We're home and doing well. (with pics finally!!)

C in back
K in front 

Kinley Grace

Colby David

C

K

C on left.  K on right.

Here's the short version of what's been going on in their little lives...
1. Colby was released from the NICU on 7/4, after doing well since he was born.  He'd regained the weight he'd lost since birth, and was back up to his birthweight, so the docs were pleased with his progress, and felt comfortable sending him home.  That being said, we couldn't bear the thought of leaving Kinley in the NICU all alone.  We worked it out so that we could stay in a Parent Room with both babies, caring for them through the night, and just having her hooked up to monitors to make sure she was still okay.  The nurse came and checked on her through the night too.

2. The doctor came in to talk with us about Kinley on 7/5.  He was thinking that he wanted to keep her through the weekend to ensure that she was able to keep growing, and maintain the upward swing that she seemed to be starting on.  I was a little pushy, and insisted that she would do well at home--and that no one was more dedicated to her succeeding on her feeding plan than Marcus and I were. The doc agreed to discharge her.  Immediately after, I was feeling profound regret, worried that I'd been too pushy, and that maybe the NICU was the best place for her if she really wasn't well enough to go home yet.  I sent Marcus to have a "man-to-man" chat with the doctor, while I stayed in the room with the twins and my crazy over-emotional post-partum hormones.  Marcus returned to let me know that the doc agreed that we were "very motivated" parents, and agreed that she could be discharged as long as she had a weight check with the doctor on Monday.

3. So, we came home on 7/5.  All of us.  I was so nervous that I sat in the back seat with them.  They're so tiny in their car seats, and I was worried that one of them would slump forward and stop breathing because they are so small.  Granted, both babies passed their car seat test in the hospital (where they had to sit for 1 1/2 hrs with monitors on.)--but I was still nervous.

4. We headed nervously to the doctor on Monday, only to find that Kinley had gained 6 ounces in 5 days, and Colby had gained 5 in 5.  We were super proud of them both, thankful for all the people praying for them, and SO relieved that my pushiness was not in vain.

5. Since then, we've been doing our best to change diapers, eat, sleep, and repeat over and over again with the dynamic duo.  They're both doing great... and once we stopped giving them the disgusting vitamins (the doc gave us a different kind on Monday)--there has been no projectile vomiting, or fussy babies.

6. Colby cries (really loudly) when getting his clothes changed--he seems to hate being naked.  Kinley doesn't really cry yet, just a little squeak comes out when she wants something.  We didn't even know if she COULD cry until she received a vaccine at the doctor.  The girl has pipes.  It's just a matter of time before we hear them, I bet.  Both kids are very chill for the most part, which helps us to be more relaxed around them too.

Thanks to everyone for the prayers, encouragement, and love that you've poured into these two already.  We feel so blessed to be surrounded by so much support and kindness.

Hugs and love to all.
Brelin & Marcus
Kinley and Colby