Groundhog Day

I'm a couple days late, but Happy belated Groundhog Day! It's not normally a day that we celebrate, but this year it seems a little more "relevant", for lack of a better word. Our lives have been somewhat like the movie where each day we relive the same thing over & over. Our schedule varies a little from day to day because of Ryan's work schedule, but so far we've been able to spend at least a few hours at the hospital every day. While there's no place else I'd rather be than holding John & Andrew all day, I am emotionally ready to bring them home and begin to get into our new "normal" routine. I know they've still got a lot of growing and developing to do, so we just need be patient and continue to pray for their health. Plus, this year Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow which means 6 more weeks of winter. For us, that's just fine since it'll probably be another 6 weeks or more of the NICU before the boys come home. It makes our daily trips to the hosiptal a little easier knowing that we're not missing out on much in the outside world. I'm extremly thankful that it's been a mild winter so far and that we haven't had to navigate through blizzards and ice covered roads on our hour commute.

One day this week I visited the boys alone while Ryan was at work, and I got to hold them both at the same time. What a joy to have the two of them together again! After 31 weeks of being crammed together in my belly, this was the first time they've been so close to each other. I wonder if they missed this or recognized each other and their scent. Guess I'll never know!

It's also amazing to think about how quickly they've changed and how much progress they've made. Tomorrow on 2/5 they'll be two weeks old (or adjusted age of 33 weeks), and they've already passed so many little milestones. Ryan and I seem to have grown a lot in the past two weeks too and while we haven't "mastered" any skills yet, we're much more comfortable changing diapers, taking them out of their isolettes without dropping them or yanking on cords, dressing them in their too-large newborn clothes, and holding & adjusting their tiny bodies. We're incredibly grateful that things seem to be going well and that John & Andrew have not had any major health problems so far. We know that God's in control and there's not much we can do except continue to faithfully serve Him and praise Him for the work He's done in our family.

"I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:1,2