The Lighten Family Blog

Kasey holding the girls together for the first time

Tomorrow will be one week since our Abby and Claire were born. They are as healthy as we could hope for at this time. They are breathing on their own and are free from infection. We have been able to hold the babies every day.

We are starting to get an idea of what the next few weeks will be like. In short, the reason that the babies will be at the hospital for the next five to seven weeks is that they need to learn how to eat. They started off receiving almost all of their nutrients through an IV and very little of Kasey's milk. At this point they are about 50% IV and 50% Kasey's milk. Next week some time they will be getting all of their nutrients from Kasey's milk and they will take out the IV's. Sounds easy enough right? The only issue is that they are getting Kasey's milk through a feeding tube. Learning how to eat on their own is the next big hurdle. They will start by getting one feeding from Kasey per day. Once they can handle one they will move to two, then three, four, etc. Once they can feed entirly from Kasey for a full day and maintain their temperature without assistance they will be able to come home. Kasey will be more needed at the hospital as the weeks go by and will eventually need to stay there for a few days. We are so grateful that we have a good ward and family that are so willing to help with our needs at this time.

In the meantime we are trying to keep a schedule. Kasey goes to the hospital every day for a few hours. I go and hold them for an hour or so after work. We can take Morgan and Jake on the weekends, but that only lasts a few minutes before Jake starts messing with machines that are tracking the baby's vital health measurments.

Kasey and I agree that this is harder then we anticipated. While at the hospital we thought that we would kind of enjoy having some time to get prepared for the babies to come home. We would be able to get a full-night sleep and let someone else change the poopie diapers - all while knowing that the twins are getting the care they need. We have found, however, that we really want those girls here with us. The best way I can describe it is that our home feels empty without them. You are suppossed to come home with Mom and the babies. Leaving them at the hospital has been tough for us.

We are happy to know that when we are not at the hospital with them, the girls have each other. A couple of days ago they put Abby and Claire in the same crib. They are now kicking and poking each other all over again. I am sure that it is very comforting for them to be together like they are used to.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support.

Daddy and his three girls. I am in trouble.