36 Week Update

Austin and Malia's steady progress in the last few weeks allowed us to finally get some family in to see the babies and even get some holding time.  Our families loved the experience not only for the bonding, but most of them were pretty far removed from holding such a small baby (if at all).

Malia with Lolo Manny for the first time

Malia with Auntie Marta for the first time

Austin with Uncle Randy for the first time

Here are some pics I forgot to post from last weekend when most of my family was in town for Cheryl's baby shower.

Malia with Grandpa Vlasich for the first time

Austin with Grandma Vlasich for the first time  

Austin with his Great Auntie Marilyn for the first time

It was the July 4th holiday this week, as well as my birthday.  Quite a nice birthday present to see our babies doing so well!

Dr. Wickham's wife knitted caps for all of the NICU babies in celebration of the 4th.

I think Malia wore it better; Austin's cap barely fit on his huge melon!

Cheryl took this amazing self-portrait for my birthday. If you're wondering, the red glow of the pulse oximeter was not staged to give her a glowing E.T. heart, but fits into the composition beautifully.

Austin, 35w3d

Malia, 35w3d

 Austin has been bottle-feeding so well, it could be just days till he comes home.  He's still a little unpredictable, but taking just about all of his feedings on his own.  We have been scrambling all weekend trying to figure out if we're ready for their transition home.  We're not there quite yet, but getting close!

Malia's feedings have been going very well in the last few days also, and it seems the the light bulb has illuminated for her hunger and suck/swallow response.  It once again shows that she's just about a week behind her brother, which will surely be negligible with every successive month.

Malia 35w6d

Malia showing off her bottle skills

Our little blondie, 35w6d

I finally got to tandem hold the babies tonight.  Much harder than I thought, but awesome!

It's starting to sink in that our babies are just guests of the Hoag NICU; soon to be graduates whom we expect will leave the hospital looking plump and healthy as a full-term baby.  I'm quite sure that we weathered the storm through an eventful pregnancy and preemie phase with the twins.  It will sure be an emotional day when we close this chapter and transition into real parenthood.