Love Bugs

My Dearest Little Love Bugs,
Since this blog serves as our family journal, I need to write down some of my earliest observations of you before time gets away from me and I forget.

Even at one week old, I am starting to see your vibrant personalities and wonder which mannerisms stick, and which ones fade.

Let's start with My little "Easy-V"

Vance, you are just like your Mama in so many ways. Right down to the fact that you are always running cold even when everyone in the room (including Sister) is so hot. You are an observer. You don't get upset often, but when you do you sort of "blow up", have your fit and then you're done. You love to watch and listen to everything around you and I am amazed every day at just what you put up with. This morning they came to check your blood work and I waited (with four pricks you'd think you'd speak up!) for the crying to begin. Instead, you'd crinkle up your little face, make a little pout with your lips and then be done.

I am fascinated with your level of patience. You are so consistent. From your eating to your weight gain, when you do something, you quietly keep at it until you have accomplished your goals. You put up with a lot from Sister. You often (though you wake first) let her feed first (as she is quite vocal when she's hungry) and somehow know right when she's finishing up. It's then that you let us know you're still there and are now tired of waiting.

You like to ball up in your warm jammies and settle in. You're often quiet and resting but when someone is in distress, suddenly your eyes open and you just need to know what's going on.
You are so lovable, cuddly and such a girl magnet. The nurses often come to hold you and you are so awake and alert that you often have cute little "chats" with them. It's wonderful to see you growing and I feel so safe when you're in my arms.

*When twins are identified en utero, they are labeled as A-twin closest to cervix and first to arrive, and twin B. Because Vance was twin A, but is a Boy and Ava was B, but her name starts with A, the nurses often get mixed up and have to remind themselves which one is truly twin A and which is twin B

Little Miss Ava Dess (or Queen "B" as you're sometimes known)
As the only girl in the (new) transitional nursery, you sure know how to make your presence known. Often, if I'm even just a few minutes late to feed you, you are screaming at the top of your lungs. My favorite thing though, is that the moment I pick you up, you quietly settle down and just look at me. You are the tiniest thing I've ever held. You're having a hard time keeping even your preemie clothes on your tiny little body. You make me laugh because you change clothes more times during the day than I do. It's a joke around the nursery that we can tell when you're wearing an outfit you like because you actually stay in it! Otherwise, you've been known to "wiggle" your way right out of a jumper or gown.

You love to stretch out your arms and legs. With your brother, he curls up into a tight little ball and it's often hard to find where his legs are in his little jumpers. You on the other hand, don't like the jumpers with the feet in them because you can't stretch them out as far. In fact, the moment you came out, you had your arms and legs stretched as wide as they'd go. This picture will always make me smile. To me I think you're saying, "Yea! I can finally stretch my legs!" Maybe it stems from the fact that for a long time in my tummy you were folded almost in half (your head was touching your toes). Who really knows.
Today you gave me (and the nurses) quite a scare. You had just finished nursing and were all swaddled up, ready to settle in for a long nice nap. A few of the nurses and the paramedic and I were all sitting around visiting while I was feeding Vance. We were laughing and giggling when you started to cry a little. In just seconds your cry turned into a full fledged scream and it was a sound I had never heard from you before (and if it's ok with you, I'd like to never hear it again!) At the same time, your face turned red, and your monitors began to beep like crazy. Your heart rate sky-rocketted, your breathing was labored and your blood pressure shot through the roof.

All of the nurses and the paramedic gathered around your crib trying to find out what was wrong. They checked your probes, your tubes, your airway (that seemed to be fine!) all the while I was feeding Vance and praying over and over that nothing was wrong. When they couldn't find the culprit, one of the nurses called for the respiratory specialist. Now I was really scared. Then, the paramedic (love her!) quietly asked me, "Do you mind if I pick her up?" Of course I didn't mind! I just wanted you to be ok.

Then it happened. Just as she put her arms around you and drew you to her, you stopped. Not just slowed down- I mean stopped. All at once your numbers were all normal, your breathing was level and what was more amazing was that you were simply content just cuddled in her arms looking around. It was like magic. We all began to see very clearly something that you had already known- you need love. You need to be touched and you need to be cuddled. Oddly enough, that's a lot like your dad. I've always said that his "Love Language" is touch. You two are so much alike already that it doesn't surprise me that you'd take after him in that way too.

You two mean so much to our family and we're so lucky that you picked us.
We promise to be patient and pull together during this time.
We're excited for you to be home and complete our little family.

In the mean while, grow, eat and be strong. Keep up the good work.

We love you!
Love, your family.