Finally an Update!

It’s been a while and for that I apologize.

Where shall we begin, how about with Joleigh Faith? She is doing great. While she is still on the sipap machine she is holding steady. She is getting fed more, up to 20cc’s every three hours and is gaining weight, up to 2 pounds 10 ounces. She is also holding her body temperature well enough that we are able to swaddle and hold her instead of skin to skin. It feels like progress simply being able to do that. Jo’s funny story for the week comes when I changed her diaper on Saturday. I unfastened the dirty one, kept it there, and cleaned her up, and then I removed the dirty and put the clean one under her. She proceeded to dirty the clean one. I then cleaned her up, removed the 2nd dirty one and put another clean one under her. You guessed it; before I could fasten the new one she dirtied it. This continued a couple more times. By the 4th I was convinced we were good to go and she finally had a clean diaper.

Jeremiah Wayne is progressing as well. He was taken off the sipap machine yesterday and put back onto only oxygen. That is great news! Like is big sister, he is getting more food, 23cc’s every three hours. The best achievement for him this week is the fact that he has reached the 3 pound mark, weighing in at 3 pounds 1 ounce. He too is able to be held swaddled. No real orneriness coming out of his corner this week. I am sure that will change.

Both had their weekly brain scans and while they both positively showed brains both were negative for any problems. So while they got their Dad’s orneriness and dashing good looks, it appears as though they got their Mom’s smarts. What a relief about the smarts, not so sure about the looks though.

Speaking of Jen, she is doing great. She is beaming as a new Mom and anyone that has seen her can clearly see that. Besides that her happy moment came a week after the twins arrived as she was able to put her “real” jeans back on. I reckon it’s the small things in life that make the difference. Her spirits are high and she is making great friends with the nurses and doctors in the NICU. She is a real trooper.

As for me, had to go back to work yesterday for the first time since the twins where born. While it stunk being away from my newly foursome-fied family, the time passed quickly and before I knew it I was back in the NICU holding Jeremiah. I am loving being a Daddy and doing Daddy things (changing diapers, washing faces, calming crying babies, etc).

If you are wondering where we are living these days here are those details. We only come home to Newton once a week to attend church, do errands, pick up our mail, wash clothes, and see Tucker (who is staying with Norm and Cinda…and he is loving getting to spend the days with Emma). After they were first born we stayed in the Carle Auxiliary Guest House for a week. That place was a dear blessing and perfect under the circumstances. Since time is limited in the guest house we had to find another place. God works in mysterious and miraculous ways and it worked out that Jens cousin, Heather, recently purchased her first house. The great part about that is her lease on her apartment runs through January. So she actually had a house and an empty apartment, both in Urbana within 5 minutes of Carle. She was gracious enough to allow us to inhabit her apartment at no cost. We will stay there through the end of January. If the babies aren’t able to come home yet by then we will move in with Jen’s Aunt Patti in Fisher. God always provides.

As if this post wasn’t long enough yet I have one more paragraph to add. Jen and I would like to send a special thank you to all of you who helped, supported, or had anything at all to do with the bake sale recently held at Peoples State Bank in Newton. We cannot describe the feelings we have for all the outpouring you all have shown. We are truly overwhelmed and encouraged by all of you.

While we still have long road ahead of us, about 70 more days at least (average time in NICU for their weights is approx 90 days), we feel the progress shown so far is a huge step in the right direction. God is good and continues to bless our family. Thank you again to all of you for your support and continues prayers. I will post pictures soon.

-Jace