The Kids Are Here!!

We had a wonderful weekend. Chris's parents came up to visit. They did an amazing job helping out, cleaning, preparing meals. On Sunday, Chris's mom made a salmon dinner with a special mustard and brown sugar glaze. It was delicious. 4 hours later, Jamie went into labor.

This lead to the inevitable question, "What did you put on the salmon?!". In her defense, Jamie was on hospital food for 5 weeks and then Chris's cooking for a week before getting a homemade salmon dinner. The proximity of "Meatloaf Monday" and "Turkey Tuesday" was too close for such a good meal.

Jamie went to the hospital at 11:55pm on Sunday. The twins (girl & boy) were born at 30 weeks. Ava Marie was born at 4:53 am weighing 3 pounds 1 oz. Elliot John came second at 5:22am weighing 3 pounds 8 oz.

Chris's parents were the closest family at the time and were in the waiting room all night. After Elliot was born, Chris went out to give them the good news. Chris's parents were very happy and shared some of their coffee and the last muffin they had with them. We all walked back to the recovery room. Jamie was on the bed exhausted. After she saw Chris eating a muffin, she yelled "Why are you eating a muffin?! What did you do to deserve it? I did all the work? Where is my muffin?! Who gave that to you? The hospital?" Chris wished he had a Twix bar to stall (like the TV commercial) so he could think of an appropriate response.

In his defense, none of the "The Expectant Father" books he read mentioned anything about NOT eating a muffin. In Jamie's defense, she delivered TWO babies with NO ANESTHESIA. Labor came on so fast that she could not have an epidural. They wouldn't let us do a C section. It was a brutal 2 deliveries and she did a fantastic job. I'm speechless. All I can say is that she is a great mom. She is recovering very well....Chris has sworn off muffins though.

Our kids are in the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Shands Hospital. At 30 weeks, there is a range of risks to them. Currently, they are working on developing breathing. Ava was on tubes to provide oxygen but she is off them after 24 hours. Elliot is having a tougher time. He needed to go on a ventilator. They are both in their own "incubators" for safety and warmth.

At this time, we are able to hold Ava but not Elliot. This is very hard. We hope this will change in the next day or so. They would have been a lot worse if they originally came at 24 weeks. Jamie gave them 6 precious weeks to grow by having the discipline and perseverance to stay on bed rest.

We are told that in the best case they might come home in a month. On the farther end of the spectrum, they could be in there 10 weeks (until term). Because of the severity of being in intensive care, we are discouraging visitors. We do appreciate and need the prayers though. Please considering supporting the March of Dimes and the Children's Miracle Network....Now on to the baby pictures!

Ava and her "incubator"



Mom & Ava














Elliot
















New Parents with Ava