleeping mask:)


Well... things definitely haven't been quiet around here, that's for sure. When we found out that the girls would be going to Ogden for surgery-- we called in for reinforcements:) My mom, sister and friend Chrissie came out for moral support and they were a huge help! The nurses in Provo assured us that the surgery was very routine and that the girls would be back in Provo within 48 hours.

 Weeelll, the surgeries did go very well, but Avery had quite a time recovering. Matilda did great and she was ready to go home at the typical time, but the hospital wanted to keep them both in one spot to make things easy on us. So, little miss Avery kept us in Ogden until Saturday. Matilda went back on Saturday and was greeted by Grandma and Grandpa Stutz--(thank you so much you two!), and Avery went back on Sunday morning, where she was also greeted by her grandparents, since we were still making our way back to Provo after seeing her off in Ogden. It is so nice to all be back "home" again at the Provo hospital:)

 Now that they are back, they continue to do well. Avery went from the ventilator to the c-pap to room air breathing all within a couple of days! They put her back on a little bit of oxygen today, but she's still breathing great on her own-- I even got to hold her again, finally! Matilda went on the c-pap today and is also doing well. If she continues to be stable, we will be able to hold her again tonight. They will also try giving Matilda breast milk today for the first time--woohoo:) We are so proud of our little girls and the progress they are making-- they make us so happy:)

 Speaking of making us happy... Lindsey and Chrissie surprised us by decorating the babies' room while we were in Ogden (pictures to follow). It was so fun to come home to, especially since that whole project seemed extremely daunting to me since the babies were already here! Having them all here made such a difference this past week! And more good news... we found out today that both girls weigh 2lbs. 15 1/2 oz...yeah...they are really beefing up aren't they?:) Almost 3 lbs-- you go girls!

News from Ogden...

Hi everyone! I just wanted to give you all a quick update on the babes... We found out on Tuesday night that the girls' heart valves still hadn't developed and that they would be transferred to the Mckay Dee Hospital in Ogden for surgery. Tuesday was a hard day.  We have been so spoiled with the NICU being so close to us in Provo, that it was difficult to see them have to be transported far from home! Anyway, my mom, sister, and one of my dearest friends drove out that night and on Wednesday we drove out to Ogden to see the girls. The girls traveled by ambulance, and had their surgery yesterday. Everything went really well with the surgery, and we thought they would be home today but the nurses said they would probably keep them another night to make sure they're stable. We have been staying at a little hotel in Ogden so that we can be near the babies. Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers--they are so needed, and so appreciated. I will try and keep everyone as updated as I can-- and I am grateful for all the offers for help!  We have the BEST friends and family!

Some thoughts...

Proof that they actually do open their eyes! This is Avery-- Tilly was not so cooperative:)
Giving Tilly her first smooch
Holding Tilly for the first time-- They have us hold them skin to skin because it is therapeutic for their little bodies
And Avery gets her turn!

Yesterday I had somewhat of a bittersweet experience. Maybe it was because it was my first day of this whole experience without my mom that made my emotions a little closer to the surface, or perhaps it's that I have been getting little sleep-- but for some reason all of the dark things about the girls and their situation began creeping in.  I thought about how I wouldn't be able to take the girls home for months, how I would only be able to hold them for half-hour stints at a time, how impersonal breast pumping is, not to mention my still painful incision from surgery... Everything just seemed to be piling up, and then when we went to see the girls it kind of came to a head to see their little bodies wrapped up in wires.

 Later that evening we returned to the hospital with Jordan's family so that Jordan and Dad could give the girls blessings. The blessings they gave were beautiful and our girls, who are usually feisty and wiggly, were very still--as if they were listening to every word. In those moments I felt my unsettled feelings depart as well, and the love and comfort of our Savior entered in. It was still very hard to leave them at the hospital last night, and I am sure that hard days will continue to follow-- but I am so grateful for the love of our Savior and for the example my little doublets are to me. They are tiny, yet so strong and resilient!  I can be strong, too. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows our limits and will never leave us comfortless!

Doublet update...

 Jordan giving Avery her first "sponge bath," using cotton balls
My mom (Nana) lifting Avery so that they can change her bed linens
Avery's tiny little foot
Tilly sleeping on her tummy, catching a tan
I just love when she is on her tummy with her little feet scrunched up under her

Hello everyone! Thank you all once again for your thoughts and prayers--they are working! I will try my best to keep everyone posted of any changes regarding the girls, but please be patient with me as I am somewhat of a scatterbrain these days:)

This week has truly been a roller coaster ride, with some ups and some downs. I have had my mom here since Saturday night and she has been such a HUGE help. I really haven't had a need that hasn't been met thanks to her, the wonderful Stutz family and our friends--which has been really helpful for my recovery. Another huge up is that the girls' overall health is very good. Because the amniotic fluid leaked so completely and so early, the doctors were concerned that their little lungs might not have had a solid chance to develop properly. They did get at least one steroid shot in me before I went into labor that helped a little with that.  Yesterday they each had an x-ray to check their lung growth and the doctor said everything looked normal--Woohoo! Another little concern we had was for little Matilda. Because the bruising on her head was so severe, her brain scan showed two different low-grade bleeds. Fortunately they are so minimal that the doctor said they shouldn't produce any long term affects. Avery's brain scan turned out completely normal--yay! The heart valve problem is still our main concern... we should hear soon if the medication worked or not, and then we will decided where to go from there.

We are just so in love with our little girls. They are such fighters! We love watching their little movements, some of which already mimic our own. For instance, the nurse said Tilly LOVES to lay on her tummy when sleeping--just like me... And just like her Daddy, Avery loves to sleep with her little arm crossed over her eyes to block out the light. I will try to get a picture of that up here too because it is too cute! We have been blessed with wonderful primary care nurses who inspire a lot of confidence regarding the girl's care. Even though it is very difficult to leave them each night, we know that they are being well taken care of which brings a lot of comfort. We feel so blessed to have these new little additions in our family! Again, we will try to keep you all posted with new pictures and stories...