Happy First Birthday!

Just a little video montage I made of the girls' first year for family and friends not here to celebrate with us--we know ya'll are here in spirit!

My Tiny Valentines

All of us had a great Valentine's Day today that started early in the day when I was suprised to learn that the girls had won the My Tiny Valentine contest that I entered them in about 2 weeks ago. We had to submit a picture and the judges picked a winner and it was Presley and Kourtney! This totally made our day even better and our good friend and photographer, Jennifer Dickey, was also beaming since it was her work! We won a bunch of cool things from different vendors but the title means the most to me. This is the picture that won:

I filled the girls' little mailboxes that I made for them with these little honey bee stuffed animals and also gave them some sock monkeys and chocolates that I happened to pick up at the store and they love them! No chocolate for them though-they are hyper enough as it is! They wore their First Valentine's Day onesie that my good friend Jennifer bought for them and we all just enjoyed the day together. Here are some pictures of our day:

Valentine's Day goodies!

Presley

Kourtney

Daddy snuggles before bed

February 7th

Yesterday was a special day as it was the anniversary of the day that life turned upside down on us. Last year I went into preterm labor and the doctors thought for sure that I would deliver in the next 48 hours. Since I was only 23 weeks 4 days and not quite to the viability cut off of 24 weeks, they told us that the girls wouldn't make it. We were absolutely blindsided with this news and we were in complete panic. The rest of the day was basically preparing for delivery of two little girls that would become angels in a matter of minutes after delivery because they wouldn't be able to breathe on their own. And I was going to have to just hold them in my arms until they passed away. I picked out memory boxes for them and a photographer called and asked if I wanted her to take pictures of my angels. Everything was just a preparation for what was going to happen. I was trying so hard to just accept what was going to be and I remember just wishing that they would pass in me that way I wouldn't have to see them struggle. But God had other plans and they made it an additional 11 days. He knew what he was doing too as it was enough time to get me to week 24 which meant viability, receive 2 rounds of steriods to speed lung development, receive magnesium sulfate to help reduce the severity of brain bleeds, and to help them get to over 1 lb each. While the original plan was to help me make it as far as I could into the pregnancy by lying there God knew before anyone else did that I had chorioamnionitis which is a really bad infection that affects the baby and the mother and makes mom and baby really sick and can even cause death and cerebral palsy. There was no sign of infection at all and we were all suprised and shocked to learn this when the lab results came back from where they tested the girls' placentas. God really knew what he was doing that day. Travis and I had decided that we would see this day as a celebration of life even though it isn't their actual birthday because while they are still angels, they are just those that got to stay here on Earth.

Whitney Clinic Follow Up

So it has been a while since I last updated and that is because life is really busy right now. Travis has duty every 4 days for the entire month and that coupled with the girls constantly on the move makes for an exhausting day. Throw in teething and that makes it even more interesting since the girls get super clingy and want me to hold them all day. I am definitely not complaining about that though since I love to cuddle with my girls! I have also been working on their first birthday party stuff and also redoing their room (a bird theme) and making some decorations for that as well. I have several projects going on right now actually and trying to find time to do them all while not taking away time from the girls. We have also had lots of appointments including big ones like the Whitney Clinic. The Whitney Clinic is a follow up appointment from NICU doctors to see how the lives of former NICU graduates and gathers statistics from the San Francisco area about former micropreemies and their development. Basically, they want their own populations statistics and not those of other hospitals combined. When I was in labor and they told me the girls had a 40% chance of making it at 25 weeks this is where they got that number from. I was a nervous wreck as I knew we had a 50-50 chance of them having cerebral palsy as a result of their brain bleeds (Presley had a grade 1 and Kourtney a grade 2). We saw four doctors: a neurologist, a pediatrician, a developmental therapist, and an occupational therapist. The neurologist explained how the odds were against us when the extremely low birth weight and brain bleeds but was shocked and happy to inform us that the girls had no cerebral palsy or any other kind of neurological consequence of being so premature. Isn't it amazing how the brain of these little ones rewires itself and goes around the damaged part of the brain during the bleed so that there would be no problems later on? Amazing. In fact, that is the word he used to describe the girls. Next was the pediatrician who checked them over and plotted them on the growth chart. I knew I was going to have to explain why Presley was so low on it and why weight gain was such an issue. I was pleasantly suprised that they used an Very Low Birth Weight Chart. This is a different one and only certain doctors use it. Our pediatrician has been using the preemie growth chart. A preemie is considered 4-5 lbs and a micropreemie is a baby weighing under 3 lbs at birth. I am going to ask why we are not using this chart. Presley is in the 5% for both height and weight and Kourtney is in the 20% for weight and 15% for height. She said that these are tiny girls and that the fact that they are proportionate is important as it shows they are healthy. Then I told her that Presley hadn't gained any weight in 3 months and then she got worried. She checked her heart and there is no sign of the murmur that was there when we left the hospital but we now need to look into metabolic tests as to why she will not gain weight despite all the eating that she does. The developmental doctor played with her and that part was my favorite as it was really relaxed and just playing the whole hour which Presley and Kourtney loved! We are right on target there. The occupational therapist basically tried to see how many words they knew and how many they could say, which is zero. All they do is grunt and babble but she told us this part was going to be a huge struggle, regardless if they were micropreemies or not as twins always have speech problems and are slow to learn. The term she used was "twin talk" (look it up for more information) which they have. Twin talk is basically a twins way of communicating with one another and a language only they understand. She assured me that once they get to be around other kids they will lose the twin talk. Other than that, the appointment was a success!

Kourtney has been trying to walk lately and I gave them an early birthday gift of a push walker and they love it! Kourtney is much better at it than Presley. The girls weigh in at 12 lbs 13 oz (Presley) and 14 lbs 9 oz (Kourtney). The girls each have two teeth a piece now and I am trying to get toothy smiles but they aren't fully grown in yet so maybe in the next few weeks. Here are some pictures and videos:

Kourtney and Presley

Presley

Kourtney

Can you see the two teeth?

Daddy and his babies.........

A few minutes later and all three were asleep!

Disney attire

Play time!

Hi Mommy!

Standing and playing with their table

Presley and Kourtney

Bundle up its cold outside!

The Girl's First Birthday Photo Shoot Viewing

Here is the link to see all pictures taken at our photo shoot! There is 2 pages full!

http://jenniferyvonnephotography.zenfolio.com/ourfirstbirthday

Password: ourfirstbirthday

Photo Shoot Sneak Peek

The girls and I had a blast today with Jennifer from Jennifer Yvonne Photography (she was also the one that did the girls' first and Christmas shoot) doing their 1st birthday shoot. It was so much fun and there was lots of baloons, ruffles, kisses, and cupcakes! Presley was her usual diva self and I think it was mainly in part to teething and she wouldn't let me leave her side and if I did she would bawl. She finally came around though. Kourtney was as calm as can be and was a natural. The cupcake smash was a big hit with the girls and Kourtney would have ate the whole thing had we let her while Presley wasn't a big fan. She was, however, a big fan of getting messy! This was by far the best shoot ever and Jennifer was amazing as usual. Great props, great company, and two little miracles makes for a great day in my opinion! I cannot wait to see the rest but here is a little teaser....

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

We wanted to wish Grandpa Vick (aka G-man) a very Happy Birthday and although we cannot see him and give him hugs and kisses in person we are sending them in spirit! We love you Grandpa and all the nice things you do for us. We hope you spend your day in the sun which is where you love to be and we hope that you know how much we love you! Sending you lots of raspberries and slobbery kisses!!! XOXO In other news, the Tooth Fairy needs to be saving up because Presley has one tooth that is breaking through and I see another one is on its way soon (2 bottom teeth). She is very uncomfortable but only at night and teethers help tremondously although she wants you to hold them for her because they make her hands cold. And I of course do it because I love her! So spoiled! Kourtney has also started standing and as you can see from the pictures she is very proud of herself and very excited!  I found this out by waking up one morning to her standing in her co-sleeper. Time to move her to the big bed soon! I am not ready for that though :( Here are some pictures to brighten your day--