Happy Birthday!!

Sitting in the chair together, Wes is kind of making a 1.


Family Picture. I don't know what the boys are looking at.

Max and Wes are 1!

Maxwell and Wesley had their first Birthday yesterday! We had a small relaxed party. The boys slept through half of it, but it was still fun to celebrate how far they have come. At birth Max weighed 1 lb. 10 oz., Wes weighed 1 lb. 9 oz. They are now weighing 21 lbs. 10 oz. (Max) and 17lbs. + (Wes). HUGE compared to where they started.

The year has been difficult and amazing. Losing my Mom has been a struggle for me. It is hard to think that she never got to hold the boys and doesn't gets to watch them grow up. I take comfort in thinking she is watching them from Heaven, helping us raise them into the amazing boys that they are.

Our boys have been through so much in their short lives. They have made and are making amazing strides; learning, growing, and discovering new things.

Max is laid back, investigates things before he grabs them, and is happy to play on the floor all day if he could. He loves to play with his tongue and stick his thumb in his mouth to feel his one lonely tooth- Mark calls it his tusk. Wes is a mover and a shaker. He scoots himself across the floor on his back, puts anything and everything in his mouth, and reaches for anything he can touch. He lays on the floor and kicks his feet, we call it the "Irish Jig." They are giggling and laughing at each other (my favorite thing to see). It seems like everyday they do something new.

The next year is going to be one of changes, hopefully. We would love to see Wes off oxygen ( he is currently on oxygen while he sleeps). Max has more obstacles, but we are praying for decreased vent settings and lower oxygen needs. Maybe even off the vent a year from now...hey, a Mom can hope!!

We praise God for our Miracle Men. They are just that, miracles. Everyday we have with them is amazing. Thank you so much for your prayers and support through the last year. We have all come so far.

Top Pic: Max looking at Mark for permission to dive in.
Bottom Pic: Wes thinking about more cupcake destruction.

Already 1 Year

It has been a whole year since I was admitted into the hospital with preterm labor. March 9, 2009 was one of the scariest days of our lives. I was put on bedrest and went into the hospital all on the same day. I stayed at Holland Hospital for 5 days (I think) until I hit the 23 weeks, then they transferred me by ambulance to Spectrum Health where I stayed until the boys came. It is hard to imagine everything that has happened in that year.

The boys are doing great! They are growing and changing everyday. It is amazing to see their progress. They are interacting with eachother, cooing, laughing, and all sorts of fun stuff. Max weighs 19 lbs. 8 ounces. Wes weighs 16 lbs. 8 1/2 ounces. Max is getting a tooth! It has been trying to poke through for about a month, but no luck so far. Mark and I wonder what he is going to do with a tooth, he doesn't take anything by mouth yet.
We have an appointment for Max with the pulmonologist Wednesday afternoon. We are hoping that he is doing well enough to either go down on his vent pressure or lower his oxygen level. Wes is still retching but it has improved slightly with the addition of a new medicine.

We are so happy to all be under one roof, and thrilled with how well the boys are doing. Max has been home for 9 weeks. In that time neither of the boys have gotten sick or had to make any trips to the doctor. We are incredibly thankful for their health thus far and pray that is continues.

We have been getting fantastic help during the day from friends and family. As well as delicious meals and goodies.
Thanks for your continued prayers and support. It mean so much to us. The road to this point has been very difficult. The future has its obstacles but we have a renewed strength forward.