The newest Packer Fans!

With not much changing from day-to-day, this post is mostly pictures! The boys are doing great and gaining weight everyday. Aiden is working really hard to catch up to his brother... as Ashton continues to grow and gain, but is a little more relaxed and "chill". We get daily updates on their weight, but it is about time I check in on their length! They still "swim" in their newborn clothes, but preemie is too small (too short)!

Aiden showing off his cute little knees. The hat he is wearing is adorable, it is a preemie hat that Gramma bought and it is a little puppy. ;)

The little ears on the hat are too cute...

Ashton sleeping in his hat right after his bath...

Aiden again... he LOVES his pacifier and he even holds it in. I didn't notice until I uploaded this picture, but I don't think he is purposely pointing that certain finger at the camera... little stinker!

On Sundays and Wednesdays they boys get baths. Aiden isn't as patient as Ashton is so the nurse showed me how to do it with Aiden (as I was taking pictures) and then I did Ashton's bath (no pictures since I had my hands full).

As I said earlier, I think we might get one wear out of the few preemie outfits the boys have. This little outfit fits so nice everywhere except they are short in the arms! This is Ashton after his bath.

Ashton sleeping after his bath, I was trying to get a picture of his fluffy little blonde spikers ;)

Ashton modeling his preemie onsie. It fits prefect now, but not for long!

Auntie Elly was there the day the boys were born, and this was a special week for her to come back and visit and actually be able to hold the boys! Here she is holding Aiden. I have said it before and will say it again, Aiden seems to get all the lovin', but that is NOT TRUE. We have to fit visitors around each of their feedings and Ashton is has more reflux and cannot be held or passed around during or after his feedings. This was the first baby Elly has held since Mikayla (13 years old)!!!

On Sunday, the day of the Superbowl, the boys had to get their Packer booties on... Ashton is one of the newest Packer fans. They must have brought the home team luck!

He really is happy to be cheering for the Packers, I think he is just stretching!

Aiden is also proud to be one of the newest little Packer fans in his booties (thanks Great Aunt Debbie for the booties)!!!

As the boys continue to get bigger and stronger, again we thank all those who are thinking of us during this time. It will be so nice to get the boys home!!!

***Adam, Amy, Ashton, Aiden, and Izzie***

Brotherly Love

January 31, 2011

This post will serve as my regular Sunday post and I will be going back to Sunday updates as the boys aren't changing much from day to day! They continue to gain ounces at a time and with the weight gain, they up their feeding by about 4 ml a day. They continue getting a daily dose of vitamin D with one of their feedings and amoxicillin. The amoxicillin is precautionary to a kidney infection. When I was still pregnant, two of my last ultrasounds showed both babies had enlarged kidneys. We were going to wait and see if they corrected themselves... but then once the boys were born, they were put on the antibiotic for "just in case" they could get a kidney infection. Next week they will be old enough and should be big enough to do a couple more tests and see if we can discontinue the antibiotic and measure the flow of liquids in their kidneys with a dye. After doing some research online, this is quite common, and also more common in boys.

We continue to do Kangaroo time with the boys and the best days are when we have "time" to hold both of the boys together.




My first day or two with the boys, I was thinking how many books I would be able to read and how long the days will be at the hospital. That turns out to be the complete opposite! There are days I don't sit down (except to pump) we are so busy. We are very involved in their CARES before their feedings and I am holding and trying to breastfeed while they receive their feeding so they can start to make the Connection between me and their meals. The boys eat every three hours so basically once I do Aiden for an hour, then I do Ashton for an hour, I pump and use the restroom and we start all over... ALL DAY. I need to sometimes remove myself so I can remember to eat and stay strong for the boys.

Right now Adam and I are planning our weeks one week at a time. Adam is trying to work more so he can be available a bit more when they boys come home. He tries to make it for either a morning or an evening, but is also keeping things rolling at home with the nursery, new carpet, housework and Nizzer. I am getting home 1 to 2 nights a week to do laundry, spend some time with Izzie, and sleep in my own bed. The other nights I am staying in Afton, MN (about 20 minutes away) with some family friends to be closer to the boys and cut down on the driving after long days at the hospital. I am there in the morning for the doctor's update and to listen to rounds and we TRY to leave by 10pm. When I say try... it is usually later by the time we actually walk out of the hospital and it is SO hard leaving them each night! I have to remind myself each time we leave that they are in the best hands and they need us to be strong and healthy for them. We won't be able to walk away for lunch, supper and sleep once they come home... but the boys coming home cannot come soon enough for Adam and I. I think Izzie wants them home too, so we will be home more! ;)

Check back next Sunday for another post!

Adam, Amy, Ashton, and Aiden. Izzie too!

It's a SPECIAL Day...

January 30, 2011

It's a special day! Today was the first day they boys could be held by others, besides getting all the lovin' from Mom and Dad!!! Gramma and Grandpa Wamboldt and Nana all got to hold their first grandsons... this makes their visits a little more special, as it is more fun to hold than to just look.

Gramma with Ashton

Nana with Aiden

Grandpa with Aiden

Gramma with Aiden

Nana with Ashton

Last but not least... Auntie Missy with Aiden.

It looks like Ashton got less cuddle time, but that is not true. He must have been getting a feeding at the time that the camera was out and we try to not move them around too much right after a feeding and their REM sleep is very important right now for their development!

As the boys were getting their snuggle time, Mommy and Daddy opened some presents that were brought by the visitors. Fitting that Adam had just closed down the computer after working on our 2011 budget... and the boys get their very first piggy banks from Auntie Missy, Uncle Dave, and Elle!

Izzie has not been forgotten about either. We keep telling her she has two brothers and we talk about her to the boys every day! She is sad she has not met them yet, so she passed on a present for Gramma and Grandpa to deliver... Two of their own little "Izzies" to keep them company until she can see them and cuddle them at home.

The nurses have all commented on how spoiled the babies are and we could not agree more. We thank everyone who helps us, thinks about us, and brings the boys gifts DAILY! The most important thing is that they are spoiled with love and cuddles!

Getting Stronger

January 28, 2011

This day was All About Aiden as I look back through the pictures and only had two of Aiden! I already feel torn about holding one and not the other, and I am trying to take equal amounts of pictures of both boys... but it doesn't always happen, nor will it continue!

Adam and I joke about being totally prepared and doing everything right. We have it all figured out... until we get the boys home and are into the first hour. Then all plans go straight out window! We are completely flexible but for those who know me, I am a planner!

Aiden is wearing a true Big Boy outfit. This is one Adam bought and was so proud to put on him... but like I said earlier, he didn't buy two so I had to go back and buy another one so Ashton could have one too! ;) It's a bit big, but size newborn!

Look at those big eyes! We still do Kangaroo care and Aiden really works his neck muscles and his eyes get bright knowing he will eat soon. We are working on feeding and it is amazing to see how they instinctively know what to do and where to find their food! Right now Ashton is a bit more lazy knowing his meal will come no matter what, but Aiden is right in there and being aggressive. I keep telling them that they want to go home, and this is something they need to do!

Happy 1-WEEK Birthday!

January 27, 2011

It's hard to believe that the boys are already a week old! Where does the time go? The boys are changing each and every day as they are more and more alert and interacting with their surroundings .

Aiden James
He is back to his birth weight! The doctors say this is the goal by their second week... he is doing GREAT!
3 pounds 11 ounces

Ashton Alan

Gaining again, but not quite back to his birth weight (4 lbs. 3 oz.)...

4 pounds exactly!

Big Boy Clothes!

January 26, 2011

We try to make it home a night or two during the week to "regroup" and head back up (over). It is always hard leaving the boys, but we know they are in the best of hands and we need to get things ready at home too! We thought we had just a little more time to get the nursery ready! When we are not home our home-away-from-home has been at a family friend's house in Afton, Minnesota. It is about a 15-20 minute drive to and from the hospital. After being at the hospital all day, it is nice to have a comfortable bed to sleep in. Thanks Maureen and Coach!!! Adam is also trying to work right now so he can be a little more available when it is time for the boys to come home. He packed me up and dropped me off with the boys this morning to spend some time with them while he went to work.

He then came back later in the evening with a surprise for the boys...

Their very own Craftsman Tool Boxes!!! Is this saying they can't touch Daddy's tools? Now Adam is working on buying them Hot Wheel's, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles that they can use their tools on!

Aiden having some quiet time with Daddy. They have many long talks about building sand castles in Door County and doing "Boy Stuff".


What's up Ashton? Are you shy about your clothes??? Maybe he's telling us he didn't want his picture taken. Adam thinks that it is the strips and he wanted to be in camouflage.

Today was a big day for the boys to try on their first BIG BOY clothes. No more chilling in their diaper and having a machine keep you warm! To help regulate their body temperature, they need to put on clothes and slowly turn down the temperature in their isolettes. Once they can hold it on their own, the graduate to BIG BOY BEDS! We didn't have any clothes here with us, so Adam went out shopping and then headed home to do some laundry to bring some of their clothes back up. Several nurses commented how cute it was that Daddy was soo excited to go shopping for they boys and do their laundry! He is a keeper although I don't think he has this "shopping for twins" thing down. He only bought one of everything. Nothing matching or even coordinating! So, we had to go back and "finish" his shopping. That is the big question... will the boys dress identical or not? I prefer coordinating outfits, same style but different color but matching is cute too!

There's his cute little face! They are swimming in their clothes (size newborn) but they are almost too long to buy a lot of preemie clothes. We have a couple preemie things washed up and they just look sooo tiny. They will be growing into the newborn size before we know it!

And the best part of the day... The boys had not felt each other since they were in the womb until today. This is what I have been looking forward to... holding both of my little boys at the same time. They actually found each other's hands and held onto hands for awhile. I didn't even have to force it and tell them to get along. It melted my heart.

Moving Day

January 25, 2011

Today was a BIG DAY! The boys were moved to a brand new unit in the NICU. It's grand opening is today and the boys were the first babies to be moved in. This is the Level 2 NICU and they are moving 6-10 babies who are less medically fragile and basically just working on getting bigger. They call them the "Feeder and Growers."

The unit is quiet and has recliners! I know this may sound pretty standard, but in their last little home you had to check out a chair for when you were going to hold them and it was busy with up to 50 babies getting care.

The boys are in separate rooms here (until they are out of their isolettes) which makes it hard. I feel guilty about sitting with one and not the other!!! Very soon they will be regulating their own body temperature and they will be moved to bassinets and then they can be in the same room. There just isn't room for two isolettes!

The boys being moved to their new "Home!"

With a little decorating and bringing our stuff in, the room fills up and feels cozy in no time! You'll see some of their decorations later in the blog... They are VERY SPOILED little boys already!

The boys are:

~Off all IV's and getting Vitamin D orally with their afternoon feedings.

~Waking before their feeding times on their own and showing cues to wanting to eat!

~Stinky many times a day... which is healthy ;)

~Aiden is 3 pounds 9 ounces (1610 gm) and Ashton is 3 pounds 12 ounces (1700 gm)