SLEEP!

Sleep is a very good thing. I actually had the best sleep last night that I have had in the past several months. When I was pregnant I would have terrible night terrors and wake up all throughout the night, or I'd have to use the potty at least twice a night. Then once the boys were born, I woke up around the clock to take meds or pump milk...AROUND THE CLOCK! But last night, my wonderful mother-in-law, Mamaw, kept the girls at her house and we slept in. I actually went to bed at 10:30, woke up at 6:00 to pump, went back to bed at 6:30 and woke up at 10:00...I felt like a whole person. I have been so purely exhausted lately that I couldn't even remember having a conversation with my dad and Rose, eating a bowl of cereal and rotating laundry Friday morning before going back to bed for an hour or so. I also drove the girls to school this past week and vaguely remember getting there and back. Sleep deprivation is a scary thing. Many times I would be so tired that I couldn't remember driving home. The scariest moment I've had came the second week when I was driving home by myself from the hospital, and I ran off the road a tad bit and woke myself up when I felt the vibration off the road. Now that the milk production is undercontrol (I actually had to reduce my supply because I was making more than I needed to) I should be able to get a full nights sleep. However, I have heard that is all going to come to a screeching halt when the boys come home. Anyay, thank you Mamaw for keeping the girls on your weekend night so I could sleep. It really made a huge difference in my day.

We also had a very memorable day with the boys. My dad and Rosie were able to hold them and visit with them for about an hour today. This was very special to them since they are returning to Utah tomorrow. Later in the night, Mamaw went to visit and was able to see both boys awake. The first time she has seen James awake. She was also able to watch them nurse. My special moment came when Nurse Nicole let me hold both boys at the same time. WOW! It was purely amazing to feel both of those tiny miracle in my lap. I was flooded with memories of them both being inside of me. I told Darlene that every time I look at them I am overwhelmed with the memories of watching them on the ultrasound screen and hoping and praying to have them. Now they are here and it is a reality and they are amazing to watch. I have such an appreciation for the little things you take for granted when you have a full term healthy baby. I savor the one hour that I get to see them and hold them. My heart flutters each time I am able to nurse them. I long to see their eyes and when they do open them, I am glued and I try to burn the image into my mind so I can take it with me when I leave.

I am so thankful God decided to bless our lives with these little miracles. I feel so honored to be there Mommy. I will spend my life honoring God and serving HIM for He has so undeservingly given me more blessing than I could have ever imagined.

UPDATE:
Eating well, still on oxygen about 25%, James weighs 3.8 and John David weighs 3.13 (they have been 5 ounces difference since in the womb and even at birth.) I still remember when they were 6 ounces and 11 ounces. Even 1.14 and 2.2, and then birth 2.9and 2.14!!! They are growing and thiving and we PRAISE all day and night and ask God to continue HIS blessings on them.


Pictures from the day!

Mamaw has waited a whole month to hold these babies. This is Mamaw holding James. He was stirred up and kind of fussy. His heart rate was up to 200 (which usually means they are upset) and when Mamaw took hold of him, he calmed right down and just watched her talk to him. It was a really sweet moment.



Here is my dad holding John David. I think he has my dad's nose! Super great moment here for "Becky" to hold John David. For those of you who don't know my dad, Claire named him "Becky" when she was 18 months old and he hasn't been anything but "Becky" since!


Here is my step mom, Rosie, holding John David.



Does it get any sweeter than this! Oh my, I savored this moment.



This is completely amazing. Not only do they look just alike, notice how they are laying in this picture. Before they got still, they were both moving around and then they settled down and positioned themselves exactly the same. Notice how their arms and legs are positioned.