Dear Shenzie and Heaten,

Where, oh where to begin. You are here! You are both healthly and wonderful and delicious and beautiful and fabulous! I’ll tell you your delivery story another day, for now I just want to bask in how wonderful you both are and how much your daddy and I love you.

You are both still in the hospital in the NICU. You were born a little premature and have to stay in the NICU for just a bit longer. You both had respitory distress and are just a little too small to regulate your breathing, body temperature, and eating. Each day you get stronger so we’re hopeful you won’t be there too much longer. About 3 days ago you were both taken off of oxygen and started to eat through a feeding tube. I’m pumping all of my yummy milk for you so you get big and fat and juicy. Shenzie is eating 20 cc’s every three hours and Heaten is eating 15 cc’s every three hours. The doctor said that by this week you should start bottle feeding which is wonderful. We will actually get to hold and feed you. I must say the worst feeling in the world other than leaving you in the hospital every time we visit was not being able to hold you. Just yesterday (you were 5 days old) they let us start to hold you. Nothing ever felt so good, to be able to hold and cuddle you both.

Today Shenzie weighs 4 pounds 10 ounces and Heaten weighs 5 pounds 10 ounces. The nurse said you both lost weight which is normal, but now you’re starting to put it back on which is very important. You are both in isolettes until you can maintain your own body weight and then you’ll be moved to an open crib and be able to co-sleep (and kick each other) again. Today you were both taken off the heat lamp in the isolette and managing your body temperature with clothes and blankets. Your daddy and I are both very encouraged that at this rate you’ll be home very soon.

We miss you little clammies. It has been so hard being apart from you even though we know you’re getting the best care available. Soon you’ll be home with your mommy and daddy where you belong and we can shower you with kisses and hugs and love.

We love you!

Love mommy

**For more picture’s click on the Babies Photo’s link