Eva and Zoë  are growing so quickly!  Eva now weighs 3 lb 8 oz, and is 16″ long;  Zoë’s weight is 2 lb 10 oz, and she’s 14.5″ long.  It’s so amazing to see what a difference a few ounces make in their appearance; the doctor confirmed they are identical, but we can still tell our two princesses apart!
They have both been doing really well, and are feeding on my breast milk almost exclusively—they also receive additional calories from fortifiers.  Both of our darlings are very alert, yet at the same time very peaceful and mellow.  We’ve had the opportunity to change their diapers and take their temperature when the nurses do their rounds, and they rarely fuss or cry when they’re handled.  Every time we carry them, they look right up at us with their beautiful brown eyes, and within moments fall asleep peacefully.
Today, I was fortunate enough to begin kangaroo care, with Eva.  It was the sweetest thing!  She lay right on my bare chest while I held her, covered with a blanket.  She looked up at me the whole time, and gripped my pinky tightly as I whispered softly to her and kissed the top of her head.  When it was time for me to put her back, I could tell she didn’t want our time to end yet.  She wriggled around and clutched at me, so I could keep holding her.  It was the hardest thing, to leave her behind.  I’m just happy I got to hold her so closely, and that she’s doing so well.  Tomorrow, I hope to start doing the same with Zoë.  It will be great when I can hold both of them like that together!

Eva and Zoë are progressing very well in their development, and growing stronger with each passing day.  They have both been moved to the Intermediary unit in the NICU, which is one step down in terms of high risk.  Eva has been taken off oxygen and is on room air only now, which is a big milestone.  Zoë is sure to be right behind her, as she is almost ready to come off the small amount of oxygen she still needs to keep her stable all day.  Zoë now weighs 2 lbs 8 oz and the last time we checked, Eva was at 2 lbs 13 oz, so they are steadily putting on weight as well.  I have been able to pump milk during my recent visits to see the girls, and I am looking forward to starting kangaroo care, which is when I’ll be able to hold them up against me, in skin-to-skin contact, to increase our bonding time and aid in their development.  We are grateful that our babies are doing so well.  Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

We finally settled on names for our precious new baby girls.  We named ‘Baby A’ Eva Grace, and ‘Baby B’ Zoë Elyse.  Both Eva and Zoë mean ‘life’, and Eva also represents Eve (the first woman) so we thought it would be perfect for our firstborn.  It took us a while, but we wanted to get to know them first, and feel these names fit them perfectly. 

Today, Eva and Zoë are 1 week and 1 day old.  They are both doing well, in the NICU.  Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

After three weeks in the hospital for preterm labor issues related to Baby B, we became the proud parents of TWO BABY GIRLS delivered via Cesarean on December 23rd. Baby A weighed in at 2 lbs 5 oz (14″) and Baby B at 1 lb 12 oz (13.75″). Both babies are being cared for in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and I am recovering well. At this time, we have no pictures or names to share.  Thank you for your support and prayers.