Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!
Love, Andrew

We celebrated a few birthday's this week!!!  First of all, it was Stephen's birthday last Sunday. He was excited to turn a ripe old age of 31. Boy we're getting old. Don't ask me why...but he was very excited to be "well into his thirties."  We were able to celebrate all weekend and hang out with family. I made some yummy raspberry cheesecake, which is a favorite of Stephen's. Both Andrew and Ethan like being held by their daddy and I think that was the best birthday present anybody could have given him. :)

Andrew and Ethan are continuing to slowly improve and move in the right direction, for which we are incredibly grateful for. We celebrated their 2 month birthday this week as well! We are so amazed at the journey the last few months have taken us. As for now, both boys are still dealing with the hydrocephalus, but neither of them have any type of shunt or reservoir in their little heads.  They are able to manage everything on their own and have been for over a week, since they took everything out. The neurosurgeons are continuing to check on the boys every few days to make sure that everything is looking okay. And....so far so good. :) 

Although, we have had a few scares this week.  They thought Ethan was getting sicker and worse on Thursday,  but nothing has really come of it. They can't really figure out if he's getting sicker or if it's just his hydrocephalus getting worse.  Clinically there really isn't anything more that they'd do, but they are watching him with a close eye. I would say he hasn't made big improvements like Andrew has this week, but he definitely hasn't gotten any worse. Which is a great blessing. 

They are both gaining some good weight. This week on their 2 month birthday, Andrew weighed 4 lbs 4oz and Ethan weighed 4 lbs and 3oz.  It's a tight race!!! They are starting to get a little fat on their bones. The chubby cheeks are starting to form and they now have a small little bum. I think they are looking more and more like each other now that they are getting some fat on their bones. Ethan still seems to have a bit lighter brown hair and Andrew's is still pretty dark. Everyone asks us who they look like. We both think it's hard to tell, but a bunch of the nurses say that they can see a lot of Stephen in both of the boys.  Andrew is now getting all of his nutrition from my milk and is receiving 30 ml every three hours.  Ethan on the other hand still hasn't started feeds yet. They may try to start feeding again after the holiday weekend. We were concerned about Andrew eyes, because they weren't developing correctly, but after his eye exam this week they are doing great and almost fully developed. YEA!!! 

I've had to start back to work this week, which has been a hard transition for me. But it's good to be back,  be with my darling kids and wrap things up for the end of the school year. It's only for a few weeks and I'm only going part time. I would have to say that it's a lot easier for me to be at school (emotionally, physically and mentally), when the boys are having some good days.  As much as I want to, I haven't been able to make it to the hospital everyday because I'm working. But Stephen has been able to go up there. We've both been able hold them a number of times this week again and we are cherishing these small moments. Here are a few more pictures from this week!

Mommy & Andrew doing skin to skin

Ethan 2 months old

Ethan in Daddy's arms

Andrew trying to decide if he's mad :)