First Week at Home

This has been an eventful week or so to say the least! The kids have been out to see the doctor for the first time and everything looks good. Sophie was 7 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches, while Jack was 7 lbs 6 oz and 20 inches as well. They made their debut "outing" to the Glass on the Grass at Gonzaga, which turned out to be nice and mellow. Their second outing was to our friend's house, Ariane and Sean, for a little dinner party. Sophie is still on the apnea monitor and taking caffeine once a day. It looks as thought she will be doing this little song and dance for about two months, ugh! We had some visitors to the house as well. Jess' mom Yvonne stayed with us for the week and was a huge help. Ted, Jess' dad, was here over the weekends and Randy Barton from Dayton, WA, who went to high school with Ted, as well as Carls' mom Betty came over from Osburn, ID for Saturday afternoon. Our newly engaged friends Tiffany and Bill came over from Seattle and stopped by for a quick visit, it was fun getting to show off our new additions.

Randy and Sophie


Tiff and Sophie


All dressed up ready for dinner at Sean and Arianes


It wasn't long before they were the naked dinner quests. Sophie has her apnea monitor on her chest recording each heart beat and respiration.

Home At Last

Well, at long last, an update! We have been super crazy trying to get organized and on the new life schedule that Jack and Sophie are working overtime to get us on. Jack came home on August 17th and Sophie came home on the 19th. We can't say enough about what a good job the NICU at Deaconess did at putting them on a tight four hour feeding schedule. It sure makes our life a bit easier. So far, they enjoy sleeping in the same crib, which is just great, and we wouldn't want it any other way. Here are some photos from the past couple of weeks.

Sophies First Bath


Jack's First Bath


Jack Coming Home


Jack, Meet Phoebe


Welcome Home Sophie (and Jack)






Missed Ya!


Sophie and Grandpa Neal


With Grandpa de Simas

After the Weekend

Momma and the Twins.
Jack and Sophie in wake up mode.
Grandma de Simas and Jack just after feeding time.

Jack and Sophie are doing just great! Just a couple of hurdles to overcome and they will be on the home stretch. Jack is now at his birth weight at 5 lbs. 12 oz. and Sophie is at a whopping 4 lbs. 15 oz. Sophie was able to have a stint without the feeding tube, but do to her breathing issues when she sleeps, the tube is going back in today. They think that may be the cause of her apnea and/or periodic breathing. Anyway, we're keeping our fingers crossed that they will be home by the end of the week.

Take care,

C and J

A Week and a Day

Dad lovin' Sophie before she gets weighed. She is currently 4lb 9oz which is less than what she weighed when she was born, but she has started to gain a bit more each day. She has started to eat like a champ - she eats more than half of her meals from a bottle and gets the rest put down the feeding tube. She is also dealing with some apnea which is pretty common for preemies...we have to have 5 days apnea free before she can come home, so patiently we wait.

Dad and Jack. Jack is currently 5lb 9oz and he is gaining more each day. Thankfully we aren't dealing with any apnea with Jack but he is way behind his sister in eating. He is pretty content to have the majority of his meals fed to him through his feeding tube. Each of them have to have 2 full days of eating all their own food via the bottle before they can be discharged. So in my opinion, I think that Jack is waiting for his sister to get her apnea under wraps before he gets his act together.

Last night in the nursery.
Happy Grandpa Neal

Happy Grandma Neal