Well Richey and I actually got some good sleep last night- WaY tO Go gIRLs!!  Whoo hoo!  After eating their “breakfast,” they were both WIDE awake, so I was ready to play!!  Here they are on their play mat… and by “play” I mean: Reese slept and Riley stared at herself in the mirror (she LOVES it!).

Here’s Reese catching up on her Soaps this afternoon… 

Riley enjoying her bottle with her Pumpkin hat from the NICU… her head’s grown!

Reese “wearing” her hat- she wanted to be festive too!

Then it was time for our HaLLoWeEN PhOtO ShOOt!!

I promise Riley loved it… ya right…  Look at their size difference:

See– she still is loving it. hee hee  Reese does not mind a bit!

Sweet Riley- she’s ready for some candy!

Sweet Reese… still sleeping

Cali joined in on the fun!

Riley had her first pediatrician appointment today.  Dr. Pam said she looks perfect and healthy!  Praise God!  She now weighs 4 pounds 1 ounce- she’s gaining weight- whoohoo!!  We go back with both girls on November 10th for their 2 month appointment.  I can’t believe they’ll be 2 months old (actual age, not adjusted- based on original due date, Nov. 12) on November 4th!  WOW!  

Happy Halloween, yall!  

Love,

The Owen Family

Richey and I each took a turn ALONE with the girls while the other voted today.  All went well.  Except the waiting for an hour to vote part- yuck!  But… glad to do it and glad to do it early.  Here are some pics of the girls today.  They slept better last night and today too- they’re getting used to being with each other and not waking each other up as much.  Thank you for your prayers for our little family!  And please continue to pray for Baby Witt.

Enjoy these precious faces!

I realized today (and counted my many blessings!) as I was scrolling through my “speed dial” on my cell phone, I passed right over ‘NICU’ and didn’t call… today was the first day in 55 days that I did not dial that number to check on how my girls were doing.  I would sleep with the phone by my head, carry it everywhere- it was never out of sight, off, or with the ringer off.  Just in case they called.  I would hold my breath when they did- praying it wasn’t “bad” news… never was which I’m thankful for, but worried none the less.  What a journey this has been.  My girls are healthy and home and we cannot stop praising our God!  Remember the wonders he has done, the miracles… Psalm 105:5

So… last night was our first night with BOTH blessings home!  Did we get any sleep, you ask?  Well… not much!  We were getting pretty good taking turns getting up with Reese, but with two hungry babies… they each need one of us!  As hard as it is in the night, I just love staring at their sweet faces- praying over them and singing songs, of course (if you know me, you know there’s a song for everything… even if I just make it up!).  When Riley eats, she always has one (sometimes two) arm straight up in the air with her hand wide open — we say it’s her “Hallelujah to Jesus” for her yummy food. ha!  So of course we sing every song with “Hallelujah” in it– even… “Hallelujah!  It’s raining men…!”  :)   I’ve got to get a picture… I’ll work on that so you can see!  TOO CUTE!  Both girls are eating well and doing well.  Neither like to have a wet (or dirty) diaper and will let you know it!  They crack me up together- today, Riley had the hiccups while Reese was trying to sleep– What I heard over and over was:  Riley hiccup, Reese grunt, Riley hiccup, Reese grunt… it was as if Riley was bothering Reese- interrupting her sleep.  ha!  We’re enjoying this precious time with our girls (Richey’s home for a week!) and appreciate your prayers for their continued health and for our adjustment with two!  I’ll post pictures tomorrow– promise!  

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Guest post by Riley Grace!

I am so excited to be home home with Mommy, Daddy, my sister Reese, and Cali!  I will miss my nurses in the nicu though because I love them so much and they took such good care of my sister and me.  Mom and Dad say they are blessings!  We can’t wait to see everybody at the NICU Reunion in April!  I bet we’ll be A LOT bigger then!  My car seat was nice and cozy on the way home… but a pretty big compared to me!  See:

I’ve loved being so close to my sister again!  I haven’t been so close since in mommy’s tummy.  She’s a lot bigger than me right now– look! (I’m about 4 lbs and she’s about 6 lbs).  I’ll catch up though!

We’ve enjoyed sleeping by each other and snuggling.  

Mom and Dad say they hope we do that tonight so they can sleep a bit.  Thank you for all your prayers for my healing.  I am home and all I got sent home with was– vitamins!  No more monitors or anything- yay!  Can’t wait to keep you posted on more adventures…

Love,

Riley

and that’s where I’ll be tomorrow afternoon!!!  I’ll give you all the details of my first day home- stay tuned!

Love,

Riley

Reese continues to thrive at home- her cheeks are getting chubbier by the day!, her appetite’s growing, her coos continue to melt our hearts, her grunts continue to crack us up (I need to post a video soon– you’ll laugh!), and she’s growing out of some of her preemie clothes.  What a precious time these past two weeks has been: a time of little sleep, but… lots of love.  We can’t wait for Riley to soon follow suit!  

Riley is still losing some weight (she doesn’t have much to spare!), but is eating very well, so no one’s too worried.  They think she’ll just need a higher calorie diet (fortifying mommy’s milk with more formula than currently).  Pray that she continue to gain weight!  She’s 2 times smaller than Reese now… but she’ll catch up.  The dr. still thinks Riley will come home either Tuesday or Wednesday (despite some weight loss… but wants her to gain over the next couple days).  We CAN’T WAIT!!  We know she, too, will thrive at home.  We can’t wait for the girls to be together again… it’s been almost 2 months since they’ve been side by side (in my belly!).  Thank you again for your prayers.  

Would you please pray for our friend’s nephew, Witt?  He was born on October 23 and is in the NICU at Texas Children’s.  He has been diagnosed with Edward’s Syndrome.  Click here or on the “button” below for the blog with all the latest news and specific prayer requests for Witt and his family.  We have not stopped praying for this precious baby and wonderful family.  Their faith is amazing.  Thank you!

I will leave you with a few pics of my girls… I cannot stop thanking the Lord for them and their health.  More soon….

I took Reese to the pediatrician again today for a weight check and she weighs… drum roll please…

5 pounds 13 ounces!

The doctor said that she’s doing so well gaining weight (that’s over a pound since she’s been home!), that she doesn’t need to come back weekly for weight checks!  We will go back in a couple weeks for her next Synagis shot.  She’s doing great and is as precious as ever.

Riley News:

Hopefully… if she continues to gain weight… Riley will be home by the middle of next week!!!!!!!!!!  We brought her car seat in for the car seat study, signed the consent for her Synagis shot (only happens right before a baby leaves!!), and her hearing test is scheduled.  We can’t wait to bring our little peanut home!  Last night she lost a bit of weight, so please pray that she continue to GAIN weight and regulate her body temp well.  She is 3 pounds 13 ounces… offically 2 POUNDS smaller than Reese– crazy!  She’ll catch up though!  We’ve done a fine job “fattening up”  Reese and will do the same for Riley!  UNBELIEVABLE that this “NICU journey” is coming to an end… a whole new one is about to begin!  

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good!  1 Chronicles 16:34

Riley is no longer in her isolette- she’s now in an open bed today!!!!  YEA!!!!!!  She’s not quite 4 pounds yet, but close (3lbs 13 oz) and is regulating her temp on her own.  This is a step towards home… pray that she is ready to come home soon.

Reese had her follow up with her opthamologist yesterday.  The blood vessels in babies eyes are one of the last things to fully develop in the womb, so they are at risk for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) – abnormal growth of the blood vessels.  This can cause a range of things: from needing glasses at an early age to blindness in very severe cases.  Both girls saw the eye doctor in the NICU and both looked ROP free.  Reese had her follow up at the doctor’s office and her blood vessels in her eyes are almost fully developed and look good!  So the dr. will see her back in 8 weeks to check again.  He saw Riley the day after (Wed) in the NICU and she looks good too– YAY!  Pray for continued development of my little girls 

Both girls are doing great eating AND gaining weight!  We go for another weight check for Reese tomorrow (Fri)– last week she was 5lbs 1/2 oz… any guesses on her latest weight??!  I KNOW she’s gained… I’ll keep you posted  Riley has consistently been gaining weight the past several days- thank you, Lord!  (2 nights ago she was 3 lbs 13.8 oz… I’ll get the latest today!)  She has bottle feeds every feed time (no more tube feeds!) and is finishing her bottle every time.  She’s up to 34cc’s… and yesterday was still hungry when I gave her her bottle, so she got 10 more… she ate a grand total of 42cc’s!  It’s a record!  She’s hilarious when she eats- she’s easily distracted.  She’ll be eating just fine, then she’ll hear a baby cry and her eyes get real big and she starts looking around and stops sucking.  Once the baby stops, she continues to eat- so funny!  I told her nurse that Riley thinks she’s the “boss” because she’s been there the longest and feels she must check on everyone! ha!  Within the next few days she’ll hopefully be out of her isolette and into an open bed!!!!  Pray that she continue to gain weight and regulate her body temp well.  

We can’t wait to have both girls home!  Don’t get me wrong… we realize it will require LESS sleep which seems virtually impossible at this point, but not traveling back and forth to the hospital (it’s not but 20 min away, but still…) will be amazing.  But… we will miss those sweet doctors and nurses!  They’ve been a huge part of our lives for 50 days and counting.  What a blessing they are to our family!  Thank you to all our NICU nurses- you are precious to us and we cannot stop thanking the Lord for you!  

Here’s a few pics!  Notice Reese and Riley are wearing the same hat– you can really tell their size difference.  

Riley update:

* she drank her WHOLE bottle from ME (first time!) Saturday and the WHOLE bottle from Richey on Sunday!!  The other times it’s been from the sweet nurses. (35cc’s)

* she’s now taking bottles every two feeding times, then the next in her tube (and repeat!)

*they started fortifying her milk (she’s still tolerating mommy’s milk!!) with formula for extra calories

* she’s precious as ever- alert and will just stare at you- so sweet!

Prayers for Riley:

*she’s using so many calories taking her bottle, she’s been losing some weight- 3 lbs 9 oz now.  (anyone else wish they could lose weight FROM EATING??  Sounds great to me! But not for my little girl…). Pray she GAIN weight!

*Pray for her continued development in her “suck, swallow, breathe”

* Pray that she can take off with these things, so she can come home soon– it looks like it will be a little while.  

Reese update:  she’s doing well!  Still eating well (3oz most feeds!!!) and I’m sitting her typing while listening to her sleep– that’s right: listening to her sleep!  She’s quite noisy.  She’s so much fun- we LOVE having her home.  I’m working on that “nap when she naps” thing… pray Richey and I feel rested, for peace as it’s difficult having one twin home and one still in the nicu, and to adjust well.  Thank you!