Full House!

Our family is now complete!  Pay no mind to Nick spewing craziness about having a fifth child...He's joking.  I think.

I will say, though, that looking at these pictures, and Nick's genuine smile, it's hard to deny that bringing home our new babies are among his happiest moments.  They are for me, too. :)  In addition to my joy, though, came a case of butterflies as we were driving to the hospital to go pick up our James.  Even though James and Julia belong to us, there was some added anxiety that came with the understanding that we were now truly responsible for them and their well-being and not the incredible care team at the hospital. :)

We got the word that James was ready to come home on Friday morning when I went to bring him some milk.  It seemed that the idea of being shown up by his sister was what it took to get him to step into high gear with his feedings. ;)  I called Nick right away, who was actually on his way into work (at my insistence, I was truly hopeful that I could trade a couple of paternity days last week for when the babies were actually at home. :-P)  He turned the car around, and we met at home so that Nick could reshuffle all of the carseats. :)  We timed our arrival at the hospital for right after their "no visitor" time expired at 1:00.  I think we were walking out of the door with our James not 15 minutes after we walked in. :)  We were so grateful for the INCREDIBLE care that both babies received, my former co-workers spoiled them rotten. :)

After we arrived home, there was just a calm, peaceful energy that filled the house.  It did just-so-happen to be naptime for Sissy and quiet time for Emmy, and both babies were sound asleep; but the fact that we were all finally under one roof was simply amazing.

We had quite a few visitors that afternoon, and we were so thrilled to be able to introduce both babies to them all.  After the last visitor left, and the dinner plates were cleared, we started gearing up for our first night!  I am still pumping and bottle feeding exclusively.  I am determined to figure out and be successful at tandem nursing, but for now, they are both pretty sleepy eaters and my desire for them to reserve their calories for growing and not use them all trying to eat outweighs the need to force nursing for the moment.  My hope is that in the next week or so, as they get nearer to "term" and "wake up" a bit more, we can start the process of switching.  We'll get it, but for now, I am very pleased that they are still getting my milk.  One of the benefits to pumping from the get-go is that I have had complete control over establishing my milk supply through the frequency and duration of my pumping sessions.  As of now, I am pumping about 50+ ounces in a 24 hour period.  They are taking just a fraction of that (and meeting their prescribed feeding minimums) and my freezer stash is growing rapidly by the day.  So my worry of producing enough for the both of them has vanished for the time being.  As with every step along the way with this pregnancy, labor and delivery, God has ALWAYS provided all that we need.

The first night with both babies at home was very predictable.  They are still on the feeding schedule that was established during their time in the NICU--Julia eats at 2a, 5a, 8a, 11a, 2p, 5p, 8p, 11p and James eats just a half hour later.  After James' feeding, I pumped for 20 minutes.  They are so sleepy, and needed to be woken up for their feeds...So our night was really very straightforward!

I decided during one of the middle of the night feedings, that it would be in my best interest to invest in a special garment that allows me to pump "hands-free" so that I can pump while I bottle feed, in order to cut feeding times down by at least 20 minutes, which enables me to get a little more sleep. After James' follow-up with the pediatrician on Saturday morning, I popped into Babies R Us to purchase this nursing wear, and I can say that it's my new best friend.  I have taken multi-tasking to a new level that I never imagined I would.  Desperate measures, you know.

Speaking of pediatrician appointments, both babies had follow-ups the day after they came home from the hospital.  We got glowing reports to include a weight gain for them both!  I used to love little preemies when I worked in the NICU because they look like little dolls, but I will be so grateful when Jules chunks out a little bit more because there is something a little unnerving about nourishing such a tiny little person.  I have been really amazed, though, by the progress they both made with regard to milk intake, literally overnight, from the time they were apart to the time that they were reunited.  Pretty special.

Emmy and Hannah adore their new siblings.  The love is so intense for our eldest that we have been dealing with some very naughty behavior, in that I merely get in the way of her caring for her baby brother and baby sister.  Pouting, whining, back-talking, defiance, you name it, we heard it from the peanut gallery.  It was as if I came home from the hospital to a totally different child.  To think I was most worried about Hannah's behavior, who is intrigued by the babies, but otherwise more focused on her own play.  Praise Jesus for Nick's presence and my mother and her infinite patience for children...Between the two of them, they constructed a sticker chart to encourage her good behavior that has been a game-changer since they instituted it yesterday morning. 

My Nick is such a "hands on" dad. :)

The second boy that has stolen my heart.

I love that smile. :)

I really can't believe they were both in my belly.

The new family portrait! :)

Gearing up for the first night shift with both babies. :-P