1 Week and 2 Days in the NICU- March 27th

We are so happy to have these precious miracles in our lives!

Nothing better than holding them in our arms.

Another day in the NICU and the babies are doing great! Rachel came to visit us this morning and of course it was great to see a good friend from home. Then Charles' good friend Matt stopped by for a visit. He and Charles were roommates in college and we absolutely love him and were so happy to see him. Laura Harris and her mom Mrs. Wolfe (who I worked with at MH IV) stopped by to see us. Laura had a doctors appointment and will be having her baby next week, we are very excited. Charles arrived after his morning trip to turkey hunt (he just can't help himself) and helped with the 12:00 and 4:00 feedings. The babies took down what they are required to take plus a little extra so we were very excited. Charles is a great daddy and is so good at getting them to eat. Today was also the first time Charles has held both babies and we took a family photo. We have waited so long for this day and we could not feel anymore blessed. I did the 8:00 feeding by myself, mom was giving me a chance to be alone with the babies. I loved having the opportunity to feed both of them and they took it all down. Lucy Kate had her feeding tube removed and she is having some blood work done in the morning, just routine. Things are looking really good and hopefully we will have some babies to bring home soon. Thanks again for all the prayers!

Rachel was so excited to see the babies and we were excited to see her!

Thanks for coming and we will see you at home soon.

Our great friend Matt stopped by to see us.

Laura will be doing all this baby stuff again very soon!

I love Mrs. Wolfe, she is the greatest.

She is going to be a daddy's girl

Daddy's first time to hold both of us.

It feels so strange, but he looks like he has the hang of it.

1 week and 1 day in the NICU- March 26th

Every night I call the NICU between 2:30 and 4:00, depends on when I wake up. Well when I called in the early morning hours the nurse informed me that Lucy Kate was not interested in her bottle and was not eating the required amount. This meant she was going to have to put in a feeding tube and I just started crying. I just felt like we were back tracking and I am so ready to take them home. When I arrived around 10:00 she had the feeding tube in place. I just stood by the bed and cried because it just looks pitiful. Bryant and Lucy Kate did very well with the noon time and 4:00 feedings. Lucy Kate tends to spit up a lot and Bryant did tonight at the 8:00 feeding, but they are trying so hard. Bryant was able to move to his big boy crib and move into the continue care unit with Lucy Kate. I was also able to do kangaroo care with Bryant and it was so special. They are beside each other and I was able to take a picture for the first time holding both of them. Charles missed all this exciting stuff, this was his first day not to come to Memphis. He of course will be here tomorrow and we can take our first family picture. Thanks to Kamey (my mom) for all her help and taking such good care of me and the babies.

Kamey and I feeding the babies right beside each other! YEAH

This is so strange feeling and a bit overwhelming. I thank God everyday because or lives are truly filled and we are ready for all the challenges of raising these precious babies.

Kangaroo Care with Bryant

What a wonderful time in our lives

1 Week in the NICU- March 25th

Today was a busy day and so special. Brother Jim was able to come to the hospital and pray over Lucy Kate and Bryant and gave Charles and I such a calm and peaceful feeling. We are part of such a wonderful church and we are so thankful each and everyday. Our next visitor was one of my best friends Landon and it was so great to see her. She was able to see Lucy Kate and Bryant and I enjoyed the visit so much. After that we met with a Baptist medical supplie rep to learn how to use the sleep apnea monitor that we will be using at home with Lucy Kate. It is very simple to use and not a big deal, it just seems so strange that we will have to have this hooked up to her all the time. Next, Mom, Charles and I took a CPR class just in case we need to use it in the future. We also met with the physical therapists and she explained how they work with preemies. Lucy Kate and Bryant are on task with there goals and we will have a follow up visit at the end of May. Charles left around 5 and of course I am so sad when he leaves but he likes to be at our house at night. Today was the first day that Bryant has had clothes on and he is attempting to maintain his own body temperature. The NICU has clothes that they put the babies in and of course I asked if I could bring them some cute clothes. The nurse said I could but it would be no guarantee that I would get it back. I guess we will have to wait until they get out of the NICU to dress cute! Our great friends the Bennetts came to visit and Dixie and Kerri were so excited to see the babies. Dixie started crying in the NICU because she just can't stand to hear babies cry. They brought us some great happies and we really appreciate them driving all that way to see the babies for just a few minutes. The nurse said that Bryant will be getting moved to a big boy crib during the night, so we will see tomorrow.

Brother Jim prayed over Bryant

Brother Jim prayed over Lucy Kate

Bryants first time in clothes

Landon and I with Lucy Kate

Bryant working with the physical therapy

Dixie loving Lucy Kate

Kerri with Bryant

Day 6 in the NICU- March 24th

Proud dad resting in the NICU

The babies are continuing to do great! Their weights are up and down but they are eating well so they should start to gain weight better. Lucy Kate is taking caffeine in her bottle once daily to help with her apnea and they are planning on discontinuing this tomorrow. She also has to keep her feedings down because she tends to spit up a lot. Charles was able to feed Bryant for the first time and he took his bottle very well. My cousin Kim was able to finally see the babies today, she was out of town and unable to get home until today. She had the opportunity to feed Lucy Kate and she was so excited. Anna Whatley and Mary Kate Wallhood drove up just to get a peek of Bryant and Lucy Kate. We took lots of photos and enjoyed a nice visit. I had decided by this point I needed a little retail therapy so mom and I went out and bought some make-up and some fat shirts. I also found a great baby bag at gap that I am using to haul stuff back and forth to the hospital. Our days pretty much go like this....... Arrive at the hospital between 10 and 10:30, help with the noon feeding and leave around 1:00. Mom, Charles and I find something to eat, rest at Kim's house and go back to the hospital at 3:30. We help with the 4:00 feeding and leave around 5:00. Charles heads back to Clarksdale and I usually try to run a few errands and get a bite to eat. Mom and I go back at 7:30 and help with the 8:00 feeding and leave around 9:30. The days go by very quickly but we are very tired. Please continue to pray for Lucy Kate and Bryant and Charles traveling back and forth.

Charles' first time to feed Bryant

Easter- Day 5 in the NICU

Charles and I had some great Easter blessings as Lucy Kate has been able to regulate her own body temperature and has been moved to an open crib and I was able to hold Bryant for the first time. Charles was so excited as he feed Lucy Kate for the first time and he did such a great job. We of course spent the day in the NICU, except when we went to eat with family. Dad, Emily, and Jeremy came down so we could all go eat together and celebrate the day. Chuck, Catherine and Laura also came to visit and bring gifts for the babies. Laura is not old enough to enter the NICU and Catherine had a cold so we held Lucy Kate up to the window for them to see. We are unable to do this with Bryant because he is still hooked up to his IV. Pete and Patrick were also able to come see the babies and Patrick helped to hold Lucy Kate's Paci so she would not cry. The babies are doing well with their goals and we hope to have them home soon.

Bryant with his Easter Bunny

Lucy Kate with her Easter Bunny

Aunt Emily and Uncle Jeremy

Charles' first time to feed Lucy Kate!

Proud Papa Chuck with Charles

Showing Lucy Kate to Catherine and Laura through the window

My first time to feed Bryant

What a sweet Daddy admiring his little boy.

Lucy Kate in her big girl bed!

Patrick and Pete came for a visit

Day 4 in the NICU March 22nd

The NICU has become my second home and it will wear you out. The babies are doing good and trying to meet their goals. I was discharged from the hospital today and it felt weird to leave without taking Lucy Kate and Bryant with us. I am staying with family in Memphis and Charles is going to drive back and forth. The babies had more visitors today, Uncle Benny, Aunt Pat, Holly, and Grandma. It was an exciting day for Kamey because she got to feed Lucy Kate. She did so well and the nurse helped by giving some good tips. I had the opportunity to do Kangaroo Care with Lucy Kate and am looking forward to having this special time with Bryant. God is so good and we pray that he will continue to heal these babies quickly so they will be able to come home.

We call him our little old man because he has some features from Charles granddad (Pappy)

The babies had IVs and it is not as bad as it looks. This is the best place to have them so they do not pull it out. Hopefully they will both be getting these out soon.

Kamey feeding Lucy Kate for the first time!

Great Grandma Lucille McCann and Aunt Pat

Holly and Uncle Benny came to see the babies

Day 3 in the NICU 3-21-08

Day 3 in the NICU and things are looking good. The babies have a little trouble with apnea when they are eating and sleeping so the nurses are watching them closely. It is very hard for preemie babies to coordinate sucking, breathing, and swallowing. I was able to feed Bryant for the first time by sitting him up in his bed. I was so excited to really get my hands on him. He is only taking a little bit of food but we are so excited he is eating from a bottle. Today we had many friends and family come to visit the babies and this means so much to us. Mrs. Emma and Mr. Roger came to check on these new great grand babies and were able to go down and see them. Today was also so special because my dad (a.k.a Papa D) made it from Louisiana, he was gone for work and was just now able to make it back. He was so excited to see his precious grandchildren for the first time. Aunt Emily and Uncle Jeremy came back to check in on the babies. Julie Flowers and Kate Dunn made a trip to see the babies and we were so happy to see faces from home. Charles' cousin Paige and her husband Randy also came to visit and were able to stay for a while. Paige took tons of pictures and e-mailed them out to the family since I have not had an opportunity. She was also able to see me take part in a very special time with Lucy Kate, kangaroo care. This is just an opportunity for the mother to spend some quiet time with the baby and hold her close so she can hear my heartbeat. It was such a special moment and I just cried thinking about these wonderful blessings we have been given. Our families and friends are so great and they all love the babies so much, and of course they are going crazy waiting to hold them.

Charles Bryant Johnson III

Lucy Kate Johnson

Her are a few pics of some of the people that came to visit us today

A picture with proud and aunt Emily and Uncle Jeremy was there too

Great Grandparents

Emma and Roger Johnson

Good Friends Kate and Julie

Kamey and Papa D

Day 2 in the NICU 3-20-08

We made it through the night and it was not an easy task. The hormones were raging and I just wanted my precious angels with me. I am able to call the NICU anytime that I want so that helps to know how they are doing all hours of the night. We have had so many visitors and we love it! Today Heather Short came to visit and was able to see the babies, we also had Jennifer stop by for a visit. They were so excited to see the babies and we were happy to see them. We are just so thankful to God for providing us with this amazing time in our lives. We have so much to be thankful for and the NICU is only going to be for a short period of time, so we are thankful they are as healthy as they are. Bryant had to have a procedure done that placed an arterial line in his belly button so it will be easier to draw blood and get his IV fluids. He was also seen by the ENT to make sure he did not have any blockage in the nasal cavity. Everything checked out great and then the cardiologists came to see him. His checkup was clear and things are looking great. Bryant sometimes has a little trouble with his heart rate and breathing because he does not know how to calm himself down. Lucy Kate has the feeding tube in place to help with her feedings. If she is unable to finish her bottle they will finish it in her tube. This is not a big deal and just ensures that she is getting enough food. They also use the tube to draw the residual off of her belly from the previous feeding before her next feeding.

Every time you go to the NICU you must scrub in for one minute with soap and water, dry hands, rub alcohol on your hands, and call into the NICU so they will let you in. Once you get in you must put on a gown and gloves, parents do not have to wear gloves.

My first time to feed Lucy Kate and it was so special

Daddy holding Bryant's hand

Daddy with his beautiful little girl!

Bryant is sleeping and looks so precious.

Snapshots from our day in the NICU