The Twins are ONE!!!

My little 23 weekers and 5 day twins turned one today. Hard to believe that one year ago they had less than a 50% chance to live. They showed them didnt they.

When they were born:
Crystal was 1lb 6.5ozs and 11 3/4 inches long
Courtney was 1lb 2ozs and 10.5 inches long

Today they are:
Crystal is now 15lbs 4ozs and 25 3/4 inches long
Courtney is now 17lbs 9.5ozs and 23 3/4 inches long

We took the girls out to the Mall of America for their big day. We went to Under Water Adventures and the girls loved it. They seem to really enjoy watching the fish. After lunch we all went down to build-a-bear. They both got a special bear and an outfit for their bear. Crystal stood on the pump to help stuff her bear, it was so cute. Than we just bummed around the mall for awhile till we came home. We got an ice cream cake for them and they did okay with it. Courtney played with it more than Crystal did which is odd. Courtney loved the balloons caregivers gave them. It was so cute to see her play with them. They had a great day. Hard to believe my babys are a year old already.

We are now getting ready for our big party on Saturday. We cant wait to see eveyone that day.

A fun day

We had visitors today, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa plus Great Aunts. It was so great to see everyone, they havent seen the babies since Aug. when they were still in the NICU. It was lots of fun. Crystal loved seeing everyone and Courtney did good in the beginning than got fussy than was better again. It was so nice to see their great grandparents get to hold them for the first time. Cant wait to see them all again.

After they left both girls took a long nap, it was nice and quite around here. After naps and lunch we packed up the kids and went to Burnsville Mall to see the Easter Bunny. They did great with the bunny, I thought I would get a reaction from Courtney since she has never been around that kind of thing before but she was wonderful.

Tonight was the first night that we had family hours for both kids at once, It was after they both were in bed so it wasnt that bad but we do everything for them both all day anyway so it not that bad. It is nice not having any nurses around the house and we can just be a family with a set of demanding twins and i am not talking medical...lol

Two more days till they will be one....

Big Day

Crystal went down to her cousin Jaynes first birthday party. She did great being around everyone and she isnt much shorter than her. She loved the cookie Jayne offered her, than she had to have one of her own. She did two new things today....she stood on her own and took a step before she wobbled and tipped over....should be walking soon. Second of all she was sitting on my lap and stood up on her own with no help. Such a big girl.

Courtney is doing good. She is starting to take naps in her crib just like her sister, she seems to be doing okay with it. She dosent stay on her tummy anymore, she rolls almost the minute you put her on her belly. She is starting to put weight on legs more, she is trying to stand up, which is a big step for her.

weights are in

Well when we been doing pounds it has been different and wrong than what the kilograms have been....so i will be going back and fixing the old ones.

Crystal is 15lbs 4ozs
Courtney is 17lbs 9.5ozs

Their length is:
Crystal is 25 3/4 inches
Courtney is 24 3/4 inches

Head width:
Crystals head is 15 3/4 cm
Courtneys head is 16 1/2cms

As of right now both kids have grown 14 inches since birth, hard to believe. They still seem so tiny but they have gotten huge.

Both have been great today. Crystal went out to target and fell asleep like always. Courtney was trying to beat up her sister today and di great in the highchair for lunch.

They did new things

We will start with little Miss Courtney Jo....She finally grabbed her foot when she was laying on her back. It was so cute. Than I gave her some teething toast thing and she loved it. She did great with sucking and chewing on it all by herself. She is such a happy baby again, it is so nice.

Crystal is almost standing on her own. She pushed herself away from the couch and would stand some on her own than lean forward and catch herself on her sisters chair than walked towards her all on her own. She was also going from kneeling to standing while holding on to things. Such my fearless child. She also had a bow in her hair.

Toddler Tuesday

We went out to the Mall of America for toddler Tuesday to see the Teddy Bear band. I been seeing this group since I was three years old. It was Courtney's first time out at the mall and did great. They both loved the music and dancing. Grandma Hitchcock came with to enjoy the day out at the mall. We also got to see Roman and Olivia too. It was a great day for everyone.

Today the girls are 8 months corrected and will be ONE in 7 days. Hard to believe.

Courtney is such a happy baby again. I love how she smiles at everything and everyone. She got a toy to make noise and sing better than her sister, that was so good to see. She is catching up on things fast. Everything is going into her mouth now.

Crystal is doing good, she is still on the go all the time. She was really tired tonight so she fell asleep right after her bath. We think she might be pushing through her other tooth because she wouldnt eat her food tonight.

New Goals for the girls

We had OT this morning, and both girls were showing off. They both got some of the goals checked off for completing them, such a happy mom. I work so hard with these two. Than they both did new things today. Crystal went from a kneeling position to a standing position, all on her own. She will be skipping crawling i think. Courtney would try to stand and put pressure on her legs, and she was happy about it.

We got a package in the mail from Joan. We want to thank you for the outfits, we love them. Crystal enjoys opening the gifts herself...Courtney is still learning. The party should be fun.

A day out with Auntie

Courtney is doing a whole lot better today. Her heart rate is a little higher than normal but I still believe that is all due to her weight gain. She was such a happy girl today, hardly any fussing today. She loved playing with her balloon again, it makes her laugh so much. She has such a sweet laugh, I love hearing it.

Crystal went out to the mall with mommy, daddy and Auntie Janelle. Plus she got to see her Auntie Jeni at work. She also got to ride on the carousel, she loved riding on the animal. She sat there so perfect, I was so proud of her. I cant wait to try her sister on there. She enjoyed spending the day with her young auntie.

10 more days

10 more days till the twins are ONE....

Crystal is getting to be a big girl. She learned a new trick tonight, we have those blue toddler rocker chairs and she was on the side holding on to it watching her sister, but instead of standing still she will walk along it while holding on. I am so proud of her but at the same time sad because my little girl isnt so little. I tried to see if she would do that along the couch and she will a little bit but than she will let go and try to stand on her own. My little Daredevil.

Courtney has been a happier baby today than the last few days. She loved playing with the balloon we got at the store yesterday, she would even fuss when it would get away from her. It was so cute. She is doing well with rolling over, if she would just move her hand to a different spot she could roll form back to belly. She can do better with going different directions from belly to back than her sister.

We all got a good laugh tonight. Crystal was on her passy and she puked a little. It went all over Courtney and her chair...it was a little bit. But Courtney stared at her like...what the hell sister? Than Crystal decided she would play in and get it all over Courtney. Courtney is such a tropper when it comes to her sister.

A big thank-you to Grandma Jackie and Auntie Tina and Shannon for the gifts in the mail today. They love their new stuffed chicks, Courtney didnt want to let it go.

They are getting bigger

The new weights are:
Crystal is now 15lbs 8ozs.......she gained 8ozs in a week
Courtney is now 17lbs 15ozs

We had such a fun morning in our house....once it again it was Courtney. She was taking a nap in the playpen and doing just fine....than her nurse noticed that her o2 stat was dropping, she when she went to get her she heard the sound of air. By the time the nurse picked her up she was already turning purple. She rolled over while taking a nap and the tubing pulled and out came the trach. We had to cut her trach ties off to get the old one out and a new one in. She was put on four litters of oxygen for about an hour before she came back down. She turned completely purple something new for me to see, but I did well when I was helping the nurse. She was a happy baby the rest of the day. Least most of it....she has been very fussy for some odd reason so we will be calling the doctor tomo and see what they say.

Crystal has been an angel. She was a happy girl today, she seems to be good when her sister is misbehaving. Everytime she hears her sister she has to check and make sure she is okay. Such a sweet big sister.

Something new

Crystal learned yesterday but more today.....she can clap now. It is so cute watching her do it. She is eating a lot better now. She is now on Pedisure instead of her formula, and she loves it plus it more calories. We practiced her crawling today and she is getting so close. I am hoping to have her moving by her birthday.

Courtney has been a very fussy baby lately. If she isnt sitting up or on her belly she isnt happy. We are wondering if she is cutting that new tooth yet. I gave her one of Crystals nuks and she kept it in her mouth and chewed on it, and than played with it....Crystal was not happy about this though.

We took the girls out for a walk....they love sitting together and cuddling together. They are even so nice to each other when they sit together.

St. Pattys Day

Crystal went out to a multiple of moms meeting, she got to play with other babies. She had a blast with that. Than she went down to where mommy use to work and got to see all of mommys coworkers. She heard a baby crying and it scared her. She is getting more active.

Courtney was a little crabby today since she didnt take an afternoon nap. She can sit up for long compared to her sister. She can just sit there and be happy, but her sister has to be on the go all the time.

They were were St. Patty's day shirt and little headbands, they were so cute. They were looking at each other like what is on your head sis.

Such a fun day

Since it was such a wonderful day outside, me...Auntie Penny....Auntie Jenni and the nurses packed up the kids and went to the zoo. We got to do all the outside exhibits. The girls shared a seat in the stroller and even shared it when they fell asleep....it was so cute. I carried Courtney and Penny and Jeni took turns with Crystal. They both had a blast.

Courtney is doing great today. She was so happy today, and hardly any poops.....a big step to being better. She loved her bath until she got water on her face than she threw a fit. She dosent seem to like that.

Crystal tried to start crawling,but still hasnt figured out her feet we are on more day closer to that. She will walk though when you hold on to her fingers. We but the passy on her tonight and we had her laughing so hard, and she has such a cute laugh. She was making funny faces too. She also got to try a pickle today plus ketchup and just like mommy she loves them

Happy Anniversary to me and Jim

The last two pics are from the wedding last year...

One year ago on March 15 we said our wedding vows. And at the time I was about 20 weeks pregnant with the twins. It seems so long ago. It sure has been a hard year for us but we made it through it and are still going strong.

Me and James went out to the history museum without the kids. It was fun, he has never been there and I love going there. It was fun just being us, and the kids were well behaved at home well we went out this time.

Courtney is doing great today. We put her in the excersaucer and she can reach the ground and put pressure on her legs, she is getting so long. She was on her belly but when she heard her Grandma Becky and Grandpa she rolled right over to look at them. She was even trying to pull out her sisters trach.

Crystal is to big for her own birches. She was standing up holding on to me and I let go of her and she stood up on her own for about 15 seconds, she did one other time too. She is going to skip right over crawling. She did pull her trach out but she stayed pink and was happy as can be. She got to go over and vist Grandma Hamilton.