A Year Ago Today....

A year ago today I was sitting in Methodist Hospital on bed rest in my secluded make-shift jail called Antepartum.  One of my sisters came to visit me to keep me company and it was during her visit at 11:00am that I began having regular contractions.  By Noon Tyler had brought me lunch (boy was I tired of hospital food!) and I was beginning to get mildly uncomfortable with the contractions and had already alerted my nurse.  The nurse immediately hooked me up to a monitor to watch the contractions and the boys' heartbeats and said she would tell the doctor what was going on.  She monitored the contractions from a computer at her desk so Tyler and I could finish eating lunch.  A little while later she came back in to my room and said "yep, you sure are having some pretty good contractions." Ya think?  Like my saying so wasn't enough confirmation?  She had yet to hear back from my doctor and said to hang tight.  More time passes and the doctor finally comes in and talks with me.  It's established that I will be taken down the hall to the delivery area so they can monitor me and the babies more closely and with better/more machines.  All the while the contractions are getting stronger and more frequent.  More monitoring, physical checks by doctors to establish how far I am dilated, more monitoring, more checks and by 6:00 it is determined that the babies are coming and there is no stopping them.  They needed to do a C-section right away and by 6:30pm Christian James was born into this world followed by his brother Charlie Steven at 6:32pm.  Boy has our lives been a whirl wind since then!

A year ago today....

Christian was the bigger of the two at 2lbs. 4oz. and he wasn't much bigger than Tyler's hand

Our babies in the transport isolette to be transported to St. Mary's Hospital NICU

A year ago today.....

Charlie

Christian

Both boys all settled in the NICU for a 3 month stay

And what a difference a year makes.....

The pictures listed below are courtesy of Amy Lorentz Photography and are not permitted to be reproduced in any way:

What a difference a year makes.....

CHRISTIAN:

Christian is crawling all over the place and pulling himself up on things.  He has 4 teeth and has been working on a 5th.  He 16lbs 9oz and is wears size 3 diapers, size 9 mos clothing and 12 mos jammies.  He loves to chase his big brother Easton around and pick on Charlie.  Christian is sleeping through the night and taking 2 naps a day.  He is still on regular formula (recommended by their nutritionist) and eats 3 meals a day (a combination of jarred food and homemade food- starting to go toward all homemade food slowly).  He can feed himself small, soft finger foods and would prefer to feed himself rather than someone else feed him.  He takes 3-4 bottles a day and hasn't gotten into using a sippy cup yet although he does love to play with them!  Christian loves to smile and can sometimes get away with murder because of that infections, beautiful smile.  He is so laid back and calm and usually doesn't fuss or cry unless he's hungry or very tired.  Next week he and his brothers will embark on a new journey as they enter family day care for the first time.  We love you Christian and cannot believe it's been one year already.  You are such a sweet boy and fill our days with such joy just by being around.  You make us laugh and watch in wonder as you grow and learn new things constantly. 

CHARLIE:

Charlie is army crawling, chasing his 2 brothers around constantly.  He likes to get up on his hands and knees and rock back and forth but has yet to crawl on all fours.  He is currently working on his first 2 teeth.  He is 13lbs. 2oz. and wears a size 2 diaper, size 6 mos clothing and 9 mos jammies.  Charlie loves to keep us on our toes.  He is not sleeping through the night and in fact gets up several times a night.  He takes 2 naps a day and at times has a 3rd catnap.  Charlie is now drinking goat's milk and seems to be tolerating that better than any formula he has been on.  He, too, is eating 3 meals a day but prefers that someone gets the food in his mouth as fast as possible rather than feed himself, although he can feed himself finger foods.  Charlie is still using a bottle and has explored using a sippy cup but would rather play with it than drink out of it.  Charlie, you are such a beautiful boy with the most amazing eyes we've seen.  Your smile is so precious.  We love you so incredibly much and can't believe how far you've come in a year.  You are always working double hard to meet the next milestone and keep up with your brothers. 

Boys, we cannot tell you how happy you make us.  You are truly beautiful miracles who have completely taken our hearts captive.  You are both so amazing, strong, determined and inspiring.  We can't imagine our lives without you.  Mom, dad and Easton love you with all our hearts and more.  

Happy 1st Birthday!