Blake & Amanda: April 2015

So, what's up in the lives of Jensen and Everett these days? Well, for one thing THEY'RE HOME!!! That's right folks! Just over a week ago on the 9th we were able to take these guys home with us!!! On the 8th their doctor called to say that Everett was going to go home the next day. We were thrilled. I had been preparing myself all along that they would probably go home on different days, but the next morning another one of their doctors called to say that they could both go home. They needed to both be eating everything by mouth for 48 hours, and apparently a nurse had gavaged part of Jensen's feeding that didn't really need to be, so he was ready to go home too. After 51 days in the NICU and at 37 and a half weeks gestation, they were coming home with us. As soon as we walked in our front door with our two beautiful babies I had a happy cry. We were finally together as a family.

The hallway outside the NICU

The dreaded handwashing station where I scrubbed my skin into oblivion twice a day

The last room we were in. We started in 1, then 4, then 3, then 4 again, then 3. They were doing construction or something...

Our private room. Also, we totally got one of those Mamaroos because they liked the one at the NICU so much.

Jensen's crib

Everett's crib

Jensen, the night before he came home.

Everett, the night before he came home.

Everett

Jensen

The temperature probe we used to take their temps every 3 hours, and the bottle warmer for their milk.

Blake hanging out with Jensen (he had a slight lingering cold, so he stayed out of the NICU for 2 weeks and then wore a mask for the last 2 days)

Blake feeding Everett

The last day at their first home.

Monitors off and ready to leave!

Everett's so cozy in his carseat

Leaving the NICU for the last time!

"Goodbye forever!" I said.

First family picture at home!

My babies are home!!!

It was a mad dash to get everything ready for them the day we found out Everett would be coming home. I finally got their nursery put together, and I was quite happy with it.

It's even cuter with babies in it

My mom helped me with these paintings (and made most of their crib sets)

Their first ultrasound, and my great grandma Eva Jensen with my grandpa Richard Jensen and his twin brother Bob.

We can't use nails to hang anything up in our townhome. Lame. So we have a banner instead of curtains. Whatev.

If you're wondering when you can come see them, there's a few things you need to know first. Due to their very early birth, their immune systems are much weaker than the average newborn. As much as I want to show off my adorable cute babies to everyone, we will have to severely limit the number of people they are exposed to for the first while. If you are going to be able to come see them, please make sure you and everyone in your household are completely healthy, check that you are up to date on your vaccinations, and leave your kids at home! If you have even a slight cough or sniffle, or feel a little bit off, please stay home. Babies usually catch whooping cough from adults who don't know they have it yet. The slightest cold to you could be devastating to these little guys, especially Jensen as he still requires oxygen to breathe. Sorry to be the germaphobe mom, but when you have preemies it comes with the territory. We will not be taking them into public places at all for a long time. Thanks for understanding!

Here's some more cute pictures of their first days at home.