Fall Festivities

We have been so busy these days with all the fall events. I have finally gotten a Sunday afternoon to sit and post some new pictures and fill everyone in on how "The Boys" are doing.  We are getting used to going to work everyday and finding somewhat of a routine. We have our four month check up tomorrow so I guess we will find out how much Wesley and Cooper have grown. It is hard to believe that it has already been 4 months. 

The reflux has been a challenge with projectile vomiting. But we have realized feeding the boys sitting up and making sure they are up for 30 minutes prior makes a huge difference. Both are taking Prevacid and it seems to help. But we have our accidents every once in awhile. My sister and I were at the mall a couple of weeks ago and while shopping we stopped to feed the boys.  They ate and all was well so we started off to another store. Cooper started to fuss a little so I picked him up and started walking around. Should have known not to move him but I wasn't thinking. Before I know it I have puke in my hair all over my clothes and all over Cooper. I doubt the poor guy had anything left in his stomach it was all over us. That was quite a experience, even after I washed the throw up out of my hair I kept smelling it, who knows. We have all realized it's a good idea to have a back up outfit in the car for us just incase.  Ready for the boys to grow out of the reflux. 

Wesley and Cooper are little social butterflies. They have been on quite a few outings. We have been to the Fair, to 2 weddings, a funeral, a fall festival and Trunk or Treat, a pumpkin patch, church, and of obviously shopping. They really do good out and about. But I do not go out without help yet. I haven't gotten that brave. I do not know what we would do with 4. Thank god for my sister because she has graciously given up even her Mondays off to help me take the boys to the doctor and run errands when we need to. 

Cooper at the fair

Wesley at the fair

The boys love to lay and kick around. One night they kicked so much that they wore their selves out and slept for a whole 8 hours. I woke up at 4, 5 and 6am thinking surely they will be up in another hour and they made it from 11pm to 7am. That was awesome but hasn't been repeated since. They are both smiley and happy for the most part. We are working on head control and grabbing for toys now. They are coming right along learning and growing.  I worry about their development because they were so early. Their adjusted age is only 1 month and a few days. But they seem to be moving on schedule.

This is our pumpkin patch picture made with our halloween art we made with grandma. Its our footprints made to look like ghosts. 

Back To Work

We are finally 1 week away from our due date. It is amazing how much the boys have grown since they have come home.  Being with them at home was so rewarding.  I am so glad I took the time to enjoy them. Now it is time to go back to work. Thank goodness I own my own salon and the boys can come with me to work everyday until Justin gets off. Our doctor advised us not to put the boys in daycare for the 1st year since they were premature. We all made it through our first week, our first earthquake, and Hurricane Irene. It was defiantly a eventful week but we took it in stride and had a great week back at work. I am so lucky because my awesome sister is nice enough to take time to watch the boys while I work. It is so nice to be able to have them with me and I love introducing them to all my clients. They are like family to me so I am so glad they can finally meet them.

We won a years worth of free photography in a ultrasound picture contest back when we found out we were having quads. The photographers name is Michelle LaPrade and I couldn't have asked for better photos. She did such a great job, as you can see. These are just a few I picked but they were all so good.

At our 2 month doctor appointment Cooper weighed 6lbs 5oz and Wesley weighed 6lbs. They are 11 weeks now and I would say both are right at 7lb or a little over. It is amazing how fast they are growing.

Wesley 

Cooper

Coming home!!

Wesley and Cooper had been making progress with bottle feedings and had no episodes in a week. By the start of last week the feeding tubes were out and both boys were taking every meal by bottle. They told me to bring their car seats in because it would be next week sometime when we would be bringing them home. Thursday July 28th the nurse called me that morning and told me that we should be making plans to spend the night and that we could bring the babies home tomorrow. I just kept thinking I would get to the hospital and they would have changed their mind. But when I got there that day they had started scheduling everything for our discharge.
We came to the hospital that night and practiced giving the boys a bath and spent one sleepless night in the NICU parenting rooms. They pretty much let you have a practice run and hook the baby up to a monitor so they can see how the baby does for the night with eating and things. By the end of the night we were so tired so we packed up and headed home to get things ready and rest before our first night with the boys at home.

That Friday night we got to the hospital around 6:30 and fed the boys for the last time in the NICU. The best part was they were wireless so we didn't have to worry about beeping. We got our paper work signed and as soon as my mom got there with the coming home outfits (that had just arrived) we dressed the boys and got them in the car seats ready to go. We were so excited but pretty nervous considering we were bringing home two 5 pound little babies. Here we are strapped in and ready to head home

Cooper

Wesley

Our first night home wasn't to bad but I think we were mostly running on adrenaline. We slept probably 3 hours. The boys did good though they probably thought, what have we got ourselves into these guys have no clue what they are doing. Im sure they think mommy is crazy because I check to see if they are breathing quite frequently. Thank god for the Angel care monitor or I would never sleep. Our little family has had to adapt to change alot this year. I'm hoping the next 6 months of our life together will be full of fun and great moments and that all the troublesome things are behind us. We are so blessed to have such smart and healthy boys. And especially lucky to have been able to bring them home together. Thanks again for all the prayers and support. I will to keep updating maybe not as frequent considering my life is getting more and more hectic these days.

Feeding and Growing!!!!

Holding hands.(Cooper on right Wesley on left) 

The boys are doing well starting to both take bottles and breast feed a little everyday.  We aren't sure when they will come home. We haven't started a count down but they are definitely making progress everyday. Next Monday they will hit the 34 week mark. That means when they start to take all feedings from a bottle and if they stay stable and have no episodes for 7 days straight they will start talking about us bringing them home. We aren't trying to get our hopes up because any day can be different in the NICU.

We have had such great nurses one of our favorites, Emily, makes us the cutest little notes for when the boys turn a week old or have a milestone. Thinking about the boys coming home makes me a little nervous I wish I could bring her home with us. We have a great NICU and all the nurses have been so good and they take such great care of our boys. I want them home but I know they are in the best place until they are ready. We just have to be patient and wait. We are so lucky things have been smooth so far and hopefully they will continue to go so smooth.

Both over 4 lbs!!!(Cooper right Wesley left)

1 month old!!(Cooper right Wesley left)

3 weeks old and moved to the big boy bed together!!!

On 4th of July we had the wonderful surprise of getting to see our sweet boys together for the first time since being in the womb. They have moved to an open air crib together. We are so excited for them to be together again and so proud of our sweet boys. God has been so good to us.  It is hard going back and fourth to the NICU but we are so lucky to have such strong boys and awesome friends and family. One of the best things has been having the meal train our church friends started on Facebook.  It is so helpful to have a the delicious meals brought to us everyday so we don't have to worry about cooking. For everyone who has and will in the future make us a meal...Thanks So Much! You have no idea how helpful it has been.

Wesley and Cooper in their new bed!!

Wesley is making progress he is up to full feeds for his weight and tolerating them well. He does have some reflux after his feedings though.  He had a positive urine culture come back from last week and docs decided to put him on antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection. They took a second culture and we found out today it is negative. So they decided to stop the antibiotics. As long has Wesley and Cooper are doing well next week we get to try practicing breast feeding!!! We hope it will goes well bottle feeding is our next big step. 

Wesley 3lb 5.2oz

Cooper is doing well also. He is also up to full feedings and tolerating them well. He seems to like it in his new bed with his brother. He is holding his temperature well out of the incubator and keeping it stable. They also decided that since they are doing so well they can start infant massage. It is supposed to be very beneficial for premature infants. This sounds like something I would like to have everyday, who doesn't love a massage.

Cooper 3lb 9oz

2 weeks and graduated to NICU2

We got to the NICU on Monday morning and there were the sweetest notes on Cooper and Wesley's beds. Their nurse Emily had arts and crafts on sunday night with the boys. They both wrote Justin and I little notes saying they loved us and thanking us for visiting them every day.  It also said "Today I am 2 weeks old." YAY!! Not long after getting there that morning I got to hold Cooper before they told us the boys were graduating to NIC2. Which is just a less intensive care unit for babies. We are very excited for the boys to make the move to their new room together in the NIC2. By Monday night when Justin and I arrived the boys were snug in their beds sleeping in their new room.

Cooper  

Last Tuesday Cooper decided to give us a little scare and come down with a infection. He had lots of test run and was quickly started on antibiotics. The doctors stopped his feedings for 24 hours while the test came back. By the next day he was feeling much better. Although not happy at all about not being able to eat. This Monday we got the good news that Cooper made it to 3lbs!! This week has been better for Cooper but we learned quick that any day can be going great and all of a sudden take a turn for the worse. We are just so happy Cooper is feeling better and he is tolerating his feedings well so he can grow big and strong.

Cooper decided to open his eyes.

Wesley doesn't like to keep the oxygen on his nose.

Wesley had a uneventful week last week. Which in the NICU is a good thing for the most part.  He didn't join the party his brother Cooper was having. Thank goodness because I don't believe Justin and I could have handled the worry and stress of both of our babies going through all those test at the same time. This week Wesley has been doing well but he has had a couple spells and the doctors decided to put his oxygen back on to give him a little more time. On the other hand he is up to full feedings and starting to gain weight.

Wesley

We are so proud of both of our little boys and know they are little fighters. We are so blessed!

1 Week old and making progress

Our strong boys are making progress every day. They are 29 weeks gestational age and 1 week old.  Justin and I have have been back and forth to the NICU everyday, sometimes twice a day. We try everyday to hold the babies since the doctors have said we can. We do what they call "kangaroo care" where you take off your shirt and hold the babies skin to skin. This give both the babies and us a chance to bond. It also helps my milk supply. The best thing for the babies right now is my breast milk so my job is to pump every two to three hours to be sure that my milk comes in. That way I will have adequate supply of the milk for the babies while they are in the hospital and there after. We are all doing well but leaving the hospital feels like we are leaving a piece of ourselves there. It defiantly is a emotional roller coster ride. Justin and I both have called the NICU numerous times a day. The nurses in NICU are awesome and so understanding. They answer all of our questions and are so helpful.  

Cooper

Cooper sleeping peacefully

Cooper is doing well. As of Monday he was taken off of the oxygen and he is breathing room air. He is doing good tolerating his feedings of breast milk. He has had a little jaundice so they put a billie light over his bed to help that improve. He did loose a little weight but doctors say that is completely normal for preemie babies. Tuesday night Cooper's weight was 2lbs 12.4oz. Both of the boys get to wear clothes now too!

Wesley, after his bath

Sweet little Wesley

Wesley is also making progress. He has been taken off the oxygen as of Tuesday and is doing well with breathing room air. He has been doing great with tolerating feedings also. He made sure to break me in this past Monday when I changed his diaper and he pooped all over me. It was so funny I never thought I would enjoy being pooped on but it's the little things these days. Wesley has started to gain weight. Tuesday night he weighed 2lb 10.3oz.

June 13th 2011...Cooper and Wesley's birthday!!

Cooper Lamar and Wesley James Masencup make their grand entrance into the world on Monday, June 13th, 2011.

Look at those sweet little feet!

Adorable baby Cooper

Cooper Lamar 

Wesley

Sweet little Wesley

Cooper was born at 7:45 weighing 2lbs 13.8oz and 16.1 inches long. Wesley was born at 7:47 weighing 2lbs 8oz and 14.2 inches long. We are so excited for our baby boys to be here with us even though they decided to come a little earlier than we hoped. (28 weeks to be exact) Both boys will have to spend a couple months in NICU but they are doing good. We are making 2 trips a day to visit them. Sorry it has been so long since our last post but obviously things have been a little crazy.

Hospital:(

I should be having lots of time on my hands for the next 7 weeks hopefully.
Sunday morning I awoke feeling a little different, not terribly bad but just not normal. So I waited until lunch when Karen and Steve, came over. I told her about my symptoms and she insisted on me calling the doctor. So I called and they suggested me come over to the hospital. Thank goodness that week I decided to make a list of what I would need should I have to go to the hospital. So, we packed a bag with all the things I may need.  I decided on the way to the hospital I needed to call my mother, sister, and friend Ashleigh. They were on the way to the beach for the hair show we had all scheduled to go to that weekend. Obviously I wasn't venturing off to the beach with being put on bed rest. I hated to call and put a damper on the much needed vacation that they were about to enjoy, but obviously Wesley and Cooper thought otherwise.
Once we got to triage the doctors asked me all the questions about my symptoms and decided to do an exam. Well, turns out one of the amniotic sacs had burst and I was leaking some fluid. I had not noticed anything so obviously this was a surprise to me. They immediately decided to admit me to the hospital. The doctors said chances of infection can be high when you start to leak so they started a IV's with antibiotics.  They gave me steroid shots to help the babies lungs develop in the event that I go into labor. Although they had a plan to do their best to stop labor if it should happen so we just hoped for the best. All my family were on the way to the hospital and we were doing our best to keep everyone informed.
Over the next 24 hours the babies heart rates were measured continuously which was pretty hard since they are busy little ones most all the time. They started running test for gestational diabetes and preclamsia. These were not fun at all I felt like a pin cushion and the labor and delivery beds are NOT made for laying in for 24 hours while all these test were run. By Monday night they were ready to move me to a area of maternity called antepartum where they monitor moms with preterm labor 24-7. A much more comfortable place for me to considering I wasn't having contractions so labor hadn't started. I was ready for a shower and a comfy bed and that I got. The doctors have informed me now that they want me to stay in the hospital until the boys are born so they can monitor us all continuously.
Now it is all up to Wesley and Cooper and when they decide to make their grand entrance. It could be 7 weeks or less no matter what they will deliver the boys by 34 weeks. I'm resting as much as possible but they have allowed me to shower once a day and go to the bathroom. Today they said I can even have 2 20 minute wheelchair rides a day!! After being stuck in a room 2 days I'm super excited about going out and about. I have had lots of visitors so far so I haven't had time to get bored or go stir crazy.  Thank goodness for all my friends and family who care so much about Wesley, Cooper, Justin and I. I am so blessed to still have two healthy babies and so I thank god everyday that he is watching over my babies and I.  I just have to remember he is in control and it is all up to him. I am doing my best to try and be patient and let the boys decide when they want to come the longer they wait the better. but it is up to them and god. Thank you so much to everyone so far who has been to visit and prayed for the health of my babies and I.  I also wanted to post my 27 week pictures. From now on I guess I will be taking them in a night gown, haha. I will have updates next week so stay tuned I'm hoping there isn't much to report for a little while.

Week 26

Belly shots for week 26 sorry for the late post.

Beach Bum one day, stuck in the bed the next

Memorial Day Weekend at Surfside Beach

Karen and Steve

My awesome Memorial Day weekend started out great! Justin and I headed to the beach on Friday afternoon and made it there that evening with no trouble. We stopped for rest breaks more than usual. My doctors said going to the beach would be fine but getting out of the car every hour to walk around was a must. I did not care either way I was just ready to get to the beach and relax. We met my mother-in-law Karen and Bryce our nephew out to eat that night before getting to our place. Later on Justin's dad Steve, sister Casey and her boyfriend, Jason got there to join us at the place at Surfside Beach. Karen and Steve's good friends the Doub's were so nice to let our whole family come stay in their beach house for the weekend last minute. First thing Saturday I was on the beach soaking up the sun and enjoying myself quite alot! Later on the rest of the family, my sister-in-law Jessica, our niece Bella and Jessica's boyfriend Ashley got there. Our vacation together was great! We usually all get together go to the beach and this year we had to plan this one last minute since we haven't been sure what the doctors would have me doing later on in my pregnancy. We all had a great time going to the beach and pool together minus Steve, since he doesn't get out to the beach in the sun:( we try every year but for some reason he would rather stay inside all day. Next year it may be hard adding Wesley and Cooper to the mix may be but it will be fun. Beach trips with Justin's side of the family are always so fun and relaxing we hope next year we can go for a week instead of just a long weekend.

Casey, Bryce and Bella

Doctor appointment this Tuesday!!

We had a doctor appointment scheduled for Tuesday so we had to leave the beach early. I was excited to check up on Wesley and Cooper but Justin and I were not ready to come home from the beach. We had our ultrasound first and everything was great both boys heart rates were good. Baby C measured 2lbs 3oz and Baby D measured 2lbs 6oz. No sign of TTTS (twin to twin transfusion syndrome), Yay! So all is good. Next I had my OB appointment where they check on me to make sure I'm measuring good and taking care of myself. We asked if they could check my cervix just to be on the safe side since we haven't checked lately and thank goodness we did. The doctor said I started to dilate a little, 1cm and  50% effaced. Not what I wanted to hear since I had scheduled to go back to work the next day. My body is feeling the pressure from the boys and they just want me to rest and not go to work this week. Next week they will check again a determine what's next, depending on if I do not dilate anymore. I pray I don't. The Doc says this is very normal for a pregnancy such as mine and they just would rather be safe then sorry. I should rest, we want Wesley and Cooper to mature as much as possible so they get here with no problems. So, I am doing absolutely nothing aside from keeping up with work though IChat with my awesome sister and updating my blog:)  Justin has been very supportive and has been making sure I do not do anything except go to the bathroom.

Baby D 

This is not what I wanted to be doing this week but I keep reminding myself I could have been in this position 6 weeks ago. We are very lucky to have Wesley and Cooper staying healthy and I am doing everything I can to make sure they get here safe and sound.






PS: Please pray for our friend Jackson Helmly.
He was diagnosed at birth with a rare kidney disease and has just recently been diagnosed with a rare liver cancer. Please lift this sweet little man, his mom (Megan) and dad (Josh) up in prayer.

Two heads

babies, babies, babies everywhere!

Hey there blogging world. Not much to update on with the babies and I. They are already rowdy baby boys thats for sure, because they are bouncing off the walls in my belly every time I sit down and get comfortable. I can't wait for these next couple weeks to go by because that means I get to adventure off to the beach to get some muchhhh needed rest and relaxation. I must say, I can't wait! We have some exciting news this week in the baby department. My friend Rachel had her baby girl early Tuesday morning. They named her Darby James Tatum, which was a hidden name to EVERYONE until she arrived! Everyone is starting to have their babies. I know 2 other girls who have had theres and boy is it making me sooo anxious to meet the boys! I have quite a longggg way to go thats for sure. haha.

Isn't she precious! 

Now onto the belly photos! 

RAINNN Delay!

Hello everyone! Sorry for not blogging in a week! Things have been quite busy and it's quite hard to give myself time to do nothing but rest. I am constantly wanting to keep going but thanks to my family and friends, they are watching after me to make sure I get as must rest as I can. Last Monday a client of mine offered to take some photos of me. I wasn't sure how they would turn out with my large belly but they are wonderful! Here are some previews from her webpage!

How sweet are these boots! :) The 2 butterflies are in Memory of Addison and Levi. 

Over the weekend I had to do hair for my other little sister's (or at least it seems she is) wedding! It was absolutely wonderful besides the MASSIVE amount of rain and me getting my car stuck then running into a bush! Let's just say by the end of the night I was never more ready to get into my bed. My best friend, Brandi was with me. She is pregnant as well so you can only imagine the hormones flying around inn the car, haha! Thank God I have people around me that aren't an emotional wreck like Brandi and I. So my car got pulled out by a tractor! haha. Here are some photos of the wonderful Bride, Dani and her bridesmaids! 

Justin and I went to the doctor yesterday and it was nothing but good news! The doctor said I did need to cut back my hours at work but that I was doing wonderful. My belly is measuring at a whopping 35 weeks and I am only 24 weeks yesterday. He said I wasn't going to make it to 40 weeks (which I figured) , so it would be about 36-38 weeks when I would have the boys! That means ONLY 12 WEEKS away! Holy moly that is 3 MONTHS! I can't believe this pregnancy has absolutely flew by! Here are some photos of the belly and the boys. Baby C, (who i think will end up being Cooper) did a complete flip in the middle of the ultrasound. Guess, he is going to be the wild child.