All settled in Florida

Its about 8:30 on a Saturday night, Grady and I are watching the Olympics and the boys are fast asleep since 8.  We are adjusting well from our DINK-y (Double Income No Kids) life to our new one, far away from all our friends and family but with the three most important people in my life all under one roof. . . finally.  We have been in Navarre, Florida for about 4 weeks now.  My mom so graciously stayed with us for about 3 of those until we got unpacked and settled.  She was such a huge help during the transition that we just don't know what we would have done without her.  We would also like to thank my dad for loaning her out to us for such a long time.  The boys seem to be loving their new home and doing well with bedtimes and sleeping more and more each night.  I have discovered that I can function on 4 straight hours of sleep pretty well and the boys almost always sleep that long before one of them wakes up- then its a quick feed during the night and then back to bed until 6 another longer feed and then back in bed until 9.  Each boy has slept 10 straight hours on different nights- if only I could get them to do that the same night. The time from 6-9 gives me a chance to shower and get organized for the day, catching up on paperwork from work, (I'm not actually working but I did hire another dr. to work for me since the bedrest in January), do some cleaning, and make bottles for the day.  I really do love staying at home with the boys especially since we don't know anyone here to watch our boys.  I have been meeting with different ladies to come in an watch the boys for half a day once a week - we have one that has won our approval and even though she is very qualified- I still haven't left her alone with the boys yet! I just can't bring myself to do it. . . hopefully that will come soon. 

Since we have been in Florida we have had lots of visitors- we love seeing familiar faces and even more so the extra set of helping hands they provide.  Just as we arrived, my cousins Jeff, Sheryl and Mike stopped by for a visit when their vacation plans were abruptly altered by Hurricane Debby. Unfortunatley our furniture hadn't arrived yet but thankfully the Walmart down the road sells air mattresses.  Grady's college friend, Don, was here when the movers arrived and was a huge help with the unpacking and doing all the hook-ups and installing TVs, etc.- he even mowed our grass!!  My dad came to visit as well for a few days.  He enjoyed spending some time with the boys and seeing how much they had grown. My cousin, Russell, and his wife Melissa and their 3 kids popped in one evening for a visit since they were vacationing in nearby Okaloosa Island. The next week my cousin Sandra, her daughter, Mallory and boyfriend, Austin came to visit for several days.  They got to enjoy some beautiful Florida days at the beach and the pool while being a great help with the boys.  And the next week, my sweet sweet niece and nephew came along with Andy and Tessia.  It had been so long since we had spent a lot of time with them and it was such a great chance for the family to be together just hanging out.  Madison and Reece love our boys and I can't wait for their baby brother to get here in September.  Tess offered to watch the boys one night while Grady and I went on a date night! It was a great break but we did miss our boys especially since we got home after they were in bed.  Unfortunately the whole time they were here, I had a pit in my stomach over the fact that when they left- my mom was going with them.  Then it was just us! Me, Grady and the boys.  It was scary but we did great.  We even surprised ourselves.  We couldn't ask for better boys- they really do great with their feeding and sleeping and only really get upset if there is something really wrong.  The funniest thing is that before my mom could even get back to Deville- Griffin decided that he was going to roll over and then 3 days later so did Jack.  We hate that she missed this huge milestone and she said jokingly that they probably would have done it a lot sooner if she wasn't here holding them all the time!! 

We have gotten the boys in the pool and they really don't know what to think about it- not overly excited and not upset either.  Just like with their baths - I'm sure they will learn to love it.  Did I mention that the boys are loving bath time!!!  We give baths every other night and sometimes I wish we did every night because even though its a lot of work (it really is like an assembly line) - they love it and usually sleep better those nights. 

We haven't made it to the beach yet with the boys, babies aren't supposed to wear sunscreen until 6 months and in the evenings it can be windy and the optometrist in me doesn't want them to get sand in their eyes.  Hopefully in the next month we will get them out there and take some pictures.

We met their new pediatrician this week and we really like her- she has twins as well so she can relate to all my questions and concerns (I went into the appointment with a list of questions for her!)  She was very impressed with the amount the boys are eating and their weights.  Since looked at Griffin's foot and said it looked great to her but we will be seeing another orthopedic dr in a few months just to check it more thoroughly.  We have to see the cardiologist to double check a duct in both boys that hadn't completely closed at birth but none of the pediatricians we have seen since their discharge from the NICU seem to be concerned at all. A social worker from the Florida Early Steps program came to our home to do an assessment on the boys and they will see a developmentalist and Phyical Therapist to assess their development.  We really don't have any major concerns about the boys but since they were so premature and twins- they just need to be monitored closely.  Not to bore you with details but I have a feeling that this blog is going to count as the boys baby book (I just don't know when I will find time to get that all together- maybe when they're 18) -some stats about the boys:
Griff weighs 14 1/2 lbs
Jack weights 14 lbs
Griff's height is 23 inches
Jack's height is 24.5 inches
Griff's head circumference is 17 inches
Jack's head circumference is 16 inches

Both boys are in #2 diapers, wearing 6 months clothes (they are a little big but since there is so much drama involved in putting tight clothes over Griff's head- we just avoid that and went up a size), and drinking 28-30 ounces/day.

Griff rolled over on July 24 and Jack on July 27. Both boys were on their tummy and rolled to their back.  Both boys have slept through the night once- Jack first then Griff.

Grady and I love the end of the day when we both go into the nursery with the boys to feed them. We have on their baby hymns CD and its so peaceful.  We quietly talk about our day and the boys and we are constantly amazed at how far they have come.

Griff on his Birth day

Griff now!

Jack on his Birth day

Jack now!



Now that we have established a pretty good routine- I hope to blog a little more regularly but enjoy the picture overload below!

Sitting on the patio with mawmaw Katy.

Waking up in the morning! So sweet!

 But there is a fine line between sweet and not so sweet with Griff!

We have started putting the boys in their high chairs while we eat supper.  They love to sit there and listen to us talk and we love talking back to them.

The boys first trip to the mall.

Lying on the exam table at the pediatricians office.  Obviously this is Pre- shots.

We call Griff our Chuncky Monkey

This feeding didn't go so well- I ended up stripping them both mid-feed.  They love being naked!!

Jack taking a bath

Brothers!

Jack at 4 months

Griff doesn't like to miss much

 Griff at 4 months

 The kids giving Mawmaw Katy her birthday present.  Its a book that they have recorded themselves reading.  They gave one to the boys too and I can't wait to read it to our boys.

This is our redneck water raft (AKA an air mattress). It works great for a lot of people though! Madison and Reece had such a good time with Mawmaw.  They had a lot of catching up to do with Mawmaw since she had been with us for so long.

 Madison is such a big helper with the boys.  Tessia is so lucky to have her when their new baby arrives.

 Andy and Reece

Our sleepy Griff

Griff rolling over for the first time. Please excuse the weeping commentator- tears of joy!!

Jack rolling over for the first time

I hope to have the nursery completely done this week so I will post pics of that next time.  Thanks for stopping by to check on our boys and thank you for all your prayers.  Our boys are doing great!