Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! We had a great time with the girls and I am so ready to just relax today at home before going back to work tomorrow. We have been partying for a week between all the girls birthday celebrations, school party and Christmas celebrations. The girls have more toys than we know what to do with. They were not too happy that the Christmas tree was taken down last night while they were sleeping. Jordan said "don't take it back"! If anyone knows me very well knows that I like to return things. lol It is so great having these little girls in our lives and after spending their first Christmas in the NICU it makes me even more grateful that they are here with us. They girls have a busy week with dentist appointments on Wednesday and then they go in for their 3 year old check up on Friday. I am sure the doctor will be very pleased that we have not even been in to see him since their 2 1/2 year check up! It is pretty amazing that they have not been in to see him for any sick visits. Rylee is now sucking her finger on a regular basis since we took the pacifier away. I am going to ask the dentist on Wednesday which habit is worse. I will get some pictures up this afternoon sometime.

3rd Birthday letter

Rylee and Jordan-

As I think back to the day you were born, it's difficult not to feel the fear, the anger, or the excitement. I still have to think that there was some reason you were chosen to born so early. You were born months early and not fully developed, you never let that hold you back. You had to endure so much more than you should ever had to but you showed us just how strong you really are.

Jordan you had to have heart surgery, and Rylee you had to fight off one of the worse cases of MRSA that the NICU doctors and nurses had ever seen. We were even told that you were not going to survive. In the first months of your life you had to endure millions of heel sticks, several blood transfusions, tubes stuck down your throat, wires coming out of your body, and you had to grow and develop in a fake womb. It was hard to believe that you both would ever come home as healthy as you are now. After 96 and 138 days you both were finally home in our arms. You both are very determined and head strong little girls. It makes me so proud to think that you will carry that trait throughout your entire life. I know that for a fact because life will test you again and again. I hope that you will always be able to look back at your beginning and be reminded of just how strong and amazing you are.

Happy 3rd birthday to the best girls I know!!! Can't believe it has been 2 1/2 years since we brought you home as 2 bundles of joy thinking "Who on earth is letting us leave the hospital with babies on oxygen, monitors, g-tubes, trachs, meds and all that other preemie related junk, we have no idea what we are doing!"

Mommy loves you more than anything in this entire world.

Birthday Wishes

We celebrated the girls third birthday today at the jump 4 joy in Lawrence and the girls had a great time. We had a lot of people show up to help celebrate these little miracles birthday. The girls wanted a Thomas the Train party and that is what they got. We met with the school district on Friday and needless to say our girls are doing fabulous and don't qualify for any type of special education classes. They went and observed them at their preschool a couple times and then several specialist met with them a month ago at the school and they think the preschool is a very good fit for them right now. They can always do another assessment if we ever feel like they are falling behind. They still don't believe me when I tell them that Jordan is the boss at home as she hardly says a word when she is around them. When we were walking out she looked up at me and said "CARRY ME NOW" as sassy as she possibly could and then they knew what I was talking about. lol Later that day our tiny k infant and toddlers coach came to have us sign the discharge paperwork and that was very sad for me as she has been with us since we brought both girls home. I am looking forward to the girls' actual birthday on Tuesday as I took the day off and it is their Christmas party at the school. Looks like it will be a good day to not have to drive to Olathe as we are expecting some snow. I still can't believe the girls are already turning 3! Pacifier update: We have lost several hours of sleep this week and each night does seem to be getting better. She has now started sucking her fingers so not sure that is a good thing. They have appointments with the dentist in a couple weeks so I will see what he has to say about that. The pictures I had taken last weekend for Christmas Cards and for their 3 year old pics and they turned out so cute.

Bye Bye paci

We had our friend that dresses up for the santa in town come by before his gig at the station. We got our yearly pics with santa and then talked Rylee into giving him all of her paci's to take to all the other little babies. She did it willingly and then nap and bed time were not too much fun yesterday. She actually found one in her bed during nap so we had to hide that one and then she came out with one in her mouth later in the day. She actually went down for her nap really good today so I think we have succeeded with no more paci's. She has been extremely attached to her paci since the day the NICU gave her one. We always encouraged her to keep it in her mouth to keep her oral as she wouldn't ever take a bottle. Now we just need to work on potty training and getting out of cribs. I am in no way trying to make them grow up any faster than they already are but don't want to wait too long and regret it. They have shown a little interest in potty training but I can't seem to get them to actually go in the potty chair or toilet. Rylee has went potty twice but I think it was just a fluke that she actually went.

12/4/11

We are starting to plan the girls 3rd Birthday and it still amazes me that they will be 3 in 2 short weeks. So hard to believe they are doing so well too. The school district went to their pre-school this past week and observed them during their class time. I haven't heard any results yet but so sad that we are going to have to say good bye to our Tiny K Coach. Troy starts basketball practice on Tuesday so it is going to get real hectic around here. The girls went to 3 basketball games this weekend and seem to really like going.