"Look Mom -- No CPAP!"

Amelia sleeps with her mouth open (like her Aunt Michala!)

Amelia having sweet dreams

Sweet Baby Luke

Luke's outfit says, "Good Things Come in Two's" -- We agree!

The babies have made amazing progress in the last few days.  We are so thankful!  Both Luke and Emme no longer need CPAP (support for their lungs) which means we can actually see their sweet faces without all their gear on.  Tonight they'll both get their IVs out because they're tolerating milk really well in their feeding tubes.  They've also outgrown their need for the bilirubin lights.  They now officially qualify as "feeders and growers" the name the NICU nurses use for babies that are in the NICU only because they need to learn how to eat and need to put on weight.  We've been amazed at the progress they're making.
Now that they're more stable we're able to do something called "kangaroo care" which means that we get to hold the babies skin-to-skin.  They put Scott and I in reclining chairs and surround our area with screens so that we can hold them skin-to-skin.  It's important for the babies to bond to us and it's AMAZING therapy for the parents too :)  There is nothing in the world like holding your newborn on your chest.  The hour or two that we get to hold them every day is such precious time.  It overwhelms me with thankfulness.  I am so blessed by these two babies and by Scott, who has selflessly put all three of us above himself over the last 8 months.  He is already a great dad!  I'm overwhelmed by God's grace which has allowed us to become Luke and Emme's parents.  They are truly gifts of grace to us.
Last night was my first night at home in 57 days (OUR first night at home since Scott spent every single night at the hospital with me).  I have such an appreciation for little things ... soft sheets, the smell of coffee in the morning, getting to take showers longer than 5 minutes (and not have to sit on a shower chair!), sleeping next to Scott (Haha!  I told him I always felt at the hospital like we were at summer camp!  He'd be across the room on his cot with his sleeping bag and I'm calling out to him, "Good night honey!")  Scott's parents are here with us and they worked on so many neat projects while I was in the hospital, getting the place ready for the babies.  My parents filled our fridge with food before we came home (and my favorite coffee!)  We have great families!  Leaving the hospital was really hard.  I cried the entire way home.  There is something very unnatural about leaving your newborns behind when you go home.  I know it's where they need to be but I will be so glad when we're all four home.  At the rate they're improving at right now I'm hoping they'll only need to be there about a month.  We'll see, I know how things have real ups and downs in the hospital and they may need to go back on CPAP.  But I'm hoping for the best!