On The Go!

In the past two weeks, we have officially graduated from college, organized and sorted through 20+ years of countless memories, spent a day in Chapel Hill, celebrated our anniversary, met Mr. Wuf, celebrated NINE months of the baby girls, endured our first consignor experience at the Triangle Moms of Multiples sale, and been to Williamsburg, VA to ride some roller coasters and go back in time. You would think one would slow down, but we’re getting back in the car and going to Wallace this morning for three days!

So, yesterday the baby girls napped like they’ve never napped before… (maybe we should go on vacation more often?) And, I had one-on-one time with the washing machine. Some might say it’s my new best friend. We have a love-hate relationship.

I can’t believe our girls are nine months old! Why does time have to go by so fast? On Friday, August 8th, we went back to Chapel Hill for our follow-up visit from the NICU to the Special Infant Care Clinic. The girls were tested on developmental skills, both gross and fine motor. We met with a speech pathologist to explore ways we can help the girls begin to develop their speech and language. The girls are right on target for where they should be for their adjusted age (6.5-7 months). They are sitting up on their own, rolling from back to tummy, they support their own weight when we help them stand, and picking/ grasping toys. While they are creating their own language between each other, they are still communicating to us through smiles, giggles, and cries. They are babbling more vowel sounds, and have yet to start the “ba”, “da”, “ga”, and “ma” sounds. Thankfully, the girls don’t need any further services to help them along besides working with them at home. We will go back to Chapel Hill next spring to reevaluate where the girls are at that point in their development.

Last Thursday, the girls had their nine month check-up at our pediatrician. Andrew and I were elated at the news of how much our girls have grown! Leah is 17 lbs., 10 oz. and 27 inches long. Amelia is right at 17 lbs. and is 28 inches long. Amelia is off the charts in her height! And, this is not on the preemie chart! It has been such a humbling gift to see the handiwork of God from 2 lbs. 13 oz. and 3 lbs. 3 oz. to SEVENTEEN pounds!

Since I finished my internship, we have fallen back into a pretty steady routine around here. (For the most part!) I am learning that with two growing (almost toddlers…shh! We don’t like to speak of that word right now… I am totally in denial. They will be babies forever…) that every day is a new day. Each day brings new adventures in the world of Amelia and Leah. The girls are eating so well, and are consistent in sleeping 12 hours each night! We have had our nights when teeth rule the world, and we all just want to go to sleep. These are the nights that are followed by a minimum of two cups of coffee the next morning, and sometimes those cups are microwaved. Speaking of teeth, the girls officially have a tooth! It felt like we were working on them for forever!

The girls are not crawling yet, but if crawling were considered “scooting backwards” then the girls are professionals! I can go into the bedroom for a hot second, and come out to find Leah across the room and underneath the end table. We are starting to see little personalities develop! Amelia is our chill baby and Leah is our feisty one. Leah doesn’t like anyone to wake her up, she’ll get up on her own just fine. Amelia will wake up happily babbling and will entertain herself until I get into their nursery. They both ‘blow bubbles’ and laugh when they see the other do so. Amelia has started doing this fake cough, and Leah finds it really funny! They love to clasp their hands together and grab a hold of their feet. As much as they love their Wubbanubs, they love their fingers more. Leah sucks her two middle fingers, and Amelia sucks her thumb. As much as it worries me, it is nice to be able to quickly know who is who. We try to keep the television at a minimum for the girls during the day, but their favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. They both love music, and their favorite toys right now are their musical instruments. They love to ring the bells and shake the maracas! They could easily sit in their exercausers all day long. They love them! I love seeing them interact with one another when they are playing in them. They’ll chatter in twin language and giggle when someone does something silly! It absolutely melts my heart. Both girls are fascinated with jewelry, and don’t quite know what to think of shoes yet! They love story time during the day, and cuddling before bed time. They both love their fruits and vegetables, but their favorites are blueberries, bananas, and squash. We are still doing bottles (they’ve yet to hold their own…that will be a glorious/ bittersweet day!) but they tried a few sips of water for the first time the other day. They didn’t know what to think at first, but came back wanting more! And one thing about it… these girls adore their Daddy! It makes me fall in love with Andrew even more when I see them all playing in the floor together.

Overall, the girls are doing so good. Amelia will have a follow-up with UNC Cardiology next week to check the status of her VSD. We’re hoping it has closed right along with Leah’s PDA! But, we are incredibly fortunate to have such healthy baby girls considering everything they have faced in their short life. They amaze me every single day, and I am so fortunate to be their mother!

In the coming weeks, I will be doing a series of “Mom” topics here on the blog and one in particular is on being a Consignment Mommy. I had a great first experience at the Triangle Mom’s of Multiples sale, and I look forward to sharing my experience with you! This series is going to be very real and fun… who knows, I may even do a post on what to do if your child has a blowout in the exersaucer and some drops out of the seat… cause that totally happened this week. I will spare you the details. I am excited to deliver to you lessons I have been learning in motherhood! Such as, how to take your 9-month old twins to an amusement park!

 

Speaking of amusement parks, we went with Andrew’s family to visit Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens for a few days! We went to Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday and Busch Gardens on Monday. The last time I was at Busch Gardens, I was an awkward freshman in high school who tried to impress everyone by getting on every roller coaster possible. Even though all they wanted to make me do was puke my brains out, but that wouldn’t have been very attractive. So, needless to say the awkward teen who grew up to be a baby mama was a little paranoid to get back on some coasters. Andrew and his brother, Ben, made me ride Griffon for our very first ride. I freaked. Then, they wanted to ride on the front row. I freaked a little more. But, I saw how happy it was making Andrew that I was riding beside him (and that my MIL was thoroughly enjoying herself on the coasters too!) and my fears subsided. We ate lunch in Oktoberfest, and made it just in time for the 12:30 show. The girls were amazed! Thankfully, the majority of the day was overcast and breezy. We spent the afternoon riding more coasters and taking turns watching the baby girls. That was until the monsoon approached that kept us stationed in Oktoberfest for an hour! We decided to stay inside, watch another show, and hoping that the rain would stop by the end of the show. Well, it kept raining…and raining…and raining some more. The girls were getting a little restless, so we decided to make a run for it. With the double stroller covered in rain jackets in tow, we ran…and ran… and ran some more till we got to the car. By the time we all got buckled in, I looked like I had just done the ALS Ice Water Challenge. Despite the rain, we had a great few days! It was so nice to get out of Raleigh and do something different with the girls. The girls also sat in high chairs for the very first time (in a restaurant) this trip! This makes them seem so big, but definitely made things easier with a party of seven! We were sad Daddy had to go back to work yesterday, but it was so nice to have a few days away together as a family!

Well, the baby girls and I are going to be making our way to Wallace soon. We’re looking forward to some morning runs in downtown, a shopping day with Nana, lunch with Uncle Matt, Bulldog football, and a bridal shower for a sweet friend of mine! We really don’t slow down around here, can you tell?

Next week, we will be making a BIG announcement on Simply Divine that I am so excited to tell you all about! No…Amelia and Leah aren’t going to be big sisters…but it’s still big! Stay tuned!!

On the go,

Losing My Marbles

Y’all. My babies turned EIGHT MONTHS old one week ago today! I have found that one month can make all the difference in the world. At seven months, I still saw them as my tiny babies. They were finally starting solids, getting used to their exersaucer, and still fitting in size 2 diapers. So much has happened in this one month!

Such as… the girls experienced their first Fourth of July! They loved the fireworks!

We all met Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato from Veggie Tales! Afterwards, we the girls went to Char Grill for the very first time!

We started running in the new BOB, and we went on our very first double date with the Lee boys!

These girls are hardcore serious about their food now. They love squash, sweet potatoes, and can’t get enough apples! Amelia is way messier when eating than her sister. Let’s just say I may or may not have thrown her in the sink to hose her down a time or two!

The bouncer chairs are a thing of yesterday, “Put us in our exercausers, Mama!”

Their chunky thighs have to be squeezed into their Bumbos.

The play mats are getting too small. The struggle is real when learning how to sit up, but boy are they trying!

And crawling? It’s truly only a matter of days. We could take stock in Infant’s Tylenol and Orajel. Still no teeth yet, and I pray every day that they would bust on through! Until then, the baby girls may just have to go naked. Mama can only change an outfit so many times a day! Darn you, drool. It wasn’t until the other day that it hit me: the girls have officially been outside of my belly, longer than they were inside. That just doesn’t seem real. It truly feels like yesterday that I was eating my weight in Cinnamon Toast Crunch 3+ times a day, and now here we are. In the midst of chaos, a house full of toys and baby gear, and piles of dirty laundry.

Every minute of the chaos is worthwhile as I watch the girls grow and develop. They are such happy babies! Both of the girls smile all of the time, and have the sweetest giggle. It is music to my ears! We can see the bond between them growing. The other day, I was in the kitchen fixing supper when I heard them ‘chattering’ back and forth when Leah started giggling to Amelia. That was a moment I will never forget, until Leah started kicking Amelia in the head that is. Then it was a moment that ended in a dramatic meltdown. Yes, at eight months the love of sisterhood is already beginning.

Their personalities are starting to show, and there are some days I am convinced they switch-up on me! It seems that we definitely have one of each on our hands. Amelia is like her Daddy, calm, laid back, and has sense of humor. This girl can pass some gas with the best of them y’all… I am not even kidding. She loves to make us laugh. If we are laughing, she joins right in! She is also very curious. The other morning, I walked into their nursery to find her head between the cushions in her bumper pad. So, the bumper pads went bye bye! Take a look at our curious little one…

Leah, is her Mama. Through and through. She is into everything and is so ready to be on the go she can’t stand it! Leah loves books and reading. I bought the girls a few toys the other day at Target, what do you think Leah’s favorite is? The shopping bag and the telephone. We are in trouble! Leah is our giggler to the extreme, but she will let you know in a heartbeat when she isn’t happy!

Both of the girls love when Daddy comes home. He always gets the biggest smiles out of them! They are talking up-a-storm! Everything still sounds like bahs and ahs, but we are getting there! They both make the sweetest sound when they are going to sleep and when they first wake up. It’s adorable! Leah loves sticking out her tongue, and Amelia can’t seem to blow enough bubbles. One thing about it? These girls love a ballpark. We loved watching Uncle Matt this past Saturday night!

And another thing? They make the cutest little cows I have ever seen in my life.

 

As for losing my marbles? In a way, I am. The thought of my babies turning ONE? It seriously makes my mind go crazy. How can a year happen so fast? Well, it can. The day the girls were baptized, my sweet MIL gave me a jar of marbles. As the Children’s Ministry Director at Daystar Church in Greensboro, she is responsible for the baby dedications. One thing that she puts together is a jar of marbles for the parents to keep. She was kind enough to share this gift with us on such a special day. In this jar is a marble for every week until Amelia and Leah graduate from high school. We are to take one marble out of the jar each Sunday. This is a reminder for us as parents to never take a moment for granted. Even if they involve monstrous blowouts, absurd amounts of drool, and meltdowns that seem to last as long as an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. These are the moments and the days that I always want to remember. Before I know it, my precious baby cows will be celebrating their first birthday.

Until then, I will just continue losing my marbles!

 

 

 

Two Peas in Pod D: Lessons from a NICU Mom

During the length of time that the girls were in the NICU, I did my best to keep a journal of milestones, feedings, thoughts, prayer requests, etc. I knew that one day I would want to go back and reflect on our time spent in Chapel Hill. In the moment, I imagined that one day I would want to share my experience with another NICU mom. After compiling my thoughts and reflecting on our experience, these are five lessons that I learned in that locked-unit known as the Newborn Critical Care Center.

1. Like a Boy Scout, Always Be Prepared.  

NICU life is not necessarily something you can prepare for mentally, physically, or emotionally. You can try, we did. Andrew and I were at least fortunate enough to attempt at preparing ourselves for what was to come. I was high-risk for the majority of our pregnancy, and we were told early on to have no expectations. My heart breaks for the parents who are not preparing themselves, and BAM! Something goes wrong…the baby comes too early… and you are in the NICU… for good. If you are high-risk and will most likely endure a NICU journey, become familiar with the NICU at the hospital in which you will deliver. Also, research your local hospital. For example, we planned to be at Rex Hospital for our delivery/ NICU stay. It wasn’t until the day I went in for a routine ultrasound that we realized I would have to be bedridden at UNC-Chapel Hill due to the different level of NICU at UNC. The doctors were taking the safe route by sending me to Chapel Hill in case I delivered prior to 32 weeks. The NICU at UNC has the equipment and sufficient resources to care for a micro-preemie, and Rex NICU is only adequate for a baby born closer to 32+ weeks. Prior to delivery, Andrew and I toured the NICU at UNC. It was very sobering. It made us realize that everyday we were able to bake the girls was a tremendous gift. It allowed us to realize that what we were about to face would be one of the hardest challenges either of us have ever had to endure. It helped prepare us for what it would be like when we saw the girls for the first time. I would definitely encourage you to tour the NICU, labor and delivery, etc. It is definitely worthwhile!

2. You are THEIR Voice.

The likelihood that the girls would deliver unexpectedly was high. While in the recovery room and in a highly medicated stupor, the first thing I remember was asking Mama what had happened. Everything happened so fast. It wasn’t until later that the realization hit: I do not know anything about premature babies. Sure, we had toured the NICU, met with neonatalogists, read the Preemies book, but hand-zone what did I really know? How do you change a diaper among all the tubes and wires? How do you hold a 3 lb. baby? What are all these terms being used? What are the rules in the NICU? A pump? What in the world is a pump and how do I use it? How do I check on my babies? What are the steps we have to take to get them home? PDA? What the heck is that? You mean, I need to know the conversion from grams to pounds? Who can be in the NICU? When can we put clothes on them?

Needless to say, I had a lot of questions. Like any new parent, we were (and still are) just as clueless and confused as anyone else. These nurses and doctors are so used to that!! Don’t be afraid to ask any questions whatsoever! Also, due to the simple fact that the medical professionals knew way more than I did I was always afraid to question, why are we doing that? Why aren’t we doing this? After a while, that timid nature went out the window! Remember: you are the parent. These are your babies! You aren’t the first parent to ever question what they are doing and how they are doing it. They understand and are happy to help you understand as well!

3. Where Did Normal Go?  

Ninety-eight days. Throughout our time in the NICU, many people would ask me what I did all day, what a typical day looked like in the NICU, etc. The answer: there is no such thing as a typical day in the NICU. I simply took it day by day. I never knew what to expect when I made that morning phone call to the girls’ nurse (fun fact: I still have the NICU in my favorites four months later, and occasionally call it by accident from time to time!) When you are surrounded by a team of doctors, nurses, monitors, alarms, heart murmurs, eye scans, head scans, echo-cardiograms, feeding tubes, blood transfusions, the sound of Bubble CPAP, TPN, and ventilators, you tend to forget what normal is like. For example, it was the middle of December and we decided to take a day and do some Christmas shopping for our families on Andrew’s day off. The girls had been having an amazing week! They were settling into incubators, continuing to maintain good body temperature, and even being weened off of Bubble CPAP! We had both been every day, and decided we’d be okay to only go see the girls for a little while so we could spend some time together. When we walked in to Pod D, we saw Leah lying on a warmer bed and receiving a blood transfusion. Over the course of the morning, she started showing signs that she was fighting an infection. A team of doctors came to run a series of tests, and needless to say no presents were purchased that day. We had so many ups and downs of trying to get the girls’ home that it felt like it would never, ever happen. I feel that this was the biggest lesson I learned: let go of my plans, let God work in His timing, and take it one day at a time. In the NICU, I was very appreciative for how interactive the nurses allowed me to be with the girls. We would snuggle and do Kangaroo Care, I would change their diapers, bottle feed, take their temperature, and we would read storybooks and sing songs. Four months later, there are still some things I actually miss about being in Chapel Hill. One of them? My trips to the cafeteria to get Mac ‘n’ Cheese, a Peanut Butter cookie, and watch Cedric the Entertainer on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in the lunch hour. It’s the simply things that thrilled me to no end during those days!

4. Thanksgiving Turkey and Christmas Trees.

As I look back on our NICU journey, spending the Holiday season in the hospital was bittersweet. It was really hard to celebrate Thanksgiving in a completely different way, and wake up Christmas morning without my babies at home. While it was not easy, I had to remember that this was also our first Thanksgiving and Christmas as husband and wife. SO, I tried to make things as normal as I could by making this season special in a different way. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve will never go by that I don’t think of our time in the NICU. Why do I love NICU nurses so good? Because they make Thanksgiving and Christmas crafts to treasure. They allow crazy mothers like myself to bring in a Christmas tree to decorate my children’s bed spots. They make Christmas photo shoots happen among tubes and wires. They schedule Santa Claus to visit (and make sure he’s completely germ free nonetheless!) They take Holiday pictures and drink sparkling grape juice with you on New Year’s Eve. They have the heart to make this time special as they can for you. No matter what time of the year that you are in the NICU, make the most of it! We knew when the girls were born at 29 weeks, that UNC- Chapel Hill would be our second home for a while. So, in order to make the most of our time we adjusted our life to a new “normal”. Even if that consisted of tiny foot print crafts, incubator and hospital crib decorations, a new found love for cafeteria Mac ‘n’ Cheese, and an excitement for a peppermint mocha like you wouldn’t believe. It worked and helped us survive three long months!

5. “Did I ever ask you for some ME time, Cora?” – Madea

This lesson made me think of that scene from Madea Goes to Jail, right before Madea takes the “Big” and the “K” off the K-Mart. This was probably the hardest lesson for me to learn! I felt a terrible guilt any time that I was not with the girls. I had to learn that taking time away was something I needed to do for myself, for my husband, and essentially for the girls. The Mama doesn’t need to be stressing, y’all! It’s perfectly okay to take some, “me” time. Trust me, it is hard to come by after you all get home! Andrew and I had only been married for three months when the girls were born. We tried really hard to stay positive and lean on one another through such a trying journey, and one outlook that helped us was seeing that time as a gift to one another. While the girls were in the NICU, we didn’t want it to divide our marriage. We were very intentional about spending time with one another outside of the NICU and taking a “breather” from time to time. On most days, Andrew would meet me at the hospital after work. We always made sure to leave the hospital together, and we treated ourselves by going somewhere to eat afterwards. The last thing I wanted to do when we got home was cook, and it gave us the opportunity to talk to one another and unwind. Honestly, I don’t even think I went to the grocery store for a big trip until the girls came home. Three months! I know, terrible. The only thing in our house was milk, bottled water, and ingredients for lactation cookies… my poor, poor husband. There were many people that gave us restaurant gift cards during this time and that was unbelievably helpful!! (Andrew was very appreciative!)

While it was helpful to stay positive and have time together, I never gave myself a mental break. I knew going into our journey at Chapel Hill that the road was going to be long and hard. When the girls were born, I immediately masked my fear and wore strength. I knew I had to be strong for my daughters and my husband. A word of advice for other NICU Mom’s? You don’t have to be strong all the time! Since the majority of our NICU journey was during the Holiday season, I kept myself way too busy to make time to break down. At the very end of our journey and in the slow days it took to bring the girls home, my emotions were coming to a breaking point. Did I give myself time? No. I kept on truckin’ as I hurriedly put together a nursery and bought every hand sanitizer and Lysol can at Target. So, when did they all come out? During an episode of Law and Order: SVU. Three weeks after we brought the girls home. Out of no where. It was the episode where Elliot’s wife, Kathy, gets into a car accident with Olivia and she goes into labor. I LOST IT LIKE A MAD WOMAN. The girls were in their cribs, Andrew was fixing bottles, and I was doing the hideous ugly cry in the chair. I probably cried, and cried hard for a solid hour. During an episode of Law and Order, nonetheless. That’s what did it.

My advice? Take time for yourself to reflect on the process. Don’t let it all build up! It’s unbelievably hard. Every time I had to leave the girls and walk in the door without them was hard. Every time I walked into their nursery and they weren’t there, I got tears in my eyes. When I was three hours away from them on Christmas morning, my heart was breaking. I’ve been there, and I’ve learned. I had been so strong, and when we finally came home I thought to myself, “I did it! Without breaking down! I’m good!” No. Somewhere, it is buried. Someday, it will come out. Take you some “me” time, Mama. Just don’t take the “Big” and the “K” off the K-Mart when you do. We all know some days in the NICU make you want to…

I hope these lessons from one NICU Mom to another were helpful! If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to comment below. You can also reach me at marykwhite10@gmail.com!

Washed By Water

Well, I promised you that my blog posts would be few and far between this summer! We have been busy bees working hard and playing hard! Just a quick update on our family of four since the last time I gave an update was…Andrew’s birthday…that was what? Over a month ago!

So here is how it’s gone down.

We traveled to Duplin County for Memorial Day weekend. Had some chicken wings…they were finger lickin’ good!

We saw the baby brother off to Martinsville, VA where he has been doing his thing playing ball for the Mustangs! We are going to see him play in two weeks! [Insert my squeal through your computer…now.]

I may or may not have put the girls in the wrong crib…twice. We may or may not have put them in the wrong hats…twice. This identical thing? It’s getting a little more difficult!

I started full-time at March of Dimes! (I am already half-way through! Just how fast is time going?… and so thankful for a job that lets these two tag along!

Our porch got pressure washed and two days later we all had a sinus infection…pollen, you will not be missed at this house.

I grabbed my girlfriends and we took a trip to the BBQ capital of North Carolina to shop for the girls in a warehouse… it’s not sketchy at all. You can check out the adorable clothes here.

I realized I graduated high school five years ago. That was a nostalgic day, you can read about it here.

The girls turned SEVEN MONTHS OLD! They now weigh 15 lbs. and have mastered tummy time, rolling over, and giggling like crazy! The biggest news of all? We were given the ‘okay’ to take the girls off the special preemie formula! GLORY. HALLELUJAH. AMEN! This was a humongous step! They have adjusted very well to the up&up brand. Such an answered prayer! We have started sweet potatoes, squash, and apples. They can’t get enough apples! We drool NONSTOP. They’ve already tried to see if they can put their whole fist in their mouth. Amelia is blowing ‘drool bubbles’ and it’s the most precious thing I have ever seen…until Leah does it. I’m always in a ‘it’s the most precious thing I have ever seen’ cycle. We are amazed every single day at how well they are growing and developing. If only time could slow down!

Andrew worked his last day as General Manager at Falls Village!

We literally packed up our whole apartment (it felt like it anyway! You need a moving truck when you travel with two babies!) and took off to Topsail Island for a week of vacation!

Andrew celebrated his first Father’s Day! Besides the fact I had the stomach virus, it was a really special day. The girls were baptized! What a sweet day to dedicate our girls to be raised to serve our Heavenly Father than on Father’s Day! We had a wonderful day with family and friends. It was incredibly special to baptize the girls at the church I grew up in, the church where Andrew and I got married, and the same church that has prayerfully and graciously supported us through this journey into parenthood. You can watch the service here.

Our week at the beach was absolutely incredible. I don’t think we realized how much we needed that time together! If you and I had another three hours, than maybe I would blog about our whole week. Seeing that I have dishes in the sink, clothes in the washing machine, and no sheets on the bed a quick overview will have to suffice.

I got a little red, go figure. Even with 50+ on! Darn you fair skin. I read this book with my toes in the sand, it was hilarious. You should check it out! Andrew and Daddy caught a few fish…and a few sharks. You think I got in the water after that? Um, no. Just the toes! My heart melted when I put the girls in their bathing suits. We have some pretty cute beach babes! We ate a lot of seafood, and I don’t regret the first fried shrimp or fried hush puppy that I put in my mouth. I ate a salad for dinner tonight, it totally balances out! ha! We got to hang out with family, fun times! Noah put me under a magic spell, I totally might still be a lizard. Not quite sure! Andrew got stuck in the Dairy Queen, while Mama, the girls, and I battled Big Bertha II in the car. Is it bad that the lightening scared us more so than the girls? Who are the babies, now?! We stopped at the Blueberry Festival to see ‘Aunt Roo’ on the way back to Raleigh, and got some amazing blueberries from Jenna’s family. Ivanhoe Farms. AMAZING BLUEBERRIES, for real. Sadly we had to come back to Raleigh and missed Liza and Blake’s wedding! She looked absolutely beautiful, and in true Blake fashion he was rocking the skinny tie and vans. Welcome to the family, Liza!

 

 

 

  

Then, reality hit. Vacation was over.

We unpacked and moved back home.

Andrew started his new position at Capital Crossing this past Monday, and I continued the grind at Suite 100.

Are you spinning yet? I know I just threw a whirlwind at you! Needless to say, the White family is still spinning. We will see you back next month for a family update!

Because let’s face it… it’s summertime and the livin’ is easy. (Easily chaotic!)

Can we go back to Topsail already?

Happy Thursday!

 

 

 

Seasons of Our Lives: Five Years Later

Six years ago, I was a rising high school senior in search of the best yearbook theme. As editor-in-chief, my creative juices were constantly flowing as I sought out to make our yearbook the best. Living in Wallace, 95.1 WRNS was a must-have preset station on any car radio. On the last day of school, I was on my way home when I heard the song. The song that I would turn into our yearbook theme, Seasons of Our Lives. The song that six years later is still applicable to my life, but in a different way.

Three weeks ago, my parents traded in my very first car. The same car that played this song repeatedly the summer of 2008. The same car that drove me to my very first job at ACE Hardware, yes I know. This girly girl worked in a hardware store, I can’t believe it either. The same car that heard countless conversations, endured loud and obnoxious jam sessions, saw laughter and tears, sped to Wallace-Rose Hill, held more girls than safety allowed, took trips to TI, drove me to college, and always led me home. The same car that saw me grow up. When I found out that my precious ‘gold chevy cobalt’ would soon be sold for its parts and metal, it got me thinking about just how fast my life is going. This song, “Never Gonna Feel Like That Again”, rings true to most anyone. We all endure different seasons of life. What we’ve done to this point cannot be undone, but what we do next is still unwritten. We are all writing new chapters of our lives. We are all running different races, when time is rushing by us like the wind. We all have to grab each moment that we can because, why? We’re never gonna feel like this again.

When I was at work today, I happened to write down today’s date, June 9th. It dawned on me that five years ago today I graduated high school. I about fell out of my chair! Seriously? Have I really been out of high school for five years? It honestly feels like yesterday that I spent that summer with friends, family, and getting ready to leave for college. Has college really already happened? Yes. Um…When did that go down? Am I now married with two babies? Lord, have mercy on my soul!

I still remember when I was in middle school and would dream about the day I got to drive a car, have a cell phone, my high school graduation, what college would be like, falling in love, who would I marry, what my wedding day would be like, when would I have babies, how many would I have… ya know, the usual. I was real awkward in middle school…I dreamed a lot seeing that my reality consisted of lime green braces, glasses, make-up lines, unruly hair, and a wardrobe I didn’t know quite how to put together. Needless to say, this awkward, awkward preteen has now grown up to realize how important it is not to measure life, but to live it.

Life is consisted of many moments that we either allow ourselves to grab, or pass by. I have seen how fast life can happen, and I have seen how quickly life can be taken away. As I spent time reflecting on these past five years, I realized there is a reason as to why God limits our days. So we make each day precious.

In this new season of life as a wife and mother, my dreams are a little different. In our marriage, Andrew and I share each others dreams. We dream together. As a mother, I am so excited to continue to see how God works through Amelia and Leah’s life as they grow and become dreamers themselves. While it is bittersweet to see how fast some pivotal life moments have come and gone, I am excited to watch those same life moments play out as a mom. One dream that I have for my girls is that they embrace their childhood. I am already playing against the clock as to how fast this is all going to go by, I don’t want them to speed up the process by wishing it away.

I have noticed that some kids and teenagers are already trying to be ‘grown-up’ in a sense. I don’t want Amelia and Leah to have this mentality. I want them to know there will come a time to be a grown up and do grown up things, but God blesses you with only one childhood… so embrace it and be young. I want them to cherish their childhood because there is plenty of time to be a grown up later! It’s way more fun to get Seventeen magazine in the mail versus seventeen bills.

As their mother, I pray that I will remember not to measure life but to live it as well. I don’t want to get caught up in the urgency to reach milestones, and miss the sweet days as we strive towards them. In this season, I am simply pursuing Jesus in the midst of all the imperfections. I am daily seeking to know Christ more so that my home will see and know Him more everyday to. What a joyous season He has me in!

If you had asked me on my graduation day, “Where will you be five years from now?” I wouldn’t have said a wife and mother. The Lord has taken me along a journey that has blown my mind. Where will I be five years from now? Let’s just say I’m taking it a day at a time. I am making these days precious because this season shall pass, and I know I’ll never feel like this again.

Till the next season,

 

 

 

If Only I Had Four Hands

We have all said at one point or another, “If only I had more time.” Well. While more time would be nice, another set of hands would be more beneficial. I have learned when I am alone with the girls how much I appreciate the times when someone is here to help me! When bottle feeding, you can only feed one baby at a time while the other screams her head off. You can only change one diaper at a time. You get the picture! Being a Mama of twins is crazy work, people. Crazy work. On Monday morning, I literally said out loud, “If only I had four hands!” We had quite the Monday morning before Nana and Mama rescued all of us. The girls were due to eat at 9 o’clock, and so I woke up a little early to get dressed and ready before I had to feed them. While I was getting ready in our bathroom, I heard Leah scream bloody murder into the monitor. I was scared, and at the same time I was proud. I was proud that my little girl had such strong lungs to make that loud of a noise! I quickly ran into their nursery and my heart literally stopped. Half of Leah’s face and her crib sheet was covered in blood. I picked her up, placed her on the changing table, (all the while trying not to hyperventilate and freak out), and started to investigate. Is it a nose bleed? What could it be? When I saw that her ‘claws’ (I do trim their fingernails. Us girls do have manicure time!) had scratched her nose in just the right place, I calmed down. But, holy moly. It was a mess! She scratched herself good fashioned and her little scratch would not stop bleeding! So, I did what my Daddy always did when he cut himself shaving. I got a wet tea bag.

Picture this: me trying to console Leah with a huge tea bag on her nose, and then I hear the noise that makes any mother cringe. A blowout. Monster blowout. Not from Leah, but from Amelia. So. I have one screaming at her bloody nose, and the other screaming from what is in her pants…and all over her sleeper and crib. These are the moments when mothers of twins wish they had four hands.

Needless to say we survived the bleed and the blowout. Of course, my extra two set of hands (Mama and Nana) arrived after our crazy ordeal and both girls were fed. While knee deep in the chaos, I was wondering why of all times this happened when I was alone. It is almost like the girls knew that Mama was alone, and had conjured up a plan to test my skills. After a few minutes when I was holding two calm babies, that chaotic moment made me realize: I got this. Whenever it is time for me to fly solo at the end of February, we will be okay. Don’t get me wrong, we will have our moments…possibly two or three times a day…but with only two hands: we can do this.

Yesterday, Andrew and I took the girls back to the pediatrician for a check-up. Amelia weighs a whopping 9 pounds, 9 ounces! Leah is following right behind at 9 pounds, 5 ounces! This news made this Mama extremely happy. Especially after Amelia’s blowout the day before I was surprised she hadn’t lost weight! The girls and I enjoyed our time with Nana Shirley yesterday afternoon before her and Mom had to make their way back to Duplin County. Last night, I was thankful Andrew got home in time for the little episode the girls and I experienced. I had changed into my comfy pajamas (wait…did I get out of my pajamas yesterday?), was snuggling with Leah, and the next thing I know is that I had spit-up on my face, in my hair, and it was all over the both of us. Well, this is flattering. Nothing screams good lookin’ quite like a wife covered in spit-up! Welcome home honey! Later, Amelia must have gotten so much entertainment out of her sister spitting up on Mama she wanted to see what all the fuss was about. That is right. Spit-up is my latest hair product.

Today, the girls and I finally did a little photo shoot for them turning 3 months old…last Tuesday. Yes, I am a week late…but the polar vortex came. I am sure they’ll understand one day! I can not believe the girls are three months old. Time is flying by so incredibly fast! This is what I captured of our two sweet girls this afternoon.

Amelia- Teal Headband; Leah- Pink Headband

Andrew and I have loved every single, chaotic, crazy minute of having these two precious girls home. At three months, they are amazing us every day with what they can do. They are our two sweet miracles! They both love to sit on the couch with their mumbo pillows, sit in their bouncer chairs (they are my saving grace!), listen to music, boycott their cribs (they’d rather be held any day), and they have both found their thumb. Dun. Dun. Dun. I have to get up constantly in the middle of the night to give them their pacifier (besides each other, I think it may be their best friend…) and both of them are way more awake between the hours of 7 pm- 12am than during the day… when normal infants are awake. We will get a nightly routine/ bed time worked out one day…hopefully. Amelia is our more vocal child. Both of our girls have found their voices. It is extremely cute! I love to hear them ‘speak’ and especially to one another. Leah is our more chill child. We thought this would be opposite! They both love to kick their legs (future cloggers maybe?) and are tolerable of tummy time. Both of our girls are beginning to focus on different things with their bright, beautiful eyes. It melts my heart when I walk into their nursery and they look up at me. It makes those 4am feedings worth every waking minute! We have almost outgrown the majority of our newborn clothes! I put an outfit on Amelia the other day and she was totally rocking the mid-drift/ muffin top look. I figured her Daddy wouldn’t appreciate that, so I gladly went and put a 0-3 month outfit on my 3 month child! I think I shed a couple of tears. I was that excited! My favorite milestone we are upon is smiling. It is still more spontaneous, but our pediatrician told us to give it a couple of more weeks and it will begin to be reciprocal. I will do a happy dance for sure!

I wanted to do this post so I would always remember what these days were like. Even though the days are long, trying, and crazy, my heart is so full at the end of the day. Being a mom is truly the most rewarding gift.

If only I had four hands.

Happy Wednesday/ almost Thursday everyone!

Mary Kate

They Call Him Babe. Chicky Babe.

When my brother was a sophomore at Harrells Christian Academy, he was given the nickname “Chicky” by the legendary Coach Jack Holley. For the next three years, Chicky was his name. Better yet, Chicky Babe. While all of his classmates, friends, teammates, teachers, and coaches referred to him as Chicky, he was still ‘Matt’ to me. My little brother, Matt. Even though he is almost as tall as a skyscraper, he will always be my ‘little’ brother.

You see, Matt got all of the athletic ability between the two of us. I mean every last bit of it. I would intentionally plan my piano lesson each year with Mrs. Middleton during recess. I was already awkward enough as it is, throw a basketball and a net in the mix? No, thank you. You would get air ball after air ball, and just a long, lanky girl making herself look like a fool. Don’t get me wrong! Just because I am not the athlete like my brother, I was raised to love sports. You couldn’t help but have a love for sports in my family. Sports is kind of a big deal. My goodness, my career goal was sports management before I became a stay-at-home Mama! I grew up watching my older cousins play football at Legion Stadium on Friday nights, cheering for the Wolfpack on Game Day (my Dad’s alma mater… he’s a former football player… ya know, no biggie…), and getting bitten by 7,490,248+ mosquito bites at Art Meyer field watching Matt play Little League in the spring. The mosquito bites only added to my middle school awkwardness. Matt played three sports growing up: football, basketball, and baseball. But, baseball. Baseball was his favorite. We should have probably taken stock in OFF bug spray.

For as long as I can remember, Matt has always shared with us his dream of playing in a Division I sport and being a college athlete. We all have dreams. This was Matt’s dream. And lo’ and behold. He has reached his dream. He did it.

A few weeks ago, I received a text from him. It said, “Don’t give up on your dreams!” Okay, this made my eyes  water. The next text followed with a picture of his jersey and his locker plate. Maready 25. Now. Everyone knows my hormones are trying to get “back in order” after having these two babies. I was on my way to church upon receiving this message. When I got to church, everyone who saw me more than likely had the reaction, “Oh, she needs our prayers. Something is obviously wrong with her! She looks like a raccoon from all that mascara! Bless her heart…” Yes. I was that overtaken by this simple message. My little brother is a college athlete. He is playing Division I baseball. He did it! In my opinion, every 7,490,248+ mosquito bite that I got while cheering him on was worth it… for that moment.

Tomorrow, Matt has his home opener at Brooks Field in Wilmington. After 15 years of practices and games, he will take the mound as a Division I athlete. Now, let me tell you the back story. Matt is not a scholarship recipient. He was not recruited. He did not go to UNCW with the intention of playing baseball. After high school, Matt was doubting his position to ever accomplish his dream to be a college athlete. In this day and time, without any recruitment or a scholarship offer, the chances you have to make the team are slim. Matt was given one try out. He made it. He was given the chance to prove himself as a player during the off season. And, he did. As proud as I am to say my little brother is a baseball player for UNC-Wilmington, I am more proud to say my little brother did not give up. He ran towards the dream God placed on his heart when he was little. Now, he is playing for the Glory of God and living out his dream.

What is your dream? We all dream and have goals that we strive to reach. To see Matt accomplish this dream of his has been a joy to witness. This made me realize that sometimes the journey to reach and accomplish our dreams is one of the best parts of the dream itself. Sometimes what happens along the way even turns out to be more meaningful and fulfilling than the end result we had in mind because of who we become and what we experience along the way. Dreams are unpredictable. We don’t know where they’ll take us, what will happen along the way, or where we’ll wind up in the end. But in all of that uncertainty, there’s One who is the same “yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He’s the same one who said, “I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19) What God does in your life will always be changing, always surprising. Who he is will always remain the same. That’s what gives us the courage to dream.

I pray that as our girls grow they will never become complacent. I pray they will always be dreamers, and have the courage to become all that God calls them to be. Today, I encourage you to pursue your dreams. Run towards the calling that God has placed before you. While we will not be at his game tomorrow, I am so excited for the day we get to take the girls to see “Uncle Matt” take the mound. I will tell them his story. I will tell them the dream he had the courage to pursue. And, I will tell them how he never gave up. We will cheer him on as he plays for the Glory of God. The God who placed this dream in his heart, and the same God who is with him always. On and off the playing field.

DREAM BIG my friends. You never know where The Lord will take you.

Matt’s Sister,

Mary Kate

Just one more thing…

Matt’s favorite movie when he was little….well. He had a lot of favorites. But, between Peter Pan and Angels in the Outfield they run a tight race! To commemorate his love for Angels in the Outfield… Matt, these two angels will be flying with every ball that is released from your arm tomorrow. I love you, buddy.

L to R: William Harold Maready, Sr. “Granddaddy” and Harry Lewis Carlton “Papa”

Ice Ice Baby brought along the Icepocalypse…

Two words: goodness gracious.

What happened to our mild North Carolina winters? This winter weather is not welcome in our homeland. Snow: you’ve already been once. That is enough for us NC folks. Ice: you are never welcome. We do not like the mess and the massive power outages you bring. We like our sunshine days and 70 degree weather!

Meanwhile, in the middle of this icepocalypse, the girls are having their very first sleepover! Andrew and I decided it was best for us to find a safe place to take the girls in this storm. Everything in our home is run by electricity. If the electricity were to go out, so does our heat. With two preemies that have to stay real warm…this is most certainly not ideal. Today, I am so incredibly thankful for family. Mrs. Kathy and I were able to pack the girls up and get to Andrew’s Aunt Melissa’s house (generator included) before the storm approached with full force. We are safe and sound in Garner! Andrew has not been able to make it to us. His store was not able to close until 2, and the roads to Garner from North Raleigh were already in gridlock when he was able to leave. He is safe and sound at his grandmother’s in North Raleigh. Again, I am so incredibly thankful for family. Even though we are apart from one another, I am so grateful for our safety! My heart is with all of the other families that are separated due to this weather. My prayers are with them as they make attempt to make their way home to one another. It is bad out there! North Carolina is simply not equipped for an icepocalypse. Clearly.

Yesterday, the girls turned three months! Did I follow the monthly picture regiment with their milestones and cute three month sticker? No. Simply didn’t get around to it among laundry, dinner, feeding, bathing, changing diapers, napping, cleaning, etc. Well, let’s be honest. We napped together for the majority of the day! But, not to worry! This photo will be taken. They will be three months for an entire month, right? I will get around to it eventually! Maybe we will get it with the ice/snow/inconvenient winter mess in the background. That would be commemorative for this once-in-a-lifetime winter storm that will probably be the only one the girls will experience for the next five years. That is how North Carolina weather works. If I recall, the last icepocalypse that I experienced was when I was in the seventh grade. I was ‘iced’ in at Hannah Wachter’s home with my fractured knee cap in a leg cast. Another blog post for another day. Or maybe it would be entertaining to go ahead and tell this story. Since we are all ‘iced’ in we need some entertainment! No, no… I will spare you the embarrassment. You’ll even be embarrassed…yes, it was that bad. Let’s just say one awkward, clumsy girl made a complete fool of herself. One leg cast and seven weeks later it only added to my extreme awkwardness.

With Valentine’s Day being two days away, we are thankful for all the love we have been given! Thank you to Aunt Sherry and my sweet MIL for these Valentine’s Day goodies!

Be safe out there in the icepocalypse y’all! Don’t be clumsy or fall down stairs or anything………….I don’t want you winding up in a leg cast!

-Mary Kate

 

 

 

Journey into Motherhood: What I’ve Learned

To say that our lives have been the epitome of a simple roller coaster ride might be an understatement. Needless to say, I would compare it to the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World– we are jammin’ out to Aerosmith and everything y’all! So, I took advantage of the cold weather yesterday and went into hibernation. It may have only been for a day, but oh it was so glorious! I actually cooked something!! It may have only been lactation cookies (all the while listening to the sermon from this past Sunday), but hey– the KitchenAid mixer got some mileage after being on hiatus for three months, and Mike Lee brought the Word right there to me in my kitchen! Also, I may or may not have still been in my pajamas when Andrew walked through the door. But, what can I say? The nursery is complete, and so I was only imagining what it would be like with the girls home. Because let’s face it– I will probably stay in my pajamas or yoga pants 99.9% of the time. I CAN NOT WAIT.

Through this roller coaster ride of our NICU journey, I discovered an online community called Hand to Hold that supports the parents and families of premature babies. It has provided strength as I have had the opportunity to learn alongside other mother’s experiences, and it has also been a helpful resource in understanding the importance in realizing how fragile our babies truly are. About a month ago, one mother shared her story and the life lessons that her twins had taught her in the short span of their life. When Andrew and I discovered that we were expecting mono-amniotic twins, I knew in my heart that there was a reason God had called Andrew and I to be parents. With every test that God bestows before us, there is always a lesson to be learned that will strengthen our testimony. When I read this mother’s ‘ten lessons’, it filled my soul because I knew these were the lessons God was also calling me to learn from HIS children that he blessed Andrew and I with here on earth.

1. Community. Andrew and I both have been absolutely blown away with how many people have reached out to us in this journey. The sense of community that has surrounded us has been so encouraging and it renews our strength. From our NICU community to the community of prayer warriors extended across the United States, the sense of generosity, prayers, and words of encouragement has been the most tremendous blessing. I will forever remember the kindness and selfless acts that people have extended towards us during this journey. One day I will return the blessing to other families in need, because a community of believers is so special to have.

2. Patience. In the NICU, we have heard the term “wait and see” more times than we can count on our fingers and toes combined! As an anxious new parent, “wait and see” is not always an easy answer to accept. We want answers now. I want to know when I can take my girls home. I want to know when they will stop having apnea episodes. I want to know when I can let others meet them. I want to know when it is safe to take them outside. I want to know when the VSD in their tiny hearts will close. And in life, sometimes “wait and see” is all we can do. BUT my friends, the good news is that in this period of waiting, God hears every cry and every plea. The Lord has given us this period of waiting for a reason that is beyond our own understanding. Therefore, we must use it to glorify Him and seek His purpose in His ever-unfolding plan.

3. Perseverance. If you have ever seen a premature baby learn to breathe on their own, you know the meaning of perseverance. Preemies don’t know the words “I can’t”; they just keep on trying. On days that I feel weak, I look to my girls and I am amazed at their strength. My sweet babies were 2 lbs. 13 oz. and 3 lbs. 3 oz. when they first entered this world. They have been through more medically than some endure in an entire lifetime, and they are still fighting. It’s a beautiful thing.

4. Trust. You learn to trust your doctors, nurses, and yourself. Most importantly, you learn to solely trust in God alone. I am so particular and like things a certain way (just ask Andrew)– and I am sure you see it coming like a freight train: I like to have control. Welp! I most definitely got a rude awakening!! Try to control a premature baby on your agenda with an all-inclusive impeccable plan. NOT HAPPENING. In a book I read the other day, the author shared something she heard in a sermon. “When we loosen our grip, He tightens His.” WOW. I know I’ve made mistakes, and I know I will make more, but He doesn’t make mistakes. He loves unconditionally. His plans and purposes are perfect. So trust.

5. Hope. When you are given impossible statistics yet still believe it is possible, you have learned what it means to hope. Hope is the guiding light that has traveled to and from Chapel Hill with me everyday. Every day I leave my girls and drive home, I hold onto the hope that one day they will be traveling the road to home with me. What a blessing!

6. Resilience. The surgeries, the tests, the tubes, the scars – it is absolutely amazing what these premature babies overcome. After witnessing my daughter at 3 lbs. overcome heart surgery, she definitely taught me to not be so dramatic about a simple paper cut that is for sure! These precious preemies have taught me to be resilient.

7. Gratitude. I never understood the depth of gratitude one could have until I gave birth to Amelia and Leah. In the NICU, we have been grateful for every ounce the girls have gained, each breath that they breathe on their own, every day we pass without an apnea spell, and every milliliter of milk they drink. And y’all… I never thought I would see the day I would even be thankful for a dirty diaper, but I am. It’s the little things in life! My girls have taught me to be thankful for every single thing.

8. Strength. The spirit and fight that babies born prematurely have is absolutely remarkable. Andrew and I were given the statistic that only 50% of mono-amniotic twins make it to viability, and the type of twins we were carrying was extremely rare. One percent amongst all twin pregnancies to be exact! Born at 29 weeks and 3 days, Amelia and Leah are two of the strongest baby girls I know. By God’s will, they are here and continuing to fight for a life that is to bring glory to Jesus’s name!

9. Empathy. While everyone’s journey in life is different, I now can relate to the feelings of fear, hope, and joy on a different level prior to having Amelia and Leah. I empathize with other mothers of premature babies as we are bound with an experience so many can not begin to relate. Along with my experience, I empathize with other parents who have to endure a period of waiting before they can bring their child home. Overall, our journey in NICU has brought me to my final lesson: perspective.

10. Perspective. The biggest lesson of all. At 22 years of age, I am a young mother to two twin girls. A year ago my only focus was lace or satin, keyhole back or strapless, and prioritizing when to do my homework to catch Sean’s premiere on the Bachelor. You see, I had this “plan”… And, in this plan consisted of the ideal dream wedding and the perfect, sweet entrance to motherhood that would be far from complicated and messy. Well, I thank The Lord everyday that He woke me up and made a special delivery of a different perspective to this lifetime at my front door. You see, perfect doesn’t exist in our world. It’s all an illusion. I can’t give Andrew, Amelia, and Leah perfection, because I am fresh out (no control over here!). I can give them love and laughter, and in the grand scheme of it all that is what it is all about.

So, with each passing day, I know there are more lessons to be learned in the wonderful journey of motherhood. I can’t wait to bring these girls home to capture all of the love, laughter, trial-and-error, and sleepless nights. Stay tuned… because it is bound to get interesting up in the White household.

Rock ‘n’ Rollin’ with lots of Love and Laughter,

Mary Kate

Oh, and by the way…those cookies…don’t worry, they are labeled. I would be afraid Andrew would never eat my cooking again if he tried one of those! Lesson #11: The Things You Do For Your Children. — another blog post for another day! I have cookies to eat!

Welcome to the World, Baby Girls!

If you have been following our story, we have all learned together that we should not rely solely on our plan. Since the day we discovered we were expecting mono-amniotic twins, Andrew and I have learned the value in seeing every day as a blessing. The news of our pregnancy made us realize that our life is His, and His plan is far greater than any plan we could dream or fathom. From the very beginning, Andrew and I have been comforted by God’s abundant grace and mercy. We are honored the Lord chose us to be Amelia and Leah’s parents. We are so grateful for Him bringing our little family together to glorify His name and fulfill His purpose in this testimony.

Last Friday, along with our team of doctors, Andrew and I set a c-section date for Thursday, December 12. We were all optimistic about “baking” the girls to 34-weeks because in the past ten days they had looked awesome on the monitors and ultrasounds. On Saturday, we more or less did a “trial run” for delivery as the girls had us all on our toes! Sunday was a calm day as we moved back downstairs to the third floor. I was able to go back to 3x a day monitoring and no magnesium. Hello food!! In this journey we have learned that it is not only one day at a time, but one monitoring session at a time. Yesterday morning the girls looked awesome on the monitor, and it was a quick 20-minute session! Round one of monitoring was complete! Yesterday afternoon, round two of monitoring sent me upstairs to an operating room immediately. Leah’s heart rate showed signs of distress, and Amelia began to follow in her sister’s footsteps. Between the two girls, the umbilical cords were twisted together in what resembled a barbershop pole. This is how fast things happen around Chapel Thrill– I began monitoring at 3:30pm, and Leah was born at 4:25pm and Amelia followed behind at 4:26pm.

Yesterday, we were 29 weeks and 3 days into our pregnancy. While it is still a very early age for our girls to have been delivered, we are incredibly blessed for each day I was able to carry and bake them. Amelia was born at 3 lbs. and 3 oz., and Leah was born at 2 lbs. and 13 ounces. They both have the sweetest light blonde eyebrows and light blonde hair (and it looks curly!) Both of our girls are under wonderful care here at UNC in NICU. I was not able to see them yesterday, but Andrew took a lot of pictures for me to see our sweet girls! This morning, I was determined to fight against any post-surgery pain to see my girls for the first time. Here are a few pictures for you to see our sweet blessings!

Welcome to the world, sweet Amelia! 

This is our little fighter, Leah! She is already a Daddy’s girl as she squeezes his hand tight!

When Andrew and Joel were leaving Leah last night, she held up her hand and waved!

Meeting our Leah for the first time, I am already so in love!

My sweet Amelia opened her eyes to her Mama’s voice this morning, it literally melted my heart.

The girls are both stable in the NICU unit right now. Reality is that our girls are still extremely tiny, and the next 24 to 48 hours is crucial. Amelia is doing very well for the girls’ gestational age and Leah is stable at the moment, but our little fighter has some long days ahead of her! The plan for now is to grow these babies, get them healthy, and get them stronger! If all goes as planned, we could potentially bring the girls home between 35 and 36 weeks, which is a couple of days before Christmas. Can you talk about the greatest Christmas present ever?! Andrew and I are already overjoyed, but to be able to bring our girls home for Christmas would be the most amazing gift.

Due to the girls being so tiny at the moment, we aren’t taking visitors until we can bring the girls home. We have been so incredibly blessed with the amount of support, love, and prayers, that our family and friends have so willingly extended our way. As much as we are ready to show our sweet girls off, it is best according to the doctors to keep our visitors limited to family. Thank you all for your understanding, and we promise to share many pictures and updates with all of you in the coming days and weeks!

Please remember our family and our girls in your prayers. We seriously can not thank everyone enough for all of your support, love, and continued prayers! As we continue this journey, please follow along with the updates here on the blog. For now, this Mama is ready to see her girls and have some kangaroo care time!

One Blessed Mama,

Mary Kate