July already?

I brought Lexi home with me when I went to Denver last month. 

We have had a good time. 

An Olive Garden date....she loves the breadsticks. 

She sleeps on the floor on my side of the bed.

This is what I woke up to this morning.

She may have a snacking problem.

We spent a few hours making strawberry jam.

And Lexi sampled it.

I think she approved. 

And in other exciting news....

Little Miss Lilly came home!

Lexi was facetiming.

Looks like we snapped the picture right as she was spitting up.

Lynsey looks tired. 

She has to wake her every 3 hours to feed her.

The cheeks are so kissable!

We aren't sure when Lucy will come home.

She's a little stinker and doesn't want to eat very well.

Their due date is the 17th of July.

Hopefully she will bust outta there before then.

It still amazes me that they have done so well.

They were born April 24th.

Wow!

For the 4th of July weekend we went to our family reunion.

There was hiking in these beautiful mountains.

It was fun to reconnect with cousins we hadn't seen for a year.

Cousin Bill, Howie and son Matt went hiking with a passel of kids.

Nothing as beautiful to me as the Sawtooths.

It was a much needed getwaway. 

My soul was fed.

I'm back at work for three days and then another QUICK trip to Denver.

Whew.

The summer is going way too fast. 

Events and Memories

Last week (the 23rd) Howie and I celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary.
I have no idea how that happened.




















It was like I blinked and here we are!

We didn’t do anything fancy.
We just celebrated being together.
I couldn’t help but ponder how close we came to not being together.
I’m so thankful for each and every day.

On the 14th I made a “quick” trip to Denver to see the babies.
I took my daughter in law Tara and had so much fun with them.

This is the first time I have gotten to hold them both.

Tara and I admiring them. 

Still so tiny. 

Hello Baby Doll!

The monkey doesn't seem to be quite so big anymore.

Side by side...they still look different.

Tara just loves babies. 

It was so wonderful to see them all and I got to hold both of them!!
They are still in the NICU.
They still have trouble doing the suck-swallow-breathe thing.
And the both have been having bradycardic episodes as well.
The neonatologist reassured us that this is common for these little preemies.

WE'VE COME A LONG WAY BABIES!

CHUNKY CHEEKS!!!

It has been so hard to not be around these little Peaches! 

I am so thankful for technology to help keep me updated.

I can't get to Denver soon enough!

This is little sweet Lucy.

The monkey doesn't look so big anymore.

She is 3 pounds 15 ounces now.

Up two pounds from her birth weight.

Little Lilly is 5 pounds and 1 ounce!

I know they say that a baby smile is just gas, but still.
Isn't this the cutest little smile ever?????

Sleeping.

They just sleep!

Apparently Lilly will be getting kicked out of the isolette soon.

They are thinking another two weeks for her and then possibly she will be able to go home.

This is the daily white board of their progress.

It has been amazing to see the amazing steps they have taken.

So for now they eat, sleep and grow.

And it is great.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

Our oldest grandchild graduating from high school!
This happened way too fast.

Josh has grown into a loving, kind and handsome young man.

Here he is with mom and dad. 

And his silly siblings. 

And on the big screen!

It’s hard to have time go so quickly. 

Seriously so quickly. 

We ate at a place called Corbin’s. 

Such delicious food! 

These are the oldest 4 of our grandchildren. 

Jaren, Jessica, Josh and Justin. 

They are some seriously tall kiddos. 

They make me look like a munchkin. 

It makes my heart so happy to see how my son and daughter in law have done such a great job in raising their family. 

Congratulations Josh!!!!

GIRL TIME!

I had a niece that drove from Denver with her family to see her mom.

They had room for a passenger...so I got to have Lexi for the weekend!

We had a little girl time!

Pedicures and lunch!

And since Memorial Day was over we had the pool all to ourselves!

It's so fun to live about a mile away from this little spot!

We soaked up the sun and had such a great time. 

Twin Monkey

Lexi brought a few stuffed animals to the NICU so we could compare sizes.
She ended up having this monkey and it cracked me up.
Long spindly legs and arms.

It's going to be a fun reference as they grow.

I started putting the monkey in the isolettes in the same positions as the babies happened to be in.
Some of the photos ended up being pretty funny.

Lucy and monkey...

snuggled up together.

Lilly and Monkey

It was fun to try and position the arms and legs of the monkey just like 

the babies. 

Lucy sweet dreams.

Lilly all stretched out.

So restful.

A little Lilly Monkey snuggle time with mommy.

Just chillin'

 

TWO WEEKS IN DENVER

I'm finally home after spending two weeks in Denver.

I'm so thankful that I had the time to be there and try to be helpful.
Lynsey is healing well after the C-Section.

We spent a lot of time in the NICU and I am so amazed and impressed with the hospital and staff. I'm so thankful that they are there.

The day after her C Section, a lady came in and offered her a complimentary massage.

She enjoyed that for over an hour!

It was so appreciated and helped her finally get some sleep.

The babies are little Rockstars!

 So very tiny

 This picture is in the OR and they are working to stabilize and intubate Lucy.

Lucy was the tiniest at 1 pound 15 ounces. 

Over the next 14 days she has lost ounces and gained ounces and was as low as 1 pound 4 ounces.

Finally yesterday she hit 2 pounds 3 ounces!

Lilly was 2 pounds 4 ounces at birth. She had some losses as well. She got as low as 2 pounds 1 ounce.

Yesterday she was up to 2 pounds 11 ounces.

The progress they have made is so incredible and we are so thankful.

 

 This is my wedding ring that Lilly has in her grasp.

Lynsey wanted so much to be able to pick them up.

These were the diapers that they started out with, but were too big.

 

To say that we are thankful is an understatement.

 

My brother called Sunday night to ask how the twins were doing.

I told him that we are so amazed at their progress.

I told him they were miracles.

He said to me "sis, your family lives on miracles"

And after the year and a half we have had....

I have to agree.